Ignorance

[Staci K]

Hello all,

Well I took the plunge yesterday and came out of the closet to some close family friends. Unfortunately my openness to sharing myself to them was not free from receipt of ridicule/mockery.

After sleeping on it for a day, I decided that a status on my boy mode Facebook page should read, "Ever notice how ignorance & making an ass of one's self seems to go hand in hand" in hopes they realize their wrong doing. Instead, they 'liked' my status - this called for a more blunt approach apparently.

So I sent them a private message that read:

Like most people who share their hobbies on FB (crossdressing is a listed hobby on my profile), it's done to allow yourself to be proud of who you are. You get to share who you are with friends/family because you feel you know them well enough that they can respect you for who you are without being ridiculed.

Unless you are a professional comedian or make a point of keeping your FB page full of nothing but jokes and sarcastic comments, you don't expect close family friends to laugh & mock you.

With this in mind, I ask that you don't laugh at the hobbies that I have listed on my FB page. When you ask me my goals, don't laugh at them.

Everyone wants to be accepted for who they are - regardless of what your hobbies include - I'm no different.



Within a half hour I had received a message back of apology, as well as, a phone call of tearful regrets for their comments.

Anyone else have similar stories with friends and/or family?

Nicole

[kimdl93]

Not quite like that - I've never profiled myself on FB - call me a Luddite. But I was outed some years ago by an angry X...and strangly, I didn't get any negative feedback. It seemed more people resented her actions than the prospect that I might be "different".

[NathalieX66]

Well, that was great that you recieved an apology.
I have a few pics on my guy FB page, but I never made any claim that "I am a CD'er"....it just is. If people don't get the math, fine. If they do,a nd they are turned off, oh well, that's life. I don't make any claims about me or my life anymore than i tell people my bedtime secrets.

I didn't just post pics of me on my fb page on a whim, I knew full well of the consequences and I accept them. I know more about the subject than anyone in my friends circle could ever know, it's been with me nearly all my life. I even have a couple of ex-GF's and romantic interests on there too. I feel better being an honest person. So far, I've recieved quite a few comments, nothing negative, and, even from people I never would have expected. I can't speak for anybody, but I took quite a risk that I often doubt and question myself. But at the end of the day, my friends know the real me, and there is no more reason for suspicion. The way I look at it, crossdressers are really cool people. They don't let the social constructs of the gender binary get in their way. That's a pretty amazing thing.

[rhonda]

I guess we all will come out sometime and take what comes with it must people after finding out are cought off gaurd then most will come around, my times a coming

[Toronto Kristen]

At some stage all of us have to face (pun intended) the eventual "outing". Mine has not yet arrived but it will. As I do not use Facebook, despite having an account, my denouement will come through a chance encounter or a deliberate discussion.

To me, the response Nicole got was completely wrong and I am glad that they have apologised. However, I suspect that the response might have been a manifestation of their discomfort with the concept rather than something directed towards Nicole specifically.

[christiecd]

You were very brave to have your dressing out in the open like that -- I don't think I could ever do that! Good for you for telling them that it's your life and your decisions! While our friends don't have to understand our decisions, they need to respect them.

Christie

[Amanda22]

In my opinion, FB causes more problems and wastes far more time than value it returns.