Welcome to Susan's Valerie. I also went through a life of shame and bias upbringing of 'boys don't do that!' Boys don't sit like that. Boys don't cry, and so on. Guilt and shame made me a very bitter man who hated himself and everyone else. Pretending to be normal and trying to fit in as a man never worked well for me. As many, I finally reached a tipping point. At 60 I started. One of the first things was, with hands shaking, nervous as all, I made a post on this site. Those first steps were filled with fear. As I did more and more it got easier. Now, being out full time almost 3 years, I can't imagine a life any other way.
So good to have you here. There are a lot of great, caring people here. You have come to the right place.
