Hi!
Darn it, I posted somewhere else before posting here first. Sorry for the rudeness, that was like going into someone's house before introducing yourself. I tend to write a lot, which I am somewhat sorry for beforehand.
People can call me Carlota, or magnolias21, either one is dandy.
I am cis woman (female assigned at birth and female identified). My girlfriend, who I will call Sarah, is trans woman (male assigned at birth but female identified) and October of this year will make it three years for us together. I am a first generation immigrant and have strong ties to my families culture and language, which influenced me to become a teacher. Sarah is an an American war veteran, and fortunately she doesn't suffer from many of the difficult things she endured in the war (ptsd, paranoia, etc.). Oh, and for the sake of simplicity, I am bisexual.
I have known her for about four/five years now. We met in college before she transitioned. A year after she came out we began to go out. I liked her before she came out, but my social anxiety, lack of self esteem, and my past made it impossible for me to even spark up a conversation one-on-one. When she came out, I realized I still liked her, but that I was unsure how to be supportive and understanding of her coming out. Not to mention, my crippling anxiety that had held me back from a romantic relationship my whole life. I spent that year learning about trans issues, rights, and news. I wanted to learn how to be supportive and become less ignorant about things. I also began to talk more to her and work on my social anxiety. We would eventually become friends, and I was actually happy that at least I was there to be her friend.I told my friend that I liked her a lot. Apparently, my friend can't even take his own secrets to his grave. He, along with other of our friends we have, began to plot things out for Sarah and me to go out. After a few events that seem to have been taken from a rom-com, Sarah and I started to go out.
It hasn't been the easiest relationship in part to my mental and emotional being. I tend to go through depressive periods and have tried her patience by my sever lack of self esteem and self value. I admit that I haven't been the easiest person, but through communicating with Sarah and a whole lot of reflection, we have managed through a lot. She is significantly older than me, which might help her to be patient with me and see things through a different perspective.
I still have a lot to learn, and I am no an expert when it comes to transgender related issues and topics. I sometimes put my foot in my mouth, but I try with each day to become better and more supportive. This is part of the reason I joined this amazing forum. I find myself alone sometimes helping my SO and her journey. I am happy that there are places like this where trans* folks, people of a variety of gender identities, and their families, friends, and SOs can come together.
Gotta follow what I tell my students, keep it simple.
