This was brought on by an article from of all things Sky News, which I picked up via Yahoo. Strange sources we use to find out things about changes in our community; that is my opinion as I have a very low view of Murdoch and any of his organs.

I remember reading in the Guardian a few weeks ago an article by a gay man postulating that the trans community, in the UK, is about where the Gay community was back in the 1980s. My feeling is that we are probably about where the gay community was 10-15 years ago in terms of acceptance by the overall general public - evidence of this is the 1st ever transgender comedy series (though to be honest I found Boy meets Girl turgid and cringeworthy), Corrie with a transgender role (acted by a real woman)....and soon to be a transactor (FtM) on East Enders, so the trans community is about where the gay and lesbian community were with Queer as Folk ( UK version was copied in the USA 2000-2005) in 1999 and Tipping the Velvet 2002...plus various programmes like Cucumber since, in terms of going mainstream. As an aside Queer as Folk made teh Village in Manchester more popular.

Another symbol of the transgender community's acceptance in mainstream society is the shutting down of many LGBT venues - source is Sky for that...see the article link at the bottom of the page. On a personal basis I have witnessed in the past 5 years the emptying of the Manchester Village on a Wednesday night, which always used to be "tranny nite", because Manchester Concord meets on a Wednesday. How much of this shift in numbers was due to the recession is hard to say, but the huge decline in numbers attending Concord over the past 2 years is evidence that changes have taken. 2 years ago it was packed, with anywhere between 20 and 40 girls there on a Wednesday night. 3 weeks ago I was there with a friend and there were 3 other people other than the greeters.

Some places in the Village have closed completely, like Eden, and others are not busy at all on Wednesdays, with the possible exception of Via. I remember talking with some gay guys about 4 years ago when the Village was regularly invaded by hen parties on a Saturday night. One of them said that many in the gay community were pissed off with all the hens; a hen said to him we feel safe here - his response, "we don't want you, this is our place". The guys said maybe that was cruel, but around then many guys started going to normal places, like the Northern Quarter which is full of eclectic bars and restaurants (restaurants are something that is sadly missing on Canal Street, IMO)....to escape the hen parties and avoid fights with the stags. Maybe they and we should be more tolerant, but as many of us know drunken women and girls are often obnoxious and to be avoided when you are out trying to enjoy yourself

I think that the trans community is doing the same. I know that with one or two exceptions, the Molly House and Via, I much prefer the Northern Quarter and for eating out I just go to normal restaurants. And that is just me. Many others must be doing the same, judging by the attendances at Concord and the emptiness of the Village on a Wednesday. People's tastes change over time, and methods of contact have changed as well - probably more than human contact.

Facebook has changed the way that people interact and has affected this website and other trans friendly sites. Beckie and I have discussed several times, whether we should keep this site going, as so much transgender information is available on the internet and Facebook now has many trans members. That is why we dropped the articles section here, and just left blogs and forums as places where people can express their opinions. I am a rare exception in that I don't have a FB account.

The above paints a picture as I see it from a Pauline and Manchester centric viewpoint, which is certainly not true across the rest of the UK or in other places. I know that Leeds First Friday has gone from strength to strength, as an example where a trans venue is growing.

So what are your views, what do you think about Trans Friendly bars and pubs near you? Are there any? Are they dying out or flourishing?


hugs



Pauline xxx

PS Should we all go to Facebook?


Here is the link to the Sky article, which is a London centric one of course.

http://news.sky.com/story/1575694/history-being-lost-as-gay-venues-close

Thanks for the post Pauline, I myself was never a huge FB user for many years, but over time I have started to use far more. I live in Atherton, just outside Bolton and there isn't any LBGT friendly bars, but saying that I'm sure these pubs would welcome any customer due to the dwindling trade that has happened throughout the Beer Trade over the last few years. I'm sure that the recession had an impact on the industry too along with the beer tax. Maybe I'm going off subject, but I'd like to think that we'd all be welcome in any establishment regardless of what our preferred representation - so to speak!

Hugs

Liz x

I have visited most of the bars ,pubs and clubs and a fair few restaurants around Nottingham,and I have had nothing but positive experiences.When I go on my travels,again no issues,I think the world on the whole is becoming a more welcoming and tolerant place.

I use facebook a lot now . Isn't using places like the Northern quarter and going to restaurants outside the village just us moving into normal society . I still go into the village on Wednesday nights as have friends who only get out then . But apart from the recession maybe a lot of people can't get out because of work the next day and it is busier weekends

I agree with Liz, Simone Jo & Andrea; from my experience all "normal" pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes etc I have visited all seem to be trans friendly. Whether this is just the need of our business or the increasing tolerance/acceptance of all cross-sections of the community who are "different" is difficult to say - probably a mixture of both. Before I transitioned full-time and universally "came out", I needed the sociability of the trans friendly venues such as in Birmingham & Manchester gay villages and Pink Punters in Bletchley but since I went full-time and am being fully socialised by all my friends and other villagers as if I had been fully female all my life then I'm afraid my need to visit the trans friendly venue has completely disappeared and I haven't been to any! It would be a shame if they completely disappear though as where can all the girls who are still 'secret' go for a social evening out. I think society is much further forward in generally tolerating if not actually fully accepting trans than many of us realise. I state this from my experience since my transition, not just locally where I am very well known but much further afield where I am not.

If it helps, I go a lot to Barrister's and Bamboogie in Bolton. They are both straight bars as far as I know, but I've yet to have a problem in either of them.

i've been to candygirls club once in two years. i dont enjoy trans specific events as much as i did, so don't boyher with them. however manchester village rocks, i love the goose and for me its my weekend away of choice.

Interesting that so far all the comments are from people who are either transitioning, have come out at work or to their friends (or both) or who are happy to go out en femme - thats me.

None of the many who are closet girls or who feel safe at trans friendly venues have made any comments so far

hugs

Pauline xxx

I try to mix it up.
I go to "normal" restaurants, clubs events etc but also trans stuff too. There are stiil a lot of girls still not comfortable with going out in the general public. So I go to them. I do what it takes to meet friends

I go out most weekends with my trans friends and its gay pubs and a gay club, but that's not for any other reason than we just have so much more fun there than anywhere else, you just should go to a place you know you are going to have a great time doesn't matter if its gay or straight
This post was edited by madam sin at October 26, 2015 6:08 PM GMT

lucky you. i don't go out anywhere anymore. too scared people might poke fun at me

I think all the comments so far are spot on , but as Pauline high lighted we are now well conditioned to going out just about anywhere , be it shopping in the day time or out in restaurants & bars frequented by the "norms" . I have found the gay area's mainly the clubs so much more fun and younger people are much more excepting , but always have been treated very well where ever I have gone . Perhaps costs do have a reason for down turn in numbers with less gurls about , but one gay bar in Birmingham was charging a pound a drink across the board and the place was packed out , however , I was the only T gurl in there , who at those prices was quietly getting pissed on her own !! lol

Going out in Liverpool still prompts mixed reactions and fights so a "retreat" is still somewhere that a lot of people need if they are to have safe nights out xxx

Since 2007 I have gone out in Liverpool to Garlands and The G-Bar as well as The Navy, The Masquerade, The Lisbon and Superstar Boudoir each time with a short skirt and high heels with no problems at all.