Store delima from pre hrt perspective.

[Alice Bracken]

My best friend and i own a hole in the wall gun store togethor. We opened not to long ago and business is booming. My friend knows about the whole trans thing and his only rule is not to flirt with him. I can understand this. Our store gets way more business than any that i have ever seen in our area. In fact we are going to expand the size of our building and hire a few more employees.

I have not started HRT yet but am hopeing my therapist lets me after this next session. I originally started wearing womens underwear to work and slowly added things like socks and then some jewelry. But i really wanted to take a step so i had our guy that makes holsters make me a pink carbon fiber holster for my pistol. All employees at our store have a firearm on there hip. So i started wearing my gun with this holster and a maching mag pouch. Basically i look like a big gorilla with a pink holster. I even put custom pink grips on the gun.

Well the issue is that we have had multiple occurences were a guest would ask if i was a ->-bleeped-<- or would just rudely call me gay. And even one that said he wouldnt accept service from a gay guy. Even though i am part owner i do not kick these people out. Although my friend will kick them out in a heartbeat.

I was wondering if you all would have any advise on how to handle this situation. For a few of the rude ones asking if im gay i normally start saying yes instead of trying to explain it to people that do not wish to hear.

[carrie359]

Alice.. love that name.. my mom's name was Alice Ann..
Ok so... my advise.. and thankfully I can start giving it.. all i did for the last 10 months was ask for it.
Since you have to deal with the public especially a gun store might tone it down a little and just get started on HRT and let it start doing its work.. that will help you relax a bit.
Therapy.. the key in my opinion.. talk to them.. you have to make a living but also you will be changing.. more than you think on HRT.
My son set me down and told me I did not realize just how much I had changed...
Hard to give advise since I am not in your shoes.. but hope you enjoy the journey...
Carrie

[suzifrommd]

I think I might challenges them to think. Prompts like "what would be wrong with that", "or does wearing pink make someone gay?" Most bigotted folks won't want to engage in an intellectual level and will back off.

[luna nyan]

They are baiting you for several possible reasons:
1.  They are truly homophobic.  Good luck with those.
2.  They are confronting you to start a scene and hoping you drop a discount on their purchase.

Either way, it's not appropriate behaviour, but how you deal with it is key.
1.  Deflect, and say that you are demonstrating how well things acan be customised etc.  they are there to purchase, sell to them and make it a non issue.
2.  Make it a LGBT confrontation - but is it good for business?
3.  Switch to something less confronting colour wise that still allows you to express yourself.

Nothing wrong with any of the options, it's a matter of what is best for you, and your business.

[Randi]

Anyone who would ask someone with a loaded pistol on their hip if they were a ->-bleeped-<- is obviously nuts.

Shooting them would be bad for business. I think you have to give up the pink holster.

Well the issue is that we have had multiple occurences were a guest would ask if i was a ->-bleeped-<- or would just rudely call me gay. And even one that said he wouldnt accept service from a gay guy. Even though i am part owner i do not kick these people out. Although my friend will kick them out in a heartbeat.

[Dee Marshall]

Anyone who would ask someone with a loaded pistol on their hip if they were a ->-bleeped-<- is obviously nuts.

Shooting them would be bad for business. I think you have to give up the pink holster.

I have to admit that pointing this out would be my first thought, but, given that it's assault with a deadly weapon it's probably not the smart choice.

[BreezyB]

Anyone who would ask someone with a loaded pistol on their hip if they were a ->-bleeped-<- is obviously nuts.

Shooting them would be bad for business. I think you have to give up the pink holster.

That's gold Randi! But agree, business relies on the customers, and bullets flying around may scare them off, worse yet might kill one of em, eeekk !

Scenario 1 - Alice Continues to wear the pink holster to work
Alice ->   <- customer

[Jamie2.0]

Can you have another holster and mag case made in a different color / s ??

Maybe a pink camo ?  How about a purple shade ?

That maybe one of the options to explore further to help off - set some of the hostilitys.

Just my 2cent s worth of opinion.

Jamie

[Alice Bracken]

It was a pink and carbon fiber so basically black and pink. And no way am I not wearing it. We had a group of women come in today looking to buy guns. When one pointed out my holster i could see it coming. But surprisingly no jokes. But instead ended up selling a total of 5 holsters to 3 ladies. AWSOME! And one said she was going to bring her daughter by to get one as well.

This is amazing. I guess dealing with peoples Crap and blowing it off pays out.

