The cage door has opened a bit farther. Now, several people know, besides me
My lovely one's brother responded to her coming-out letter with a positive attitude, which was a relief, but he didn't say what I was hoping for. I was hoping that he'd recall clues, and share inspiring stories of trans people whom he knows, and cheer her on.
My therapist lit up with more enthusiasm than I've ever seen in her, and gave us suggestions for who to go to for trans counseling. She kept saying, "That's Wonderful!" I asked her what she meant, and she said that my spouse's story is tragic, but expressing her true self is wonderful.
Our primary care physician had to think. She knows female-to-male professionals, and will get back to my sweetie with suggestions for male-to-female transitioning.
I called one of my therapist's suggestions: the Director of a nearby LGBT group. She put us in touch with the Board Chair of a related LGBT group (for older people), who is the one who collected a list of recommended resources for transitioning. He's in a conference this week, and then we look forward to talking with him.
These responses moved my honey to call another resource that my therapist recommended: a counseling group that my therapist said has many transitioning clients. She's waiting for a callback for the Intake. We're reluctant to use their service: the counselors are students. We'd rather use a more experienced counselor. What do you think?
And she continues to be read as a woman, though she has made very little effort to earn such compliments. Twice last month, she came with me to doctor's appointments, and they had trouble perceiving her as my husband.
Then, inspired by @Shambles , we went purse shopping. My dearest was dressed in men's clothes, but the sales clerk called her and me, "ladies". This happens so often! I love it. I love others' confirmation of who she is.
While we were out shopping, she followed me as I explored what's currently available at the jumbo cosmetic stores nearby. I didn't realize that she had no idea what we were looking at, like what any of the products were for. I will have such fun explaining it all!
Tonight, I spent a couple hours researching nontoxic makeup products. Decades ago, I studied theater makeup for several months, but my skin was too sensitive for it, and I didn't have a willing model for experimenting. Over the years, I considered making cosmetics from kitchen ingredients. When my sweetie came out to me, I bought a top quality makeup set, but I didn't get the results I wanted. How terrific to find websites now that explain how to feminize a face, and which brands are healthiest for her very sensitive skin.
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ is amazing!
I'm enjoying this so much! She is renewing my interest in being a woman as she relies on me to guide her.
I hope that you find my stories uplifting and inspiring. Being the SO of a trans person has become one of my greatest joys.