Today at work, One of my new colleagues in training, an older ex-cop mentioned the word '->-bleeped-<-' (Grrrrr!) and continued on in this line:  'You know what a ->-bleeped-<- is, don't you?'  Then proceeded to explain just exactly what they were, and continued on how most of them ended up dying anyay in his old district of a.i.d.s.
I'm not out at work yet, except to three other people.  I was so incredibly angry, I disappeared for over an hour for lunch, and left him there to fend for himself with customers.
My girlfriend that knows was sorry, but agreed that until I'm out with management, it wouldn't be safe to rattle cages.

Then, after work, I was leaving a local Sam's club with a woman's lavender tee-shirt, and a pale aqua tee shirt in hand and passed by a couple with a young girl, maybe 10 or so.  I heard the father say, 'out and proud', after he thought he was a polite distance away, apparently to his wife.  I heard the little girl ask him what that meant, and he said 'honey, it means he's just not afraid to be different'. 
I was dressed in my male work clothes, and with the long hair and earrings, I guess he mistook me for a gay man.  Close, anyway, a gay woman I am.  Anyway, this seemed to balance the damage the other oaf did with his '->-bleeped-<-' routine.  I wish more parents could be that way with their children.  I guess my colleague had bigotted parents.


Bev

There will always be people that don't understand what it's like growing up being transsexual,  Lots of very narrow minded folks around, My ex stands proud in that group.  Just have to let rude comments pass by and not let it get to you.  After all it takes all kinds to make up the world.  Even jerks have a place somewhere.

Beni

Quote from: Beni on May 31, 2007, 11:23:56 PM
Even jerks have a place somewhere.

One of the lower levels of hell perhaps?? >

Rhonda

I'm glad to hear of such parents. My brother said to me when I came out to him 'think of what this will do to your children' . I smiled and politely replied that my children are not ashamed of me (though they are still young yet) and they see my struggles and pain to be accepted. Therefore, it will teach them to accept even those who are different in their world, no matter what the difference may be. The world would be a much better place if we could teach all adults to accept those who are different too.
                                                Kim   

Hmm, brings to mind a little joke I heard:
  A bigot had gone for major surgery. When he awoke he noticed that his curtains were closed tight. When the doctor came in to check on him he inquired about the curtains being closed tight. The doctor looked at him, smiled and said, " oh that, there is a humongous fire across the street and we didn't want you waking in a panic thinking you had died on the table and reached your final destination!!"

Hi again,

Thanks for the joke Kim, made me laugh. Anyway I was in the cinema the other day with my son and another couple sat down next to us. I wasn't dressed fem, at least I didn't think so not out with my children yet only my better half. This woman looked at me as she sat down as though I was gay and hung onto her partner (man) as though I was going to grab him, lol. The whole thing was really weird even though things where not said verbally I could tell by her body language, (don't think I was being paranoid, lol).

It really makes me angry when people look at you and judge you. Its great to hear about people that are accepting.

hugs and kissess

Nigella

Bev, the key words in what you said was "older ex-cop."  Sweetie, law enforcement, despite all diversity training and such, is not exactly your last bastion of liberalism.  My youngest brother is a red neck, homophobic deputy sheriff and through working with a charity in Jacksonville for years, I know a lot of local cops there who are just as bad as my brother.  It just goes with the territory so try to ignore it when he starts spouting garbage and don't let one bigot ruin your day.

Hug,
Beverly

I've gone out with a couple of cops and added them to the list of the segments of society not to date, right there with current armed services members.

Right before I went fulltime I was at a nice restaurant for a friend's birthday. Long hair, earrings, slacks, shirt, and a leather vest. I have pretty good hearing and heard one table full of people making bets on whether I was male or female. I forgot what they finally settled on.

Jerks and good people are out there, they are the in and yo of society (or yin and yang if you prefer).

Thank you for sharing Bev. Both Stories!!

Like Nigella I am only out to my better half and also some very close friends. The staff at work know nothing. So when my wife suggested that I go ahead and get an ear pierced I was excited to show the staff what a hip guy their boss was.  My kitchen supervisor would not even look at me after her first glance. I have another male staff member with both ears pierced so I asked if she ever looked at him. She just shook her head no. Hmmm. Interesting.

Now I also must say she is a wonderful person. Not hateful at all but she does have strong opinions about what is male and what is female. At least she doesn't spout off hate speech to express her opinions.

This is a very rural area in a very Red State. I would also like to say that my kids and their friends are more open to alternative folks than their parents are and that is very encouraging.

I'll work on our kitchen supervisor some more.

Debbie

You meet all kinds out there. Never let others ruin your day. I always say people who always put down others have a shallow life themselves.

Gennee

When I was on active duty and still in school I wore a french maid's costume to school for Halloween. A few months go by and it gets brought up and we all have a good laugh. Then the conversation went on to cover transsexuals and the hideous freaks they are. Instinctively I blurted out something along the lines of, "Some people are just not happy being in the body they were born in and feel the only way to correct that problem is by changing their gender." The whole group gave me a "WTF?!?" look and dropped it.

I find it better to inform people of their misconceptions than to let them perpetuate the rumors any further. That was when i was in closet so you can image what i am like now. lol

Quote from: debbiej on June 01, 2007, 01:43:04 PM
Thank you for sharing Bev. Both Stories!!

I'll work on our kitchen supervisor some more.

Debbie

Debbie, I'm sure you've seen my signature quote 'if you're skating on thin ice, you might as well dance'.
She already won't look, so why not get the other pierced? 
When mine was first noticed, someone said 'hey!  You got your ear pierced!'  I said 'no I didn't", then turned my head.  He was no more amazed at two pierced ears than at one........

Food for thought, that's all.......

psssst!......I double dare you!   >

Thanks for the encouragement Bev. I plan on getting the other one pierced too. I am naively thinking I can control when and how much of the real me I can let out.

Debbie

psssst!......It will take at least a triple dog dare!!!

Quote from: debbiej on June 03, 2007, 02:01:16 PM
......I plan on getting the other one pierced too..

.........Besides, if you wear dangles (wonderful feeling), it's no good with just one.

Bev

Quote.........Besides, if you wear dangles (wonderful feeling), it's no good with just one.

Dangles?  I can't wait!!! Maybe tomorrow?

Back to the topic at hand. Dangles will mean I'm finally out and proud. Now I'm just proud and cautious.

To everyone who is further along on this journey that I've just begun - Never doubt the profound appreciation I have for your leadership and the sharing of your stories. Someday Bev's co-worker and his insensitivity will be a thing of the past.

Debbie

as long as there are people there will always be idiots. It is up to us to ignore them and not quantify their existence at all.

one of these days you are going to sit down and wonder how in the world you made it so far. You are well on your way to being out and proud as well