[SIZE="3"]
Quote Originally Posted by ReineD View Post
I agree DD it would be ideal if everyone could do this fully as you describe, but not everyone is at the same point. Standing up for one CD may simply be to garner enough courage to tell her wife. For another, it may be gaining enough confidence to go out to a TG support group for the first time. For someone else it may be going out in the mainstream and not saying a word to eventually be able to speak to lots of people, thus losing their fear of being 'found out' and letting them know they are TG. Still, this is one on one and somewhat safe.
What "point" do they need to be at to stand up for themselves?

Standing up for yourself, doesn't mean you have to stand up as a CDer. Merely as a human being or as a partner. The point of that particular statement isn't in regards to CDing specifically. It means that if you believe in what you are doing, you shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed by it. That stands for far more than CDing, I was attempting to encourage someone to be proud of whom they are and to see CDing as only a facet to that.

You don't have to march on Washington to make a statement.

I'm not making some big political statement here and telling everyone they have to shout it from the roof tops. As a matter of fact, I'm saying NOT to! I don't think you have to make ANY fuss about it, just don't back down from what you believe in. And don't be so scared to be who you are that you push your loved ones away.

Just having the courage to be yourself is a statement. Just allowing your partner to decide FOR HERSELF if she wants to be there and hold your hand. To just stop living in fear and learning to accept yourself. You don't even have to leave the house, but you also don't have to fear yourself.

I'm well aware the levels involved in telling people about gender identity. I don't think encouraging people to have confidence should always be met with opposition in explaining not everyone can be that way. I don't think it needs to constantly be followed by a disclosure about everyone's abilities to do so. I think people are going to take baby steps either way unless they feel differently. So I didn't think to add that to my post.

But to hold hands with a GG in public will gather lots of attention. And it is likely the GG will not want to do this either, at least not in the beginning of the relationship. It may take years for them to be able to get to that point.
I had already stated that a GG may not want that kind of attention to begin with in my first post in this thread.

I also believe it should be left of to HER to decide.

I do agree TSs have an advantage there though. Living with 24/7 certainly makes it easier to stand up and be counted. Still, some TSs have lost a great many relationships and it is very lonely and painful.
I don't think TS have it any easier. A CDer can take off the clothes and go back to boy mode. Many TS cannot once they have started establishing a life as a full time woman. They cannot just tell their friends and family, "oh... I changed my mind again, I am going back to being male." I don't think any one group has it easier or harder than the other. Just different.[/SIZE]