I was shopping the other day with my wife. I was in drab with a morning beard stubble, except for my gold ear hoops and a brightly colored silk scarf I wore.
I noticed a couple (M&F apparently) in the women's dept and then in another part of the store (a Target). "She" was slender of build; slight in the shoulders and narrow waist. She wore jeans and ordinary t-shirt and a jacket. Her long natural hair was pulled back and braided into 2 pigtails. She had large gold ear hoops. Except of the slight hint of beard growth around her nose and chin she would have passed splendidly. Her slight man-hands (not prominent) and the fact she had "shadow" on her chin too, and not just that "woman moustache" that some GGs get, were my only hints.
She was with "male" partner who possibly could have been a FtM transgender himself, but I couldn't quite detect it; though he had but a slight beard growth of soft fine facia hair.
I was intrigued, because this was in a small town and not a cosmopolitan center. I got up the nerve to approach them.
She was a bit surprised when I came forward and introduced my self in a low voice. "Hello, my name is Ilene." I wish you could have seen the surprise registered on her face. "....my name is Ilene, and may I ask you a question?" Are you a T-Girl?" She was for she instantly knew what I was talking about. Her surprised expression turned to even more surprise and a smile. Before she could answer I explained, "It's OK. I'm a transgender person myself." Again, more surprise on her face because I clearly was not presenting in a femme form. But she smiled, looked at her mate and replied in the positive. "Yes, I am", she nodded.
I told her, "It's OK dear. I'm sorry to put you on the spot. I'm also TG and I just had to let you know how beautiful you are."
She smiled again, and I didn't wish to beleaguer my encounter in the middle of a retail store. I shook her hand (with both hands), thanked her and went on my way.
I don't spot that many TG's or CDs in public. And for the life of me I don't know what possessed me to get "personal" with a stranger. But I had to know; and I had to let her know that she was "OK" and a beautiful person.
But.... would you go up and introduce yourself to someone you thought was TG, or would you admire from a distance and let them go on?