Starting out RLE and public opinions

[katielouise]

So I started my RLE 2 months ago and have received online abuse from people I know and some I don't know but I think it is down to the fact that the public opinion and knowledge of gender dysphoria is outdated and the public need more knowledge regarding gender dysphoria. Btw this is in the U.K.               Katie                                                                                                                                                   X

[Jessica Merriman]

First congrats on going RLE!

It is unfortunate people are doing that to you.  Where I live (U.S.) there is not much of an issue with it by the public except maybe a random look or statement at times. Just remember you have the right to live happy and healthy so don't give up. Sorry I can't help much more.

[suzifrommd]

So I started my RLE 2 months ago and have received online abuse from people I know and some I don't know but I think it is down to the fact that the public opinion and knowledge of gender dysphoria is outdated and the public need more knowledge regarding gender dysphoria. Btw this is in the U.K.               Katie                                                                                                                                                   X

Very true. That's the reason I take every opportunity to educate people about what we do and why we do it.

Hang tough Katie.

[katielouise]

Thank you for the support 

[Cindy]

Katie,
I know it is hard, but try and take the insults with pride. We are where the G & L movements where ten years ago. In time we will be accepted as the normal decent humans we are. In the mean time be proud. Be proud of being a woman of strength.

You have more courage in your little toe nail than the ignorant people who insult you have collectively.

And you have some strong sisters here to support you.

Hugs

Cindy

[Squircle]

Can you block those people, or make your profile private? The internet can be the worst place to be openly different in any respect; people seem to lose sight of the fact that they are still talking to a human being, with, y'know, feelings and stuff. These people have absolutely no right to attack you for simply being yourself and should be ignored/unfriended.

How have you found RLE otherwise? I started living full time last November (in the UK), and I havent had any major issues. A few odd looks, especially early on, but they have become less frequent over time. My only online presence (aside from here) is Facebook and I keep my profile hidden to the public so no one who isn't a friend can look at it.

Things are getting better, I think we are at a tipping point, but there's always going to be people who are stuck in the past, or are just plain ignorant. Good luck with your RLE

[calicarly]

I'm in the uk also and I agree with squircle, it doesn't sound like what normally would happen unless you are like a teenager and have a public Facebook profile full of teenagers or something of the like, and even if it was so, all you would have to do us block and ignore these people... What you should be focused on is on how happy you feel being yourself and not what some stranger online thinks....? I really agree that people need education about gender dysphoria, I don't wanna open Pandora's box with my comment but the fact that some of our trans sisters want to be viewed as having made a life choice instead of categorising it as what it is, a condition, like many, that we are born with in which our gender identity doesn't match our bodies, quite often, I hear of people when they go to the gender clinics not wanting to be called patient but client instead, that puts a whole nother twist to it, I would rather people saw me as a "patient" but understood I fully require to transition for my own well being, than people saw me as a "client" who has chosen to do this for whatever reason. And I think a lot of the proper education in the mainstream lies in people understanding the necessity of it and not the wanting/fun/choice part of it that some seem to want to make it sound like...

[calicarly]

In short, people hopefully should be enlightened on the medical need for it and not try to show it as some new social fashion of some kind that just hits people ...

[YinYanga]

I am at the start of RLE aswell and I've just mailed my family&friends on Facebook that I would be making a new page so I can use my new name. I've also told them how things are going currently and what I expect/want because not everyone knows as much as the other. It was a mail to the whole group so I really had a "Let's do this together" feeling, the reactions have been very positive and encouraging and I've even had a hour long chat on the phone with an aunt who I've lost touch with. We exchanged our struggles with life and the positive things we all share

Other people, I tend to keep a low profile on the internet because I've had some bad experiences and quite frankly, it's not important. Who knows in the future when transitioning is stable, I still have some ambitions I'd like to do something with.