Quote Originally Posted by Nicki B View Post
Certainly true - but the person they married isn't the same person anymore, in a similar way? Should they be treated differently?
In some cases, yes. Neither are physically or mentally impaired and they both have a chance to find more suitable partners.

What happens if, during a marriage, one partner discovers 'religion' and decides he wants to join a sect and live in the commune, ... or he decides he wants to give away all his earthly goods and live in poverty in a different country among lepers? These are extreme cases ... no doubt there are less severe examples of major changes in life goals. But should the spouse follow him if the new lifestyle goes against her own system of values? What about spouses who cannot continue to stay in marriages with philanderers or people who have difficulty overcoming their gambling, spending, or alcohol abuse compulsions?

Transitioning to live full time as the opposite gender is certainly a severe strain on a marriage between a man and a woman. But there seem to be many members here who have found their partners couldn't cope with the concept of cross-dressing at all, not transitioning...
True, but there ARE many SOs who stay in marriages and choose to support the CDing. I imagine this will continue to improve in time with more positive education and media coverage. There are many new GGs joining this site who come fully prepared to support their partners. I don't imagine this was the case 5 or 10 years ago.
Is it always symptomatic of other underlying issues? Or is it that it is seen as unacceptable in some societies to continue a marriage in such conditions?
My guess is the failure to support CDing is symptomatic of underlying issues. But many of the CDers do not wish to out themselves so the fear of being ostracized as the result of living openly femme is not as great. For marriages with transitioning women, then likely the fear of society's views plays a part in the decision to leave the marriage, but I would guess not as much as an inability for the GG to continue to see her spouse as a romantic partner.
There seems to be no pressure from society to stop a partner leaving, for this reason - whereas, as you say, there is often some support for dealing with a major disability?
Hopefully things will change in our lifetime. But I do agree with Batty. CDers would have to come out en masse and make themselves visible fighting for TG rights in order to be a catalyst for change. However, not everyone has that type of courage, especially if they have families to support. It is a very sad quandary.