I have found it best to assess my
audience first to ascertain their possible level
of understanding i.e. some people are more
worldly, intelligent, open minded etc so
accordingly I answer their questions to the best
of my ability, and as honestly as I can, keeping
mind I make it clear that any questions
regarding my genitalia are not an option.
This is basically because discussing one's
genital makeup, issues, etc. fall outside
appropriate everyday human interaction. I also
like to quickly separate the curious from the
genuinely interested, which is sometimes
difficult but can pay dividends.
The most important point for me is for folks
to understand that I am a man, have always been
a man and will always be a man, regardless of my
previous physicality. That I have NOT "become" a
man after having been a "woman".
Having commenced hormonal therapy and having
has several rehabilitative surgical
interventions whilst still being employed as a
registered nurse, has been both a rewarding and
damned frustrating experience at times. Same
story as above except that I was often spending
long periods of time with these people.
Not everybody wants to be educate, nor has an
open mind. So therefore, I have had my fair
share of uncomfortable moments, interestingly
more this year than ever before.
I have never been able to be more stealth,
due to my physicality etc., and yet this seems
to have threatened some individuals more than
whilst going through the process.
Maybe I am too much like them now (?) and the
things that at one stage that separated us are
no longer present. Hence an over-identification
syndrome evolves, ie., if he is like me in so
many ways then I could have been just like that
- fear, ignorance, anger. To some I will always
be different, so therefore I should look
different so as to be easily recognisable.
