I'm back to the point of wondering if I should come out. Any advice would be appreciated.
Where possible, I prefer to stay "stealth". However, I did (finished it now) a college course stealth about a year ago and still see some of the friends I made from there. Problem is that I live in a smallish town and word gets around. Although no one has really spoken to me about it (there have been pronoun slip-ups though), my better friends have reported back when others have been gossiping. It's obvious that most of them know or have at least heard that I'm trans.
It makes me feel quite awkward when I know that these people have been gossiping behind my back. I also have to withdraw from certain situations in case someone feels my chest or whatever. I've been subject to some pretty uncomfortable questions and situations. There's a small group of people who even knew me as Ryan, but since finding out have obviously been referring to me as female behind my back.
At the moment, it all seems more trouble than it's worth. I want to be myself without always having that worry in the back of my mind. Without having to withdraw and avoid certain situations. I don't want people to treat me differently though. I just want them to know the truth and shut up. Sure it'll be gossip again for a short time, but then I'm hoping they'd get over it soon enough.
But then, I worry that I'll be known as the "boy who used to be a girl" or a confused lesbian or whatever. I worry that they won't understand and I'll be subject to discrimination, etc.
If I were to come out, I'd do it via Facebook to my group of college friends only. I don't know how though. What would I say? I think I'd do it as a status so that I can remove it if needed, unlike messages which are saved. I'd have to repost a few times so it got around to everyone. I could possibly post my formspring so that people can ask questions to better understand it all, but then I'd also be open to hateful comments. I could also post my transition video to give a better understanding perhaps?
Vid link here because I can't post it normally without it embedding in the thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLpAGCvEAOA
Thanks,
Ryan
