living fulltime, i'm finding this to be a challenge. i have lots of people who know me on different basis'. i have acquantances, family, family friends. that is mostly it. pretty much my friends would only be you guys on here. i've decided i'm going to correct family members if they get my name wrong or misgender me. the next thing is, family friends. people like neighbors, or any friends of some family member, i would also think is fair game to tell. last, just my plain old acquantances. some kids i went to school with is just about it. there's one guy i went to school with. he works at the gas station near me. he worked at the dollar general across the street first, but then moved over to the gas station. he's on a first name basis with me. he's said hi (male name) to me before. back in february, i was predominantly female, and i saw that shocked look on his face. obviously, he still said hi (male name.) i was in there with my brother today. that guy still works there as much as i wish he would quit. i had to tell my brother to just get my stuff for me, and then i went out to his car. i just couldn't handle telling this person or facing him especially with my brother around. my brother calls me my female name and everything, so i just felt wrong in the male name being reminded. i really wish i didn't have to stress out over some stupid things like this, but i still have fear about it. i try to remain in stealth as much as possible, and keep others at bay as much as possible. so, does anyone have any tips on what to do in these situations? anything in particular you have done that seemed to work for you? i was thinking maybe i should tell him something like, "you must have me mistaken." he may think i have disassociative identity disorder or something else rather than being transsexual. in these parts, transsexual is a taboo thing to most everyone.
Few ideas.
You seem to know a lot of people whom you care about. Can you post an announcement?
Could you get a badge made up, saying My name is ...... ?
Can you make up some cards and leave them with each of those whom you know?
Most should, of course, simply be told, directly. But if you know a lot of people, this might be a bit difficult.
Why not just say I've change my name to___. I noticed you didn't leave your name at the bottom. From now no you can call me ___. Lot of people change there given names. One day my sis (who didn't like her given name) announced she wanted to be called a new name. Before long everyone knew her by that name.
I've been lucky to not run into any past acquaintances/friends except for ones I've already told and purposely met up with. I live in a larger city though so that's much easier than a smaller town, which sounds like you live in. I live in a different state than where I went to school so I don't run into any old schoolmates. I haven't been back to that town since transition but even in past visits I rarely ran into people I knew except for family.
Not all my family knows yet of my transition. Some people aren't or haven't been told yet because of certain situations and others my family decided they can learn second-hand. I haven't told my neighbours yet since I don't know how much longer I'll be living in the house I live in. We talk and see each other and the changes have to be obvious to them. They haven't said anything but I'm sure they suspect something.
I only tell people when it's necessary. With others they can ask me (which most won't), assume or be told by others. Many times acquaintances or people you don't see much knowing or not knowing doesn't matter.
i'm thinking more about just saying "you must have me mistaken for someone else." besides, most people from high school and here and there would most likely not recognize me. in this case, he's seen me coming and going. therefore, he's been able to pick up on my feminization.