Excuses...

[Amanda_Combs]

I know most of us have given excuses.  Whether you're fully transitioned, in the process, or just doing small things to deal with dysphoria, most of us have given excuses for things we do having to do with our gender.  I'm curious to know some of the things you've explained away to friends and relatives.  Me personally, I have long hair, wear eye makeup and tall sexy boots, and keep my fingernails painted.  If people start trying to figure me out, it takes about 2 seconds to spot my t-shirt with some heavy metal band on it.  That's generally all it takes to keep people from wondering about me.  it's just so funny to me that it's that easy to explain away.  So let's hear it, what excuses do you give to avoid people questioning about your gender?

[Deborah]

There was one guy that kept giving me a hard time about my hair.  I always replied by asking him if he wanted to take me out on a date.  Some others joked that I was wearing women's underwear.  I asked if they wanted me to pull off my pants so they could check. 

I don't know if those answers explained anything away, but it did usually leave them with nothing more to say.

[KarynMcD]

They're going to question your gender no matter what you say. So you are really just trying to get them from continuing the line of questions.
If I don't want to get into it though, I usually answer "why not" or "because I like to."

[SamanthaW]

Amanda, I am 65 yrs old and have only been aware of my transgender for 1 year.  in that time, I have talked to 2 different therapists, I see her once a week, and highly suggest you at least try that route.  She helped me determine that I am indeed a Transwoman, I now have been on hormones for 5 months, estradiol and spiro.  The estradiol has helped mentally with the dysphoria.  Dont worry what others think, you have your whole life in front of you and you are lucky, you have friends here. 

[Devlyn]

As soon as people started questioning my hair, nails, etc, I went with  "It turns out I'm a crossdresser"

No excuses offered. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[autumn08]

If a friend asks me, I try to give a thoughtful answer, but generally, the people who ask me these types of questions, are some of the most boring people I've met, so I keep the conversation brief.

First, I answer the question objectively and then while they're hesitating, I move the conversation to something else they care about. If they insist, though, I flatly give them an honest answer, which, so far, forces them to move on.

Here's what I mean:

"Wow! Why did you lose so much muscle mass?"

"Because I haven't been lifting heavy weights."

"..."

"So how's business?"

"But why haven't you been?"

"Because I don't want to."

"..."

"Are sales up?"

"Oh, yeah. We recently added..."

[Amanda_Combs]

There was one guy that kept giving me a hard time about my hair.  I always replied by asking him if he wanted to take me out on a date.  Some others joked that I was wearing women's underwear.  I asked if they wanted me to pull off my pants so they could check. 

I don't know if those answers explained anything away, but it did usually leave them with nothing more to say.

Wow!  Those are really amazing answers!  I wish I had the gumption and creativity to say more things like that.  I used to have a boss who would every day ask me for hairpins and ask what colour my panties are.  If I had responded like you; I bet that would have shut him up real quick. [emoji38]