Welcome to Ericha's Ramblings
While Tallahassee is going through their "orientation" period I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself.
Legislative members have been going through the first week of “orientation,” just like your first week of school after the long summer break. While they are beginning their planning and scheming, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and explain why I started Ericha’s Ramblings.
First, I could not have imagined the interest in the first few articles I wrote. I am thankful to all who have subscribed in just a few days. It inspires me to continue. I would love to hear from you. Tell me what you liked or didn’t like. I do welcome constructive criticism. I would also love to hear what you would like to see here.
I will continue to cover political news and will strive to keep that content free. I would also like to make unique content for my paid subscribers. I have thought of an Ask Me Anything series, and I have also thought of interviewing prominent LGBTQ+ members of the community and allies.
Trevor Project
With the current rhetoric, many of us are struggling with anxiety and depression. It is easy to get overwhelmed. I attended the latest Florida Board of Medicine meeting, where things did not go in our favor. A witness representing the Thevor project made a point of announcing they needed help as they prepared for the expected surge of need across the country. I wanted to use this platform to assist them. I pledge to donate at least 5% of every subscription to the Trevor Project.
Who is Ericha?
I’m a Transgender Woman. That is to say, I am a woman. I am a feminist. I will fight for gender equality, reproductive rights, and body autonomy. I am also Transgender. As a kid, I was told I was a boy. Being transgender wasn’t a thing when I told my mom I wished I’d have been born a girl in an ultra-conservative 1970s (yes, I’ve taken more than a couple of laps on this tilt-o-whirl we call Earth). I did my best to live as a male. I tried sports (never really any good there), joined the Navy, got married, and got married again. Have four great adult kids. To everyone else, I was a guy. In reality, I was struggling. Depression reared its head many times, including two suicide attempts. It was when I found myself planning my third where I would not fail that my “egg cracked,” a common term for when it finely clicked that I was transgender.
I found a therapist and began working through the confusion. I finally admitted to myself and began sharing this secret with friends. This was terror. The fear of losing family and friends was palpable. I count myself as lucky with the amount of support I have found. Then the pandemic hit. I lost my therapist and had some minor setbacks. Wearing masks and Bostock v. Clayton County offered a unique opportunity to begin socially transitioning. In the spring of 2022, I was given one of the best pieces of advice. “You have used Him as a safety net all your life because He was safe and familiar, but He’s holding you back now. You need to let him go and let Her show you who She is because She is who you really are, and you know it.”
You have used Him as a safety net all your life because He was safe and familiar, but He’s holding you back now. You need to let him go and let Her show you who She is because She is who you really are, and you know it. ~ Storm
I began this page to share the stories of the LGBTQ+ and Transgender community. It is easy to ignore what you do not know about. I hope that if more people know our stories, joys and sorrows, plights and victories, we become relatable and human. I began this page to release what I felt building up inside me. I cannot remain silent and see the injustice continue.
Coming Soon
I will travel to Tallahassee for the next few days to attend Pride at The Capitol. I hope to have the opportunity to testify against the Setate Youth Trans Healthcare ban, SB 254 Treatments for Sex Reassignment, which will be heard in the Health Services committee Monday afternoon. I hope to have a few updates about the progress of the Florida bills specifically impacting the LGBTQ+ community over the next few days. If you have subscribed, watch your inbox for the next update.
For paid subscribers, please let me know what you think or want to see in future articles.