[Marcia]

When asked about it I would just use the line that I am just showing off a different style that some of my female customers may want. I might add that it does helps the customised holsters sell.

[ImagineKate]

Gun stores... typical "alpha male" place unfortunately. Being yourself as an employee will elicit a response and that's unfortunate.

Here in NJ we are a bit more progressive (but we are AWFUL for gun rights) but some gun stores still have the typical alpha hotels behind and in front of the counter. I don't think I've ever encountered worse customer service than at some gun stores. Especially if you're not a good ole boy straight out of duck dynasty. The good news is that there are nicer more upscale gun stores and ranges that cater to a diverse clientele. For example a friend of mine runs a range and he says everyone walks in, from hasidic Jews to lesbians openly PDAing each other. He welcomes all of them, he doesn't care as long as they spend money and enjoy shooting. The last place I bought a handgun from, the person who sold it to me was an intelligent woman who served in the marine corps and who is also an instructor.

Women are increasingly taking up shooting and even LGBT are doing so. Did you know the plaintiff, Tom Palmer, in the CCW case in Washington DC is gay? He bought a gun to defend himself as he was previously attacked because he is gay. So there is hope. Hold your head up, as you said, people are buying... but you will need a thick skin to deal with the idiots.

You might also want to look into joining pink pistols. They are bascally an LGBT gun rights organization.

[ImagineKate]

A thought just occurred to me.

Why not get one of those pink breast cancer ribbons and say it's for breast cancer awareness? I see a lot of guys wearing pink this month... might buy you a month or so.

[BreezyB]

Can you have another holster and mag case made in a different color / s ??

Maybe a pink camo ?  How about a purple shade ?

That maybe one of the options to explore further to help off - set some of the hostilitys.

Just my 2cent s worth of opinion.

Jamie

I like this idea, I'm sure the pink holster currently doesn't go with Green army camo. So why not jazz it up a bit with pink and purple army camo. In fact if you drape around the shop some pink army camo netting, you won't stand out as much. You'll kind of be normalising the colour pink with all the macho bigots. This could be a really interesting psychological experiment.

[Alice Bracken]

I like this idea, I'm sure the pink holster currently doesn't go with Green army camo. So why not jazz it up a bit with pink and purple army camo. In fact if you drape around the shop some pink army camo netting, you won't stand out as much. You'll kind of be normalising the colour pink with all the macho bigots. This could be a really interesting psychological experiment.

I MUST DO THIS!!!!! Ebay time!

[immortal gypsy]

That's gold Randi! But agree, business relies on the customers, and bullets flying around may scare them off, worse yet might kill one of em, eeekk !

Scenario 1 - Alice Continues to wear the pink holster to work
Alice ->   <- customer

Bree that's why some of us go shopping to watch the staff interact with the customers. Come to my location and just watch me behind the counter.

Alice you mentioned a group of women came in saw your holster, pointed to it bought your merchandise and maybe be a repeat customer.  Why stop there, why not become a walking advertisement for customized holsters. All in the feminine style in your case of course

[Alice Bracken]

Bree that's why some of us go shopping to watch the staff interact with the customers. Come to my location and just watch me behind the counter.

Alice you mentioned a group of women came in saw your holster, pointed to it bought your merchandise and maybe be a repeat customer.  Why stop there, why not become a walking advertisement for customized holsters. All in the feminine style in your case of course

I could probably do this. I could get a few different holsters for multiple guns. Concealable and not and swap out.

[Ali girl]

Haha. I actual help run a shot show on YouTube with a friend of mine.  I would bet if you said, "I'm sorry, but when did pink become gay?" They would stop pretty quick.  I've noticed when I open carry, I don't hear any snickers about how I look...

[Alice Bracken]

Haha. I actual help run a shot show on YouTube with a friend of mine.  I would bet if you said, "I'm sorry, but when did pink become gay?" They would stop pretty quick.  I've noticed when I open carry, I don't hear any snickers about how I look...

Well my normal open carry rig was alot different. I had a 1911 in a western style gunslinger belt designed for the 1911. Now i pretty much have fallen in love with this one.

[Ali girl]

1911=beauty. My dad has an original 1918 year military.  I carry a stainless SR9c in the winter and use my classic PA-63 9x18 for female outings and summer weather. I also have a nice derringer for inside the thigh underskirt.   

[Alice Bracken]

My choice of carry is Para black ops threaded. Its a double stack. And i fear that when i get a bit into transitioning that it may not be as easy to operate it.