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I identify as female; my orientation is not limited.
Nevertheless, it seems that I recently found myself in the midst of a losing predicament.
My post-op M-F friend has two SO partners: one who self-describes as 'both male and female' and the other as 'heterosexual male'. Fair enough - I accept you however you wish to be accepted. Who am I to decide for you, eh? Hey, I'm the one looking for a F-M partner; how could someone consider my perspective prejudicial.
During the course of recent conversation, this post-op M-F friend who self-identifies as strictly 'heterosexual female', variously identified her 'both' partner as 'female' sometimes then as 'male' at other times. I tried keeping current with which term she used to be accurate and polite. I must have missed a beat or perhaps something happened that I did not notice. Suddenly the friend got angry at me, called me a 'bigot', and how dare I call her partner 'male' though I merely took her cue and her reference point at the times when she used that identification.
Also, she scolded me to 'never' use the word 'transsexual', use only 'trans'. Apologies again; I came from a time when 'transsexual' was quite acceptable. I read its use here at this site without scorn.
Now I remain frustrated and confused. I made no intent to harm, I followed her lead, yet she made me the, um, er, bad 'guy'.
Being in this 'trans' community for more than four decades apparently still keeps me missing whatever are new concepts and terms.
My sincerest apologies to anyone who finds my naivete' harmfull.
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