Introducing Clare

I am a trans woman. I know about the law, and all the arguments about trans rights. That makes me a scary trans-activist in the eyes of some, though I am just trying to live my life as best I can, amid the obsessive hate of oligarch-funded websites and “charities”, the news media, and politicians. Here, for example, is an introduction to what is still the best guide to trans women’s rights to use women’s services, and here is how the Labour party has betrayed us. And here are articles on how anti-trans campaigners do not in any sense have a protected philosophical belief, but are merely hate-campaigners.

And this is what I wrote before, to show my potential, love and beauty:

My name is Clare, and I am interested in life.

Whatever is human, I find it fascinating, and want to understand it and feel with it. In over 3,400 posts here since August 2011, I have written over two million words on- well, just look at my tag cloud: Dancing, David Cameron, Death, Delight, Desire…

The other compliment I treasure above all others is “You can seem serious, but underneath it all you are a joyful, playful child.”

I am trans, and most of my Google searches find me because of that, but I also write of my encounters with strangers, or things I find beautiful: see all the Art here. I am on a spiritual quest:

parchment

Please comment. The best fun in this hobby is interacting. Quote reasonable amounts if you like, though all my original material here is Copyright.

Here I am, playing the piano. I also do comedy occasionally.

And- a video selfie, because still selfies are so last year:

In Annabel McCourt’s video:

Dancing in the Street:

And advertising Quakers:

239 thoughts on “Introducing Clare”

  4. Just read your #1000Speak post and now followed over here to find out more about you, and LOVED the joy in your video selfie, and am currently feeling my soul begin to untangle and relax with your playing. It’s beautiful. Such a gift, and this morning, one I really needed. Thank you 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you.

      I love your questions. They are about enthusing and enjoying. It will be a fun post to write.

      1. What is your favorite food? (One of my university lecturers told us that food always connects us. I agree.)
      2. What motivated you to start your blog?
      3. What types of blog posts do you enjoy writing? Reading?
      4. What does your typical day look like?
      5. What is one of your talents?
      6. Who inspires you? Who are your heroes?
      7. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
      8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
      9. What is your favorite way to self-care after a long day?
      10. What makes you smile?

      Bonus question: Share your favorite poem.

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. One of the more interesting ‘abouts’ I’ve come across, with some cracking music, a video selfie makes a note to herself to nab this idea and use it one day, and a plethora of comments too. I’m no believer in God, but I strongly believe that those who do so should not be persecuted in any form for simply being who they are. That goes for outside of religions too.

    Your header photograph is quite beautiful Clare. smiles

    esme upon the Cloud

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      • Chuffed, I believe you’re the very first person to use that word in conversation with me, tis a favourite of mine laughs. Thank you for the new skin support Clare, people should do it more often methinks.
        My own theory is that we are all part of a vast reality game along the lines of Grand Theft Auto that is being controlled by a giant alien child who has good days and bad, means well, but has the odd tantrum and randomly kills lots of people whilst stepping on the controller by mistake. They do good things too, but ultimately we’re all just living in an enormous Sims game. You just have to make the best of it and use kindness as the core of your being. And sarcasm is good too. nods and smiles.

        esme upon the Cloud

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  9. Hello, dear Clare!
    it’s good to know a person like you who is full of life. I ‘m also on spiritual pursuit 🙂
    I dare to ask, what do you think that the people who are full life go on the spiritual path or they are on the spiritual path that makes them full of life??

    I’m following you now 🙂

    love and light >3
    Vikram 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Hello Clare, I have been invited to share my thoughts on a blog and I wondered if you’d be interested, as well. Would it be possible for you to contact me at b………@..com? If you are too busy, I will understand. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. I love piano music, and you share your talent beautifully. Oh what fun to just be Y-O-U. I have no idea what “normal” is and frankly, am thrilled the very meaning of the word itself is being challenged daily. In my opinion, you are a SUper Hero. You are making a difference .You’ve been blogging since 2011. Just think of all the people who can now make their own difference because of your courage and moxey!!!

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  15. Wonderful site. I couldn’t find a way to contact you privately, so I’ll share here. I’m involved in a group of bloggers called 1000 Speaks for Compassion. We are getting ready to do a 30 Day Blessing Challenge, and a blogger in the group linked to your post for Metta Meditation. Because we’ll be using some of your ideas, I wanted to invite you to join us with this since you are already doing a lot of it anyway. The group is on Facebook, and I’ll be posting daily challenges and weekly blog prompts. The Facebook group is here… https://www.facebook.com/groups/1000Speak/ Thank you for all you’ve written. Great blog you got here.

