So, yesterday, I was on my way back from the last school-related event of 2015 with two friends whom I had decided to come out to. I started off by asking them to keep a secret, to which both of them replied a "yes". Then, I just said it, flat-out: "I'm transgender." One of them said "Ah", completely unfazed; the other took a moment before asking, "What made you decide you were that?" Decide, of course, was the word that kept bugging me, but I explained how I discovered myself. Anyways, just a little story because I'm so happy! I kept poking myself every now and then and asking, "Is this a dream?"

Congrats! Our minds give us situations that make things worse than they actually are. Once the HRT kicked in, my GF Vikki decided I needed to tell everyone. I could only wear baggy tops so often. So Vikki told everyone that my cousin Bridget was moving to town & wanted to meet some of Jim's friends. The party was to be at Vikki's condo at 630pm. After getting a makeover, I was sitting at Vikki's lighted vanity when I could hear everyone arriving. Vikki talked to me & said that to give her min, she would intro 'Bridget' & I was to walk down the stairs. She left, I gave it 5 min & could hear her introduce 'Bridget" She told everyone that there was no cousin Bridget & that I had been on HRT & wanted to meet everyone as Bridget. I walked down the stairs & everyone looked at me. I could hear hushed 'that's not Jim. etc' Then Vikki's stepsister Sheri gave a tirade about me & Vikki. I wanted to cry, yell, run away. The front door opened & I ran out into the Oregon night. I ran all the way down to a riverfront park. I could hear a few call "Jim Jim" then a girl yelled 'Her name is Bridget' They found me & we went back to cake & coffee. we have lost a few friends due to my change but I guess they weren't real friends. I kind of hate it that Sheri cant accept me or that Vikki's BF is now a girl. Their Loss.

Congrats on your accomplishment! A lot of people don't understand trans and feel it's a choice hence the use of the word "decide". The only thing about being trans was that I decided was to live as myself.

Love,
Clare