do you think it's possible that one day things can be better

[ana]

Oh Stephanie, I am so hopeful and encouraged by what I see today as  perceptions change and we become more accepted in mainstream. As examples, I immediately think of Laverne Cox with her show "Orange is the New Black", Janet Mock trans activist writer, and even Jenna Talackova, our Canadian Miss Universe participant (She has her own show now too).  In the US, your Vice President, Joe Biden has even addressed Trans* issues as the next main social issue of this decade. Can you imagine any of this 30, 20, or even 10 years ago? The Internet has been a fabulous unifying tool for us all across the world. My heart soared and tears flowed with so much pride at how the LGBTQ community reached out to the Russian people via the Internet to show them solidarity against the repressive policies there.

I wanted to transition at 19 (20 years ago) I had no role model or point of reference to be proud of. Today I am so proud of our community and how we have grown.
 
The big irony for me is that as the world becomes smaller, it also needs to become more inclusive. 

[stephaniec]

Oh Stephanie, I am so hopeful and encouraged by what I see today as  perceptions change and we become more accepted in mainstream. As examples, I immediately think of Laverne Cox with her show "Orange is the New Black", Janet Mock trans activist writer, and even Jenna Talackova, our Canadian Miss Universe participant (She has her own show now too).  In the US, your Vice President, Joe Biden has even addressed Trans* issues as the next main social issue of this decade. Can you imagine any of this 30, 20, or even 10 years ago? The Internet has been a fabulous unifying tool for us all across the world. My heart soared and tears flowed with so much pride at how the LGBTQ community reached out to the Russian people via the Internet to show them solidarity against the repressive policies there.

I wanted to transition at 19 (20 years ago) I had no role model or point of reference to be proud of. Today I am so proud of our community and how we have grown.
 
The big irony for me is that as the world becomes smaller, it also needs to become more inclusive. 

yes , the same here growing up no role models , but times are definitely changing

[nikkit72]

I live next to a major University in a suburb of Chicago . For the most part the town is pretty quiet. Given that the University is right here it's a pretty liberal place to live. As I transition I have no fear other than the normal mugging fear when you walk around at 3 in the morning. I've been taking small steps in progression. I'm at the level now where I sit in my favorite coffee place with the other students sitting around. I always where some eye liner and my bra on that makes my breasts pronounce. Nobody says any thing . Once in a while if nobody's seen me before I'll get a look. Guys tend just to look at my breasts through the window some times. I plan on this summer to try full time. At that point I'll definitely be recognizably in different clothes by a lot of people who've seen me as a male. It's going to be a challenge  but I have no fear of any thing happening. Things have change a lot since growing up , but there sure is quite a ways to go. It's not only for us ,but the world if it chose to could be such an enlightened place for all living things. I just hope and pray the planet could truly attain its possibility.

Familiarity breeds acceptance. I read that phrase somewhere, though I can not remember where, but it is becoming the case for us.  The more of us there are out there behaving and presenting like any other woman on the street and the work place and the gym and the coffee shop, the more people will ignore us. In a positive way. If we live up to the media stereotypes or expectations and not the same ideals as our peers in every day life then we are going to get in trouble.

It is soo much better today than it was yesterday.

Stephanie, go for it !

[stephaniec]

Familiarity breeds acceptance. I read that phrase somewhere, though I can not remember where, but it is becoming the case for us.  The more of us there are out there behaving and presenting like any other woman on the street and the work place and the gym and the coffee shop, the more people will ignore us. In a positive way. If we live up to the media stereotypes or expectations and not the same ideals as our peers in every day life then we are going to get in trouble.

It is soo much better today than it was yesterday.

Stephanie, go for it !

there is a mtf that either works for the University or goes to school there or both . she's been walking around for about 5 years and nobody gives her a second look

[Allyda]

I hope, and believe, that things will one day be better. For me though it would not matter, because I am happy for the first time in a very long time. If I had to be Michael again, I would get out one of my guns, dust it off and put and end to it, in hopes that my next life would be better.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Michelle

And here I agree 100%. Actually there are many good posts here and answers to this question. I too went to high school in the late 70's. The differences in acceptance between then and now is unimaginable. So yes, I very much think things will get better and that they are every day. We have come so far already.

For me Michelle though I am an adoptee, it was Italians on my adopted fathers side instead of rednecks. Same difference though, lol! Me, I'm Native American born on a Reservation, and was adopted off after losing my Mom in a car accident when I was 6. I have much hope for our future in society.

[stephaniec]

Yes, there is hope. But I think it will be gradual.

People can change, but it's up to others to help open their minds. Meaning you have to speak, say things that you will feel make an impact, but I know some people are stubborn. A lot of that just has to do with the generations of yesterday's ideologies living on, however I think those will vanish in time,  and people will get smarter. But it starts with others hearing your voice.

yes there is so much hope for this planet given the distanced traveled such as Roman slavery, but it seems to be the unending day to day fight that will eventually break through hopefully. It wasn't very long ago I had really long hair and was buying some hard ware at a store and some one my age or younger told me to get a hair cut, very strange experience. There will probably be those lingering around in the dark trying to cause trouble ,but hopefully the good will prevail eventually.

[jebee]

I have found the more passable i have become the more accepting people are, not so long ago someone said to me * i thought most ->-bleeped-<-s were ugly freaks but you actually look like  a woman* and that was of a gay man. Make of that what you will but i believe sadly looks are the main aspect to being accepted.

[stephaniec]

I have found the more passable i have become the more accepting people are, not so long ago someone said to me * i thought most ->-bleeped-<-s were ugly freaks but you actually look like  a woman* and that was of a gay man. Make of that what you will but i believe sadly looks are the main aspect to being accepted.

the only problem with that is that because your unacceptable to some one else's eye sight you shouldn't try to heal your self. Yes, it's terrible we're being judged by standards of whether we" pass" or not . Hopefully  the standards in the future will be quite different to allow people to experience life with out fear.

[Allyda]

I have found the more passable i have become the more accepting people are, not so long ago someone said to me * i thought most ->-bleeped-<-s were ugly freaks but you actually look like  a woman* and that was of a gay man. Make of that what you will but i believe sadly looks are the main aspect to being accepted.

I've refrained from posting similar words for fear of being predudicial, however there's no denying that my lifelong feminine features have been an asset rather than a hinderance. Since I started living full time 5 years ago even before hrt I've passed almost everywhere I go. It was before then when I tried to pass for male that I had problems with other people. Therefore though it's sad to admit our society is like this, but I have to agree with you looks do make a difference. And those of us that have a natural femininity have had things much easier than some of our sisters have.

[JaneNicole2013]

20 years ago a lesbian friend of mine asked if I thought gay people would ever be well accepted by society. I had young children at the time and I was already seeing a change in their attitude and told her "when this generation grows up, it'll be better." She didn't believe me, but now look what is happening.

I think it will, and is, getting better. So many people have accepted me for who I am. Yes, there is still resistance, but it is dying. The important thing is that we move forward. Like the gay rights movement of the 80s and 90s, it is important to come out, be proud, and show everyone that transgendered people are normal people. We're not deviants, or miscreants, just regular gals (and guys) trying to get by and make the most out of the life we have. We just have to be ever-vigilant for a backlash. That's what concerns me. The wrong group gets in power and it's back to the Victorian era we go.

Jane