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    • Welcome, Michelle. Thank you for commenting, and thank you for your kind words. Er, actually, it was I who shared my own posts- I use my real name on fb, a pseudonym here because I am so open. I will have a look at your challenges.

      Liked by 1 person

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  16. So…I was riveted by that video. You’re amazing! So glad to have found you in this here blogosphere. You just keep on being amazing. So nice to meet you and I look forward to many more wonderful posts and comments. 🙂

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    • Thank you. And Welcome. Your mission statement-

      To live life with a sense of wonder, always seeking understanding, expressing it creatively, fostering communication, hope and love, and helping others to see their own light.

      is very beautiful. I am delighted you have found me.

      Liked by 1 person

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  17. Clare, Please forgive me. I never looked at your whole site until now. I just thought you were a lesbian. What exactly does it mean that your transgender? I really don’t mean to be rude, but did you have the body of a man? And now you still want to be with women or are you looking for a man? Please forgive my confusion. I’ve spoken with you so many times over the years and I care about you. I can’t believe I didn’t know. Please forgive me, and if you are willing, I’d like to know about these questions if you would share.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Where to start? Yes, we have talked of faith, and personal development, and while a lot of my posts have been about transsexuality I write so many of them that only die-hard fans would have read half of them. What a thing to discover about someone!

      Physically I was a normal male. I now consider I was a passive, effeminate male- a pansy. It felt that I could express more of my personality more comfortably if I expressed myself as a woman, so in 2002 I transitioned. I changed my name, and while I had expressed myself female much of the time before, I started expressing myself as female at work, and stopped presenting male at all. I had surgery in 2004. I am still attracted to women. I am only beginning to understand my own sexuality, what turns me on, what I desire, it is so far from what I understood men ought to desire. I also like older women- M. Macron’s marriage does not appear at all strange to me. I say more about these things in these posts, but if you want to ask anything more, please do, and I will let you know if I do not want to answer.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Thank you for your candid response. I would want you to do what you feel would make you happy. You’ve been very kind to me in your remarks over the years and I’m glad to get to know you better.

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  18. Hi Clare,

    My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.

    I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Clare Flourish has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Transgender Blogs on the web.

    http://blog.feedspot.com/transgender_blogs/

    I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Transgender Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

    Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

    Best,
    Anuj

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you for your kind judgment.

      I found this in my spam folder. I released it because of this review in PC Mag: Feedspot is a decent option as an RSS feed reader, but it doesn’t contain anything to write home about, being yet another fairly predictable and slightly buggy option. In my experience, a few competitors get the job done better, faster, and more efficiently. G2Reader is my pick. The review gives it three stars, or “good”- so your comment is clearly not spam, and people may wish to check out your “freemium” service.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Welcome, Dawn. Thank you for commenting. I went to your blog, but see you have not written in it yet. Do share, most commenters and readers are friendly, and you can remain reasonably anonymous. If ever you want to comment here, I would be pleased. I send this stuff out into the ether, and would love to hear how it is received.

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  20. Hi Clare Flourish Team,

    My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.

    I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Clare Flourish has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 50 Trans Woman Blogs on the web.

    http://blog.feedspot.com/trans_woman_blogs/

    I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 50 Trans Woman Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

    Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

    Best,
    Anuj

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  22. Hi Claire,

    Love your blog! I was wondering if you were possibly interested in doing book reivews? We recently published a new transgender memoir, Happier as a Woman by Martina Giselle Ramirez and human rights advocate Alicia Partnoy, that I think you and your followers would really enjoy! Would be delighted to send you a complimentary copy.

    Cheers,

    Allyson Fields
    Marketing Manager, Cleis Press

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Hello Clare, just saying hi. I’ve been reading your blog on and off for some time but have now added you to my blogroll for more regular updates. I appreciate your lucid style and thoughtful approach to trans matters. Wishing you all good things. Sue x

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  26. Hiya Clare. Fab site. I’ll browse through more of it at my leisure. 🙂

    In regard to your entry on MPs and their positions on trans rights. you may not be aware that Bill Esterson (Labour), has a researcher called Nina Killen, who is a Labour councillor at Sefton Council in Merseyside, and a notorious local transphobe. He does not seem to have a problem with that.

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    • Welcome, Chrissie. Thank you for commenting.

      A quick Google shows LinkedIn shows Nina Killen is Bill Esterson’s researcher, and that she tweeted demanding trans women should be on men’s NHS wards. Thank you. I will amend the page.

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  27. Good Afternoon!

    My name is Tatiana and I work for HER – a queer-owned dating app that focuses on creating communities and safe spaces for queer women, nonbinary, trans, and gender nonconforming people around the world.

    I’m writing to find out if you work with sponsored articles! If so, please share your conditions/information with us and we can also share more info with you. We’d love to work with you!

    Best,

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