kimdl93
05-16-2013, 09:19 AM
Well, yesterday witnessed two personal milestones. I attended a meeting with at the office of a business associate en femme and a couple hours later I visited a friend at her house, en femme. Neither had any prior knowledge that I was transgender, and honestly, after days of mulling it over, I just decided to go dressed as I preferred, sent a text before my arrival briefly explaining and giving each of them the choice of opting out, so to speak.
It proved to be a non issue. The business associate, really also a friend, was incredibly welcoming and accepting. She works as director of a non profit that serves HIV and transgendered clients, so I had every reason to expect a tolerant attitude, and that proved to be the case. After an initial acknowledgement that "this is new", we settled into a hour long discussion of work, then just before I left we talked just abit about my status, relationship with my wife, and plans. One comment she made was that I certainly wasn't the first TG person who came out to her and wouldn't be the last.
I had planned to have lunch yesterday with a friend, but her work schedule got in the way. So, she texted and asked if I'd like to stop by her house for coffee instead. I called to say yes, but that I'd be dressed a little differently than usual. She said "are you wearing a tuxedo"? and I said, no, actually a white pencil skirt and a peach cotton top. She chuckled a bit and said "come on over!" So, we ended up spending five hours visiting.
Like the earlier meeting, there were a few minutes at first, spent on the obvious, but we settled back into a long conversation about family, relationships, home remodeling, and circled back to gender matters. I honestly believe that we are even closer friends than in the past....and she's offered to help my wife and I on a remodeling project this fall! We're meeting for lunch today, to pick up on the conversation.
Anyway, both "outings" involved a measure of risk, but calculated risk. And I'm very glad that I took the chance to be open with both of these wonderful people.
It proved to be a non issue. The business associate, really also a friend, was incredibly welcoming and accepting. She works as director of a non profit that serves HIV and transgendered clients, so I had every reason to expect a tolerant attitude, and that proved to be the case. After an initial acknowledgement that "this is new", we settled into a hour long discussion of work, then just before I left we talked just abit about my status, relationship with my wife, and plans. One comment she made was that I certainly wasn't the first TG person who came out to her and wouldn't be the last.
I had planned to have lunch yesterday with a friend, but her work schedule got in the way. So, she texted and asked if I'd like to stop by her house for coffee instead. I called to say yes, but that I'd be dressed a little differently than usual. She said "are you wearing a tuxedo"? and I said, no, actually a white pencil skirt and a peach cotton top. She chuckled a bit and said "come on over!" So, we ended up spending five hours visiting.
Like the earlier meeting, there were a few minutes at first, spent on the obvious, but we settled back into a long conversation about family, relationships, home remodeling, and circled back to gender matters. I honestly believe that we are even closer friends than in the past....and she's offered to help my wife and I on a remodeling project this fall! We're meeting for lunch today, to pick up on the conversation.
Anyway, both "outings" involved a measure of risk, but calculated risk. And I'm very glad that I took the chance to be open with both of these wonderful people.