Ask a trans person!

[little man]

Originally Posted by June

Hi, I have a question for the Trans folks in our community.

Knowing that there are a lot of acceptance issues for everyone involved, do you think it is more difficult to be accepted or welcomed into the on and off line BF communities as a FTM or MTF?

i think it likely depends on where you're at and who you're with. this site, in particular, has been extremely welcoming to all from the get go. i think for folks like thinker, koop, theo and myself...we were readily accepted here because of relationship and history nurtured on the dash. with that groundwork laid, i think it's likely more welcoming to new guys here. i suspect the same is true for MtF folks who have migrated here. (i can't really speak to it with any authority, though).

so far as r/t communities go...well, i'm not all that socially adept (as you know, june). like theo, i'm fairly introverted and don't really do groups well. i've lived in different parts of the country and have noticed some places are more open/accepting of B-F dynamics than others. being back in the midwest, i do recall feeling like a bit of a pariah for being "so butch" prior to transition. people who knew me didn't care so much about that and just took it as a part of who i was. i haven't really run into many folks i've known here since transitioning. the few i have seen have been very welcoming and accepting (read as not surprised). i haven't really been out to any queer social space since coming back here. i'm not sure how i'd be taken there. the way i've seen MtFs treated in r/t in this area has been 'tolerated'. i think it also comes down to knowing that person as an individual.

so far as disparity between levels of acceptance between MtF and Ftm? i suspect we guys have an easier time of it in general. i think that's based on appearance and ability to blend in rather than stand out. i suspect that MtFs who don't pass easily or well fall into the drag queen category for many folks. i stand by previous statements about people being lazy and not looking to expand their understanding of anything or anyone outside their little worlds.

how to remedy this? awareness, of course. but, how do you make people interested enough in things outside their realm of experience to effect change? (speaking to r/t rather than this site.



Where do you see the differences/disparities occurring? Why do you think that is? How can we help make that better?

Thank you, and feel free to ask me for clarification.

June

is this helpful at all? or did i just sidestep your whole point? i do ramble....