do you have an x on your birth certificate?

Heidi here - yes! I got one in the spring time after years of getting all my paper work together. And yes, it was a big pain to do so!⁠

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When I went into the Registrar's Office with all my paperwork to fill out the form, they didn't even have F to X as an option. There was F to M, and M to F, but nothing around non binary options, and this has been legal for a few years now. So I hand wrote in my option and checked it off, and brought it to the front desk. ⁠

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They made a report to their head office that F to X and M to X should be printed out as options on the form, and apologized for it not being there in the first place. They were embarrassed, and I was happy to have someone who was woke enough to know. ⁠

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Then she brought up my file and told me that my doctor who said they sent in the form actually didn't, and that that doctor lied to me about filling out the form in the first place, so I had to go back and get another doctor to fill out a form. My second doctor was appalled that all this had happened, and basically picked up on the fact that the first doctor was a transphobe and she just laughed and told me that it wasn't her decision in the first place and that it was ludicrous that there was even a form needed from a doctor to let you change how you identify on your ID. ⁠

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I called up the Registrar's Office so I didn't have to go in, and faxed in my doctors note with the case file number, and eventually my ID was changed over. So many panic attacks along the way too. ⁠

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But now I have it, my beautiful new ID which fully represents me. If any of you are wanting to change over, I hope that it will not be as convoluted as my experience, and that some system changes have been made. If not, I feel your pain.⁠

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What's your story?⁠

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Sending love, Heidi⁠

// Originally posted on Instagram on February 28th, 2023.

do you have like a million friends?

Heidi here. I have a few really good friends, and a million people I know from working in community for years. ⁠

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If you're walking around town with me, chances are we will run into someone that I know from somewhere. I've worked in schools, community centres, I've run for politics, I read tarot here, I've been an artist in Vancouver for 20 years, I've worked in random spots, I've ridden the bus constantly. If you don't know me, I'm probably one of those faces that you know from somewhere. ⁠

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I kind of like that, and kind of not, depending on the day and how social I am feeling. It really depends on my mood. Sometimes I have those social spoonies, and sometimes I don't. It's hard to say. But I love that people feel warmly towards me, and I don't take that for granted. It's special to be a special person to people. It's good to be appreciated, and that is precious to me. ⁠

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What about you? Do you have a million friends? Are you more of a a small circle or big circle type of person?⁠

// Originally posted on Instagram on February 23rd, 2023.

do you live in a cabin in the woods?

Isn't that the witchy dream???? At least, it is for me. I don't live in a cabin though, I live in east van and in a quite urban environment. ⁠

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I need to live close to resources, like my audiologist, doctor, etc., and all of those things are in the city. I am in the doctors office, or some kind of medical appointment every 1-2 weeks, so unfortunately to my cabin-envy wishes, those services are here and not in the woods, so a city dweller am I.⁠

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I do make sure that go into the deep bush, and spend time in nature. With people, but also with my self. I try to get away even if its just for a day or 2 a few times a year. It helps a lot when I do it. If I can't afford it (mentally, physically, or financially, etc) I will spend a lot of time in parks, and find a nice tree to ground with. ⁠

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You do what you can, where you can, how you can. It's not about living the perfect life for me. It's about doing what works and finding pleasure where you can. ⁠

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Where do you live? If you had to choose between physicial, mental health resources, or medical resources and living in a naturey environment, what would you choose? For a lot of wooded folks I know, they felt like if they lived in the city it would be worse, so their self care looks different than mine. Everyone has their own choices. ⁠

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Would love to hear your thoughts, and hear about your choices too. - Heidi⁠

// Originally posted on Instagram on December 31st, 2022.