A friend and I were going to an LGBT club and we first stopped at a McDonald's. I was dressed of course in a lovely tan pants with a tan jacket and a matching shirt ensemble. I was also wearing black balerinna slippers and black pantyhose. I placed my order and when it came up, the manager said, "Here you go ma'am." That really made me feel so good. 

Then when we got to the club, I met this gentleman, whom I got talking with, and he had to leave, so we exchanged names and he told me that I was such a lady and he kissed my hand like a gentleman. Again I felt really good.  Both times I was passable!

Then I saw my non-op friend and even though I had seen her before in male mode, she recognized me more as my feminine self, and commented that it had been a while.

WOO!

Quote from: Ms Grace on November 15, 2013, 11:12:10 PM
WOO!

Thanks Ms. Grace. That's a pretty bold statement! 

I was talking with an acquaintance about my evening and he told me that even though he's against what I'm doing, he felt that the manager at McDonald's was just doing his job and he had no other recourse but to refer to me as 'ma'am'. I didn't want to get into an argument but I have been confronted at times by people that have looked at me and simply called me sir, but this time the manager saw what he saw and that was a woman standing in front of him and he addressed me correctly.

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 16, 2013, 12:19:47 PM
I was talking with an acquaintance about my evening and he told me that even though he's against what I'm doing, he felt that the manager at McDonald's was just doing his job and he had no other recourse but to refer to me as 'ma'am'. I didn't want to get into an argument but I have been confronted at times by people that have looked at me and simply called me sir, but this time the manager saw what he saw and that was a woman standing in front of him and he addressed me correctly.

Of course he addressed you correctly. He was obviously looking at a lady.
It sounds like you had a really wonderful evening. I'm so happy for you Gina.
Ciara.

Quote from: Ciara on November 16, 2013, 12:40:24 PM
Of course he addressed you correctly. He was obviously looking at a lady.
It sounds like you had a really wonderful evening. I'm so happy for you Gina.
Ciara.

Exactly what I was thinking, Ciara. Regardless of what my acquaintance thinks. Yes I did have a very happy evening. 

Congrats, Gina. Glad you had fun, and were totally beautiful

In time and with practice and confience I'm sure you'll be able to do it as well  Diana.

I did have fun Willow. And I think the only thing that really disappointed that gentleman was that I didn't live in town. 

Awww, how unfortunately.
You still should have exchanged numbers

QuoteI was talking with an acquaintance about my evening and he told me that even though he's against what I'm doing, he felt that the manager at McDonald's was just doing his job and he had no other recourse but to refer to me as 'ma'am'.

I disagree with your friend as well.  The manager did not have to say sir or ma'am.  He could simply say thank you.  He said ma'am cause he say you as a female.

Quote from: Willow on November 17, 2013, 09:37:28 AM
Awww, how unfortunately.
You still should have exchanged numbers

It was his first time there, and as always first impressions always count. I think I'll be seeing him again when I go back in two weeks.  I marked his name down in my little black book!

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 17, 2013, 11:17:15 AMIt was his first time there, and as always first impressions always count. I think I'll be seeing him again when I go back in two weeks.  I marked his name down in my little black book!

Oooh, Gina has a date!

Quote from: JulieC. on November 17, 2013, 11:13:11 AM
I disagree with your friend as well.  The manager did not have to say sir or ma'am.  He could simply say thank you.  He said ma'am cause he saw you as a female.

Yeah, I see your point Julie. But I see that you've mentioned a few times before about being called ma'am and then by their mistake being called sir.

Quote from: Willow on November 17, 2013, 11:19:46 AM
Oooh, Gina has a date!

C'mon now Willow, lets not be rushing things. I'll let you know what happens in two weeks, and if it does materialize into something special.

Congratulations Gina that sounds so affirming and may we say titillating?

I am very grateful for the people such as yourself who are out here and walking the talk.  You help further acceptance and personal growth IMO.

I also have another perspective to share.  While I have not seen you in real time I fully accept that you are quite passable and well dressed.  i have been out all of this year pre & post HRT and began with the assumption that i am not passble and easy to "read" for most people.  While thinking that, I know none of us can truly know the mind or intentions of another.  In my case, many people who gave me a ma'am when I was out yesterday did so out of respect rather than because i pass.  In this rural small town community people have known me for decades and many know what I am going thru.  They put it on the front page of the daily paper with an interview months ago.

While I am grateful for every act of kindness and acceptance we receive it may also be true that I am read/not passable and some are making an even greater effort to respect us with that ma'am?

Don't mean to be a buzzkill, just adding food for thought.

Quote from: Tessa James on November 17, 2013, 11:56:37 AM
Congratulations Gina that sounds so affirming and may we say titillating?

I am very grateful for the people such as yourself who are out here and walking the talk.  You help further acceptance and personal growth IMO.

I also have another perspective to share.  While I have not seen you in real time I fully accept that you are quite passable and well dressed.  i have been out all of this year pre & post HRT and began with the assumption that i am not passble and easy to "read" for most people.  While thinking that, I know none of us can truly know the mind or intentions of another.  In my case, many people who gave me a ma'am when I was out yesterday did so out of respect rather than because i pass.  In this rural small town community people have known me for decades and many know what I am going thru.  They put it on the front page of the daily paper with an interview months ago.

While I am grateful for every act of kindness and acceptance we receive it may also be true that I am read/not passable and some are making an even greater effort to respect us with that ma'am?

Don't mean to be a buzzkill, just adding food for thought.

Thank you Tessa for those kind words and thoughts. I'm really sorry to hear that your town is trying to exploit you like that, but on the good side, they're also making you into a celebrity!

I'll be posting some pictures very soon, so I won't be such a mystery. LOL

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 17, 2013, 02:42:10 PM


Thank you Tessa for those kind words and thoughts. I'm really sorry to hear that your town is trying to exploit you like that, but on the good side, they're also making you into a celebrity!

I'll be posting some pictures very soon, so I won't be such a mystery. LOL

I can't wait to see your pics!  I may have have been unclear in my post but was happy to give our newspaper an interview and feel it was a good move for me to make.  I was already well known and wanted to tell my own coming out story.  I and three other trans people were also featured in a local monthly magazine about being transgender.   If anything, I am seeing this as an opportunity to further acceptance of diversity and personal growth.  As an elected public official in two capacities I am doing what I can to further our civil rights, discussion, inclusion and open access for all.  I am taking diversity concerns to the national level at our Community Colleges;  http://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/scheller-appointed-to-diversity-committee/article_09108840-48a0-11e3-8312-001a4bcf887a.html  If anyone here has concerns as a parent, student, faculty or concerned citizen regarding community colleges In the USA I welcome hearing about it.

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 17, 2013, 11:24:48 AMC'mon now Willow, lets not be rushing things. I'll let you know what happens in two weeks, and if it does materialize into something special.

Jeez, Gina, I'm just joking

Quote from: Willow on November 17, 2013, 03:38:45 PM
Jeez, Gina, I'm just joking

Touche' My crystal ball looks a little fuzzy, so I can't see that far into the future. LOL. No hard felings. 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 17, 2013, 03:47:26 PMTouche' My crystal ball looks a little fuzzy, so I can't see that far into the future. LOL. No hard felings. 

Just nice to know you can still be romantically loved