Dear Lyndsey;
Yes, coming out is hard. I think it's probably among the hardest thing when one is transitioning.
Like you, growing up, there was no mention of transitioning or even gay people so times have definitely changed for the better. My father probably would have killed me as well, especially when I changed my family name so as not to bring any shame to them.
With that said, even though times have gotten better, there is still a very long way for us to go to gain general acceptance from the public. The problem is the lack of factual mainstream information. Some got their information from Jerry Springer's show!
One hears of successful transgender people such as Dr. Christine McGinn, Dr. Marci Bowers, Susan Mock and the girl on Call Me Jazz and Caitlyn Jenner of course just to name a few very high profile people, but the public don't know or understand how we became who we are or why. The older the person, often the most resistance to TG people one encounters.
Friends and family form a whole different group. Many have known us all our lives and are reluctant to accept our change. My own family still think it's just a phase I'm going through and last year made it quite clear when they all put my old name on their Christmas cards yet again. They don't know about any of my surgeries nor do they need to as it's none of their business. They don't seem to accept or understand that the man they knew is gone and he's never coming back but inside I'm still the same, I just look different on the outside.
Friends run hot/cold. Some have abandoned me completely and others say they accept me and will talk with me on the telephone but always seem to be busy when we try to get together. Others seem to mine me for progress information as they still work where I did and so they can add it to the gossip at the water cooler. I guard what I tell people now.
Yes, it's hard to come out but I could no longer live the way I did.
Love,
Clare
