Here's an odd one...

[Little Lynn]

Although I am who I am, I usually still present as a man publicly due to social and cosmetic complications.  I dress whenever I can though.  And especially, if I'm not going anywhere and just having a "stay home and be a load" kind of day, I'm going to dress the way I want to.  My roommates all know and are comfortable with it, so it's not like I've got any conflict to deal with.

One such "stay home and be a load" day last week, I had that very mentality.  Except one of my roommates friends (who I don't really know too well) came over.  Since I'm not about to be a stranger in my own house, I wore them confidently figuring my roommate would let him know prior to him coming over... you know, safety precautions.  Just in case. 

Well, I ended up talking to the guy for about half an hour or so and he never commented.  I had no make-up on and haven't mastered the "femme voice" but he didn't seem phased, so I figured I must have (somehow) passed.

The next day, I asked my roommate if he read me.  Apparently, he actually figured I was a transsexual.  But he thought I was FtM instead of an MtF!  Blew my mind.  I mean, he thought I was a girl, which was good, but he also thought I was kind of a guy.  I mean, I THINK I'm flattered, but I'm not really sure...

Honestly, I find the whole situation kind of amusing.  I don't know how else I should be reacting, so amusements working out.

Has anyone else been kinda almost semi-read like this?  How did you react? 

- Jocelyn

[Sheila]

Jocelyn,
    I have had a similar situation. Mine happened in a grocery store. I was pre op and I think I have been on hormones for about 2 or 3 years. I had some breast growth and my beard was somewhat still there, but I has always shaved so no one could posibly see it. I was in the store in some androgynous clothes and a little boy asked his father if I was a woman or a man. Well, the father was kind of taken back from the question and looked at me and told the boy that I was a lesbian, he said they call me a dyke. Mind you we were pretty far away from each other, but in hearing range. I don't know all what he said, but knew he was pretty ignorant to the GLBT scene. I didn't know if I should have taken that as a compliment or a put down. As I left the store, I got to thinking. I'm going to take that as a compliment. He thought I was female. It made me feel a lot better.
Sheila

[LostInTime]

I had a couple of people who, when I came out to them, thought I meant that I was female to male.    That is part of the evidence that I did not do guy as well as I thought I had.  One person had even known me for 5 years or so.

I find it amusing more than anything else.

[Dennis]

Funny, cause most of those people probably wouldn't recognize an actual FtM if they saw one. Like the first fellow, thinking an FtM would wear women's clothing.

Dennis

[Melissa]

Jocelyn, I think it's time for you to detransition back to female. 

Melissa

[stephanie_craxford]

The next day, I asked my roommate if he read me.  Apparently, he actually figured I was a transsexual.  But he thought I was FtM instead of an MtF!  Blew my mind.  I mean, he thought I was a girl, which was good, but he also thought I was kind of a guy.  I mean, I THINK I'm flattered, but I'm not really sure...

Honestly, I find the whole situation kind of amusing.  I don't know how else I should be reacting, so amusements working out.

Has anyone else been kinda almost semi-read like this?  How did you react? 

- Jocelyn

  It's kind of a hard one to interpret isn't it, should you be flattered or not.  The easy answer to that is to take it as you want to and be happy.  The nice thing about this incident is that the friend seemed quite at ease with you so you are definitely doing something right.

Steph

[Luc]

This makes me think of the movie Better than Chocolate. Don't know if any of you out there have seen it, but it focuses on a relationship with 2 lesbians, and their various friends, one of which is a MtF. She is post-op, but still having difficulties passing for some reason, and while walking down an alley one night, some guys yell, "Dyke!" at her. She beams, and says, "Thank you!"

When I went out this past weekend dressed as a male, I knew it was possible I could be perceived as a gay male (if as a male at all), due to my more feminine features and style of clothing, but this didn't stop me at all. I figure, even if they think I'm gay, at least they still think I'm a dude. I think it's a compliment for you girls; however, it does slightly illuminate the biases that exist towards homosexuals in our country.

Rafe