Ask Matt: Rejection Painful for In-the-Closet Trans Activist

June 21, 2012 by Matt Kailey

http://tranifesto.com/2012/06/21/ask-matt-rejection-painful-for-in-the-closet-trans-activist/

A reader writes: "I have a pressing question. A friend of mine began transition and, due to extreme medical issues, had to stop transitioning. It was crushing for them. They have only recently begun to come out of constant suicidal ideation and I am still very scared for them.

"And aside from that, their work advocating for trans people's rights is being undermined because people assume they are non-trans due to their looks, such as facial hair. Most of the pushback they get is actually from other trans people, who assume that my friend is non-trans.

"And when people accuse them of not really knowing anything about trans rights (because their past is too painful for them to disclose right now), I'm infuriated. But any response saying, "Yes, they do," would out them. Right now they are presenting as non-gendered and prefer to stay that way, and their past is rightfully very triggering for them.