Tristian sounds like a good man!!! I wish I had someone that secure with themselves

You are likely right, it is a guy code thing likely. Because, as I learned the hard way 3 years ago, just because you transition doesnt mean others will see the real you. They will still see the dead idenity as real. These guys are obviosuly not educated on the matter. Dont get mad at me for being blunt but chances are they do just see you as a gay ''dude''. In their minds penis=male and male only. So if you are pre-op it doesnt matter. And even post-op they may cling to the old ideas ''they are living as a woman becuase they dont want to be seen as gay''/. So, back to what you said yes, they likely tell you man this because they think they are doing him a ''favour'' because apprently us trans-folk just want to ''trick'' people....
I would love to say they are telling him you are trans out of sheer respect and admiramtion ''she was born some form of male body, but she did a lot of reflection and self care and she has became the woman she always was'' type thing but chances are thats not it..
I recall when I came out as trans I had slightly un-informed people (cant call her ignorant as she was there for me when few turned out to be) talk with me about my sexual orentation and I did say I have some feelings for guys (Bisexual here) and she was like ''of course you like guys, you are becoming a woman'' ... atelast she acknowledged i am female but there is an assumtion that we all begin as ''gay men'' :/ .... or back in 2014 when me and some people who foolin around and I said to my friend I was going to do something stupid that this cis-female did and hes like ''Well your a guy so I can fight/hit you''.. suppose to be a joke and kidding tone but the joke or goofing part was the hitting, he still saw me as a male due to my past living experiences.
One silver lining, Tristan is a great guy and I wish you a life time of love and fufillment <3