I came out at school a few months ago, and had decided to call all of my extended family to tell them of the changes so they didn't find out through facebook. They were all fine with it, but I don't think they understood very well (Though my uncle on my dad's side said he wasn't surprised! Which is to be expected, considering that I stated I wanted facial hair several times and encouraged my cousins when they called me 'he' the last time he came over). Anyway, I'm visiting my relatives on my mother's side for the first time after that, and this will be very awkward for more reasons than one. The name I've chosen is the same one as my aunt's ex-husband's (who was a pot-smoking layabout who couldn't hold down a job, but gosh dang it I love that name). My grandfather, while he said he was fine with it, sounded rather unsure. I didn't call my aunt the night I came out because she was flying to DC early the next morning, so I haven't talked to her at all.
So this is going to be fun! I fully expect many misgenderings and abundant usage of my birth name. How can I correct them when they use my birth name? While it's extremely unsettling when people say "she" or use my legal name, they're my family and have been using it my whole life. I'm also afraid that they're going to think they're special because they're my family and therefore don't have to use my new name (which has, for some reason, happened with some of my school friends). Do you guys have any tips for talking to them about this?
