You're welcome. A smarter person would probably just stay quiet. I feel like I need to say something. I'm just not sure what to say.
This is all so crazy. The local trans community I was a part of and served in a rather long ago mostly wanted to be left alone to do their thing, provided mutual support, kept to themselves, venturing out in places where that was OK, and wanted to be treated like human beings. (This is California. It was not so simple in some other states.) There was a mix of different types, and some of it could be pretty strange, but there was mutual respect, mostly.
People that transitioned, and there weren't that many, afterward would usually move on in their lives and not be seen again. I was one of those. The last thing we wanted was public attention.
What we have now is very different. Before, there were sometimes allies, typically women (by the original definition), that helped with forming local support groups. Now there appear to be infiltrators, with very different aims. Some of the leaders from that earlier time also "turned". I don't know any more, because I am no longer part of a community like that.
The son of a good friend of mine transitioned to female maybe 15 years ago, can't remember exactly. Our friend was devastated at first, but soon accepted he now had a daughter. She is the nicest person ever. Never pushed or forced others to accept her. She quickly gained everyone's respect through kindness and dignity. Quite a different picture than what we are confronted with today.
It is very strange how some people are able to do that. But most of the trans community that I knew were not transitioning, and could not have done it that way if they wanted to. There were a lot of men in dresses, sitting around talking, sounding, and behaving like men. What else could they do? That must have some connection with what we are seeing now, although there are more women now transitioning as well. There were far fewer in the past. I knew a trans couple that married. I went to their wedding. Wrap your head around that one. They eventually broke up.
For those that can and do transition successfully, it's still hard for everyone they know. If they have children when they transition, well, you can imagine.
It didn't work out quite as well for me, but I have quite a few health issues and that gets in the way. Still, it was a natural thing to do, my parents had died long before, and I was sterile and an only child. I weighed the risks and went ahead. It had always been my intention, and I never looked back.
thank you so much for sharing your perspective. its an important one.
You're welcome. A smarter person would probably just stay quiet. I feel like I need to say something. I'm just not sure what to say.
This is all so crazy. The local trans community I was a part of and served in a rather long ago mostly wanted to be left alone to do their thing, provided mutual support, kept to themselves, venturing out in places where that was OK, and wanted to be treated like human beings. (This is California. It was not so simple in some other states.) There was a mix of different types, and some of it could be pretty strange, but there was mutual respect, mostly.
People that transitioned, and there weren't that many, afterward would usually move on in their lives and not be seen again. I was one of those. The last thing we wanted was public attention.
What we have now is very different. Before, there were sometimes allies, typically women (by the original definition), that helped with forming local support groups. Now there appear to be infiltrators, with very different aims. Some of the leaders from that earlier time also "turned". I don't know any more, because I am no longer part of a community like that.
Speaking with courage is the height of intelligence. :)
The son of a good friend of mine transitioned to female maybe 15 years ago, can't remember exactly. Our friend was devastated at first, but soon accepted he now had a daughter. She is the nicest person ever. Never pushed or forced others to accept her. She quickly gained everyone's respect through kindness and dignity. Quite a different picture than what we are confronted with today.
It is very strange how some people are able to do that. But most of the trans community that I knew were not transitioning, and could not have done it that way if they wanted to. There were a lot of men in dresses, sitting around talking, sounding, and behaving like men. What else could they do? That must have some connection with what we are seeing now, although there are more women now transitioning as well. There were far fewer in the past. I knew a trans couple that married. I went to their wedding. Wrap your head around that one. They eventually broke up.
For those that can and do transition successfully, it's still hard for everyone they know. If they have children when they transition, well, you can imagine.
It didn't work out quite as well for me, but I have quite a few health issues and that gets in the way. Still, it was a natural thing to do, my parents had died long before, and I was sterile and an only child. I weighed the risks and went ahead. It had always been my intention, and I never looked back.
Thank you for sharing your story CM