Re-introducing myself

Hi all, this is actually my second introduction post here on steemit, i've had an account for a couple of years now - but I felt like it made sense to post another introductory post.

First time round, my introductory post was "introducing a Gareth" - you can see it here:

https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@garethnelsonuk/introducing-a-gareth

Another post worth checking out is my actual first post since returning, where I state my intentions to do so:

https://steemit.com/lgbt/@garethnelsonuk/i-intend-to-return-to-steemit-soon

There's been a few changes since then, for one thing I was a guy back then. Obviously, and as you have figured out already if you have any sense, i'm transgender - a fact I figured out about myself and quit denying around last august just after my 31st birthday.

I've lived in denial about myself all my life up until that point and suffered a lot of mental health problems as a result, something I plan to talk about on my blog here which will now primarily be focused upon my transition story and trans issues. I was looking for a place to talk about this more and was close to setting up a blog on my own server until I realised I still have a steemit account and thought that since I was also reflecting on whether or not to come out here - and how to do so, I finally figured "let's do it" - so here I am.

Being trans is not all there is to me though, and anyone who already followed my blog knew I have interests in transhumanism, tech and music. I also used to work for Steemit Inc and before that was involved in SteemPower.org - and i'm still interested in the steemit platform and improving it.

I'm also still strongly interested in transhumanism and other subjects that I am passionate about, so I will still talk about them from time to time - but I want to refocus my blog primarily on trans issues and have a place to document my personal journey from a depressed and mentally ill man to the woman I am now. It's been a wild ride so far, and i'm still only just starting - i'm not even a year into my hormonal transition for example.

Not only do I want to document my own personal journey, but I also want to create an educational resource and address misconceptions about gender dysphoria and trans people and address/refute some of the stuff I see from bigots and those who are simply ignorant. I believe that much bigotry comes from simple ignorance and that education is a tool for reaching people and improving society.

Some more of my old posts might give you an idea about the kind of educational content i'm talking about:

https://steemit.com/antivax/@garethnelsonuk/vaccines-are-a-good-thing-refuting-antivaxxer-arguments

https://steemit.com/homeopathy/@garethnelsonuk/homeopathy-doesn-t-work

I am a Satanist too, and Satanism is a minority religion that is perhaps more misunderstood than any other, so last time I was active on steemit I made a post addressing misconceptions about my religion that got a lot of positive responses:

https://steemit.com/religion/@garethnelsonuk/the-devil-you-say-a-real-satanist-commenting-on-the-satanic-temple

I am also a strong supporter of free speech - the answer to bad speech is more speech in my view, and even if there are some people who will never be reached, I hope that I will reach some people and inform those who are open minded enough to listen.

Steemit has a great variety of people with a variety of viewpoints - and with regards to trans issues, i've seen some who have what are essentially conspiracy theories that I don't see as worth responding to, some more standard ignorance and bigotry (ranging from the classic "trans people are mentally ill and delusional", through to the more trollish "tranny freaks" and attack helicopter jokes).

Let me close my re-introduction by saying hello to any new faces, and waving hi at people who remember me. For the familiar faces, I hope you'll stay with me on this new journey and I look forward to getting to know the rest of you who I didn't see the first time round.

It's good to be back!