23-12-2014, 12:09 PM
(23-12-2014, 05:34 AM)kari leigh Wrote: It started in church when I couldn't find any friends (in a church of 4000) and no one approached me. I realized that as things are probably going, I might get encouraged to, "not come 'round anymore," after we start looking like a lesbian couple.
Many churches know nothing about love, forgiveness and acceptance which is rather odd considering the message they are meant to be preaching. IF church is an important part of your life then find another one where people actually practice what they preach.
(23-12-2014, 05:34 AM)kari leigh Wrote: Our families have never been exposed to transgender and I'm positive some will exert "corrective social pressure" on me. I don't WANT to be the one who has to educate them. And then I began thinking about all that my wife will have to endure. How many times will gutless friends and family go to her to ask their stupid questions and tell her how to fix me or worse yet, to divorce me. How many times will she have to defend me? What about the social stigma she will have to endure when we look like lesbians?
Unfortunately you WILL have to educate them, but the best education is to lead by example. Just live life as normally as possible and be seen to be living life as normally as possible.
Those of us who transition all go through this and there is a very important lesson we learn at this stage: We often get support from where we least expect it and we often lose support from those we thought we could depend on. You will be surprised where support comes from and you will find support.
This is the most daunting stage of transitioning, the most fear-filled, most tear-filled and most upsetting. But the destination is the prize of normality.