Hi Faye,
The one thing that has always been most important to me when it comes to dating, and especially in relationships, is to be accepted, appreciated, and ultimately loved for exactly who I am. As far as the rest of the world (co-workers, casual friends, strangers, etc.) there are aspects of who I am that I keep to myself. But for someone that I expect to perhaps love someday, nothing is more important than to be accepted and appreciated for exactly who I am.
No one can ever accept me for who I am if I insist on hiding who I am from them.
To my way of thinking, if someone I'm dating is going to have a problem with the fact that I have a trans history, then I want to know early in the dating process, as early as possible. I do not want to get attached to someone only to find out that they have an issue with my life history. And a lot of people will have a problem with the fact that I went through gender transition no matter how long ago it was.
In my years as a woman, I have from time to time found myself utilizing online dating sights when I've been between relationships. I have always made it a point to acknowledge the fact that I am a trans woman. I don't make a big deal of it; I just mention the fact among all of the other points of interest about who I am and how I live. Yup, I've had to weed through my share of unsavory ->-bleeped-<-s. But I've also met more than a few angels, 3 of which I've had long term relationships with, and one that I've been married to for the past 7 years.
Don't be afraid to kiss a few frogs in your search for love. But know this. The longer that you keep your potential suitors in the dark about who you are, the longer it will take you to find out who they are. And you want to know who you're kissing, sharing meals with, sharing a bed with.
Or so it seems to me.
You're very pretty. Be safe out there.
