The first time I met an FTM was in the village in Manhattan around 1992. My girlfriend and I were out on a Saturday afternoon walking around after a late brunch. I don't remember how this came about -- maybe we smiled at her or something, but she stopped us and told us of all of her TG issues. She looked male, but with a little bit of make up. I think she told us she had started hormones and told us a little bit about her transition. This was all on a sidewalk in Manhattan. She told us the problems she was having at her job (The Stand bookstore) and how they made her work in the back doing inventory or something. She made a big point about this, saying that they wouldn't let her be out in the front at all. She was reaching out to us and wanted a compassionate ear, which we provided. I had already known about transsexuals (mainly from talk shows - Phil Donahue, and the whole Rene Richards story), but didn't really understand all the details. When we parted, we wished her luck and hoped that things got better for her. I never forgot this encounter, because I remember seeing that she was in a lot of pain, and there was nothing I could do to help. In hindsight, I wish I had done something to keep in touch with her, so I could have at least been able to lend an ear as I think she really needed it. I think I was too ignorant and afraid of what people would have thought of me at that time. I pray that she is okay and living a happy life and has been for a long time.
Now, that I'm in the Boston area, I've seen a few MTFs, and once in a Chinatown grocery store I had a brief conversations with a transwoman. On the commuter train I take for work, there is a transwoman I see fairly often. She has a folding bike. She is very confident and wears shorts and tank tops. Very few people blink an eye or maybe they don't notice. I might just notice because I have always been very observant. She is super tall though and big boned, but really she seems to hold herself with pride.
