In a way while they deserved a harsh reply, the thing is that to hurt others feelings is not the best way to win people over.  Strife is easy to return with more strife.   

Quote from: Cindy. on May 16, 2013, 04:38:39 AM
...Then this middle aged couple walked towards me and she said - loudly - 'That's a man!'

Cindy:

The fact that they walked toward you and said it in a loud voice was tantamount to an attack.  They wanted to humiliate and belittle you.  In public.

I hope you also responded in a loud voice too so that all could hear. 

Actually your response was quite reserved and forbearing.  You could have gone all "Aunt Cindy" on them and there wouldn't have been anything left but their boots!

Bullying is never appropriate, by anyone.

Thank you for standing tall!

-Sandy

Cindy I really appreciate your assertiveness and confidence.  Your situation reminds me to have some witticisms practiced and available for just such an event.  Too often I am just sort of shocked and do the slow burn while thinking of a million better responses.  I do not want to hurt anyone and too often stifle myself so that I don't get all ballistic and loud.  This is also an opportunity for education and learning?

Hindsight and hindspeak are so much easier to arrange?

Hugs,
Tessa James

For some people, they'll be shocked by your assertiveness, and if you say something clever, they may even learn something.

But then some people won't hear the content of your response, all they'll know is that you said something "rude" and go on hating us trans people just the same.

And then there are some who'll feel bad about what they said if you respond in a kind or forgiving manner.

But then others will perceive that kindness as weakness and go on hating us just as much as before.

So it's a real toss up... What to do? I myself would just get out of that situation. run away!!!!!

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." [Mahatma Gandhi]

Theoretically, better not to answer back as rude as others are. To have a clever discussion it's better to have it calm !
But if that happen to me... I'll probably be twice as rude as you were ! (probably because I'm not under hrt yet and my T will overwhelm my whole body in that situation making me entering a berserk mode ^^)

It's not so bad to educate this kind of rude people !
Congratulation 

Good for you, Cindy! That takes courage to stand up for yourself like that! Aha I can't even correct people when they misgender me so seriously, good for you!

Awesome!!! I take my hat off to you, or would I I were wearing one.

--Jay