Hi TJ, welcome to Susan's!
I am so glad you joined, and greatly appreciate your openness and support. I am MTF and have been steadily dating a bisexual married couple for the past 14 months. My boyfriend came out as bisexual several years ago and found that was quite a challenge, much as I feared coming out as transgender to my parents. His wife is also very supportive of transgender people and community.
Maybe I'm a bit different but I am finding some parts of transition to be quite fun and definitely rewarding. Some of this has been less fun (for example 200+ hours of electrolysis) but the reward of glancing in the car mirror and noticing it's my true self looking back makes me smile - I wouldn't trade that for anything.
Reading your introduction, I can relate to other forms of discrimination and how searingly painful that can be. In 1971 when I was eight my mother needed to use a restroom in Marysville, Washington - 34 miles (55 km) from downtown Seattle. When she returned to our truck in tears, my father stepped out and asked her what was wrong - and then stomped into the business (a 76 gas station) to confront them. They had told her she was not allowed to use the restroom because she was "an Indian" and they did not allow "any Indians" on the property. We were next to the Tulalip Reservation. My mother is from Japan.
Two weeks ago I gently reminded them of this incident when I told them I am transgender. They are now 86. I am at their house right now. I have visited twice since then, as my parents are suddenly closer to me - my father is now using terms like "we" which I have never heard before, and my mother looked me in the eyes and told me I will be a beautiful woman. (I am not presenting transgender full time, but will be fairly soon).
Many parts of the world are a better place now but we still have a lot to fix. And damage to repair. And great people to meet. I have found the best approach is keep a positive attitude and do my best to set a good example. It's easier to make our case if people like us.
We have some guidelines we provide to all new members, I'll add them here for you.
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Things that you should read
TJ your part in this - supporting others in the LGBT community in small and large ways has so much meaning and impacts many people. It's a unnecessary degree of separation you are helping erase, and you are directly helping change the world.
I thank you.
Kendra
