Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Has anyone had a extra surprising reaction to you coming out or at very least surprising to yourself how they would react? (positively or negatively)

As for myself first friend who I thought would be a good first start since I knew he was sexually liberal long ago. The reaction I got actually was very reversed in that he shocked me.  Basically he happens to live far away and I finally got a chance to visit him after years (I am older btw).  I happen to tell him I was coming out to visit and happen to have a change in my life with  nothing specific. As I was visiting I thought I had to do the deed so to speak so he must have sensed this since rather then me telling him he asked me so are you gay or changing your sex?  I was just thinking to myself wait a sec I thought I was supposed to be telling him not the other way round and kind of just went umm uh umm shocked mode for a bit.  Long story short went well. 

So far I have told my mother and one friend both seemed to have sensed I was not your average male due to interactions with females. At the moment myself not even on hrt or anything but at this rate seems like a good fit.  Perhaps others (usually those really close to you) can know you better then you know yourself.

My parents were the 2nd & 3rd human beings I came out to. For 12 hours they were absolutely wonderful, they were happy that I was alive and that I had told them. They said they would support me no matter what and that they would do everything in their power to help me transition. Then they went to bed and woke up the next day and called to tell that there is NO WAY IN CUSSING WORDS THAT I WILL DO THIS AND TARNISH THE FAMILY'S REPUTATION! It's been an uphill battle for nearly a year now with them and my sister. My sister was about the same and both reactions were 180 degrees of what I thought would happen. At least everything else in my transition has been very good and positive but the one thing I wanted to not change more than anything will probably never be the same again.

Quote from: Megumi on September 07, 2014, 02:57:17 PM
My parents were the 2nd & 3rd human beings I came out to. For 12 hours they were absolutely wonderful, they were happy that I was alive and that I had told them. They said they would support me no matter what and that they would do everything in their power to help me transition. Then they went to bed and woke up the next day and called to tell that there is NO WAY IN CUSSING WORDS THAT I WILL DO THIS AND TARNISH THE FAMILY'S REPUTATION!

My father did the exact same thing. Two days after coming out to him, he told me to go back into the closet and told my pansexual wife (who supports my transition) to keep me straight. He was more concerned about his conservative reputation than for me being myself and happy. That was in October and he's stopped communicating with me since then. Fortunately the rest of my family (my parents are divorced) have been 100% supportive and accepting even most of his family. When I announce it on Facebook, I found out from my brother that my father was so upset that I came out on Facebook as many of his family and I were friends on FB. I didn't loose any of them as friends on FB, in fact a gained a few since then.

I told my mom I was transgender and she was like "Oh that's it?" despite not really knowing much about it.
If that's not a completely unexpected reaction to such big news, I don't know what is.

It makes me sad, that so much anxiety and unrest have to be burdened by the Trans person coming out, just so those around them who are supposed to be they're support and encouragers, don't have to add the slightest stress or stand up to reactions by they're peer groups..  :'( As if coming out wasn't difficult enough for the trans person, they must add to that all of the feelings of the ones around them who should be the ones making transition easier and painless as possible....?
It just all seems so backwards sometimes..?  :-\

I was surprised that so many friends were supportive but upset I had not told them sooner as it was not that big of a surprise to them.  Gee how long was I doing the male fail then?  It still surprises me that people cannot figure out why it might be difficult to put all the pieces together for us.

The ones who don't accept it are surprised. The ones who accept me saw it coming.

It has been my experience that the closer people are or the longer they've known me, the less they actually know about me.

My dad is super conservative - like tea party conservative.  Surprisingly, he's been nothing but supportive since I've told him.

Skin  My parents are republicans and think I am just going through a phase how I would have liked to have started 10 years ago  not now in joy your father xx 

Julliett   I love your comment it is so true keep going

First off thank you Julliet that is short and sweet and sums it up so well!:)

Secondly wow keep it coming seems I started something for once. Thank you all good advice kind of 1/3 out getting there but so far its all been good even though don't know where I am going.

To be honest Marcellow had basically same reaction with my mother and I guess it goes to show a mother always knows:) (Sometimes not for the better:) )