LGBTQ issues?

[tirtlegrrl]

So, I just discovered yesterday that a close friend from my teenage years (she's now 28) has decided she really belongs to the male gender and has decided to take steps toward a sex change. She's picked an alternate name, a new fb profile, and is collecting and wearing men's clothing. Now, this doesn't really surprise me all that much, because she's cross-dressed for fun (I thought) as long as I've known her, and was never a girly kind of person, but now it's apparently for real, she wants to make it permanent.

I don't have any moral objection to this, but it's still really weird for me and I'm kinda freaked out by the idea of a female friend taking testosterone and growing a beard and, well, becoming a DUDE. Do any of you have experience or advice in this kind of matter?

[Pseudonym]

Sadly, I don't have any good advice. Every transgendered person that I know (face-to-face rather than Internet only) completed the hormonal and surgical stuff before I met them.

All I can suggest is that perhaps what you're freaking out about is stepping into new territory, like getting "cold feet" before a wedding. Once you're actually in the new territory, you'll realise you were stressing out over nothing.

[NH Baritone]

I am acquainted with several transgendered persons. One fellow gave birth to a son before transitioning to being a (rather burly) man.

My friend, in addition to being trans, is also gay, and as such is in a relationship with another trans man (who incidentally sings bass).

After my friend's transition (which was preceded by his separation from the son's father), the bio dad came out himself as gay. He is now in a relationship with his boyfriend.

So if you followed this convoluted road map, you will have figured out that the boy, now a teenager, has 4 (loving and attentive) fathers.

Oh, and in this gender-queer quartet, there are 2 Muslims, 1 Jew, and 1 WASP.

[darkumbra]

I am acquainted with several transgendered persons. One fellow gave birth to a son before transitioning to being a (rather burly) man.

My friend, in addition to being trans, is also gay, and as such is in a relationship with another trans man (who incidentally sings bass).

After my friend's transition (which was preceded by his separation from the son's father), the bio dad came out himself as gay. He is now in a relationship with his boyfriend.

So if you followed this convoluted road map, you will have figured out that the boy, now a teenager, has 4 (loving and attentive) fathers.

Oh, and in this gender-queer quartet, there are 2 Muslims, 1 Jew, and 1 WASP.

I speak on Change Management... and find myself totally out of my depth.

[JustJim]

Wow, NHB... That's hard to follow, but very interesting. I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the son's school teacher conferences.

I know a woman (the parent of one of my daughter's friends) who transitioned from being a straight male to become a lesbian female. She still prefers women, but now as a woman. Kinda fulfills that old and not-so-funny claim by some not-so-bright (usually drunk and failing to get laid) men that, "I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body."

What an amazing world we live in!

Jim

[Pseudonym]

I know a woman (the parent of one of my daughter's friends) who transitioned from being a straight male to become a lesbian female.

Yes, I have two friends like that. They were in a long-term relationship when I met them.

[tirtlegrrl]

wow dang! I guess my situation doesn't seem so complicated after all.