How do you approuch someone that is trans?

[juliekins]

You don't! I mean, if you happen to be looking at the same clothes rack you might say 'hi' or 'excuse me', but that's about it. We know it's generally easy to spot another trans person, but then again not. I've heard of gg's who get misgendered at times. All in all, I think I'll treat a person as a person, regardless.

[Janet_Girl]

Personally I live and let live.  When you approach someone who you believe to be trans, you are in effect outing them.  Would you wish to be outed?

[Jillieann Rose]

I agree with Janet and Dee.
Unless they have a tee shirt or other piece of clothing that reads I am trans.... then you are outing them.
And none of us like to outed? Right.
I know I don't.
I was embarrassed and hurt when I was outed.
Jillieann

[cynthialee]

Personally I live and let live.  When you approach someone who you believe to be trans, you are in effect outing them.  Would you wish to be outed?

THIS

[iris1469]

I have had people in the past, approach me with and were sincere in wanting to understand trans. Out me or not, in that case I really don't care and welcome their questions. It is better they ask then go on not understanding because people fear what they dont understand

[Stephanie Stephens]

At our local VFW we have one person who is transitioning and the other day he came in and was sitting at the bar so I just sat down next to him and started a conversation. I never mentioned any thing about gender, just chatted about every day things.


stephanie

[jainie marlena]

I think that all of you are right. Thanks for the advice. I have been thinking about starting a group here in Missouri. All of this is a little wierd to me because I was happy to realize that I am trans yet there are so many things that I do not understand about being trans. I havn't been in public as a woman yet. Even with in the trans communty there is a veriation of likes and dislikes among us. When I was in Houston the group there was so great to me I felt at home, however; sence I came back to Missouri I miss that sence of family that I felt down there. Every time I see someone here I wish that I knew them so that I could talk to them. I thing that I am just going to be friendly and hope for more. Thanks for being like family here as well I am not sure how I would get along without you all.

[Renate]

Ha! I was in a library one day (that's not unusual for me) and a woman came up to me and said in a loud voice,
"Hi, I'm Jasmine. I'm transsexual too!"

Um, Ok.

Her friend (who apparently was also transsexual) was tugging at her sleeve and saying that they had to do laundry.

[Kay]

Hi Laineyjain,
.
While I can agree with the "people don't want to be outed" part, why don't you try the opposite in as subtle a manner as possible when talking with them?
.
For instance, I'm still in male mode at work and when I have to be around family.  The only thing that I wear that could out me is a necklace on a long string (so it's easily hidden under my work shirt) with a transgender symbol on it.  If I want someone to know, all I have to do is wear it over my shirt rather than under.  I don't have to say a thing about being trans.  Just say hi, or whatever friendly greeting I would normally use.  That gives them the choice of whether or not to reach out to me, it doesn't out them so they don't feel threatened, and it's not verbally spoken about which may make some wary of strangers who may be listening. 
.
In smaller/rural communitites, it can be a lot more difficult to meet people.  As a community, trans people don't really have the sublte tells that parts of the gay community often uses, so I guess we have to improvise a little.
.
Anyway, that's my suggestion for what it's worth.  Good luck with meeting people around your area.
.
Kay

[jainie marlena]

thanks Kay. What kind of symbol and where do I get one?

[V M]

You can get them online... Just do a search for transgender symbol necklace and take your pick of the one you like 

The one Dee posted is rather nice 

[Kay]

Dee covered it pretty well above. 
They're cheaper on e-bay (under $5 shipping included),
but that pink one does look rather nice. 

[jainie marlena]

I thought that was the symbol, but I thought that there might be some others as well. I like making things I might just make myself one.

[V M]

I've been getting into jewelry making lately... It was because my puka shell necklace broke and I wanted to fix it

Well I fixed it and everyone I've shown it to was impressed so now I'm getting into making more things 

Sorry for the thread drift... LOL

[Karla]

I think an accessory with a transgender symbol is a great way to signal your openness to being approached by other trans and cis people about the subject and if you generally don't mind the attention or even welcome it

I imagine it still can easily turn into a 'safety device', something you hide behind if you're outed.

I wouldn't approach someone I think (might) be trans unless I receive hints that it's welcome and then I'd be still lost on how to initiate that contact.

But once something weird happened, I was on the train and there was this person who I thought was trans sitting on the opposite side. All there was is eye contact and that seemed to be enough, no words needed to be said. I don't know if it's just what I wanted to see.

[jainie marlena]

No problem the thred drift was good. I have spint the day carving the symble into a flat stone. It looks pretty good to me. Put the hole for the necklace to go through is a bit hard it is going to take a little time for that.

[NatalieRene]

I have been seeing other girls around my area, but I havn't been able to really say anything. I am a little affraid that they may think that I am calling them out or something. Just looking for friends near me that I can talk to. what can I do about this?

Hi Lainey,

Approach a tans person the same way you would approach a cis gendered person. I can't speak for everyone else but I just want to be treated as normal. Whatever you do if you think you see someone in public that is trans don't out them. Depending on the person you can probably just walk up to the person and start a conversation, just be polite.

Natalie