I would also agree that the Internet has made a big difference but to a certain extent it is more within the TG community than out of it but you have the knock on effect that if more see that there are others like them and feel easier about going out then the more the public sees it , but that is not the only thing that has made it a bit more acceptable in different geographical areas, there has to be a big acknowledgement of the gay community which to a certain extent the TG community has ridden on the back of that and got benefits from it , then you have television , and that was the fist time i realised what i was when i saw a program about Transvestites and thought " holly cow i must be one of those" as before i just thought i had a few odd ways , so yes it has changed from when i started out on this journey but it is still a split change , as i said geographical area will play a big difference so will age as i feel that being younger you can be more accepted but being older you can be looked upon as shall we say not normal .
The internet has made it a lot more easier for the wive`s/SOs to get information and help/support but that is still within the TG community, the general public just do not go looking for it as they have no need to but things are still a lot better than years ago when you had not dare let it out that you crossed dressed , now you get some acceptance,some that just do not care and the odd few that will go out of their way to make trouble so it has gained in some ways but still got a long way to go , it needs some sort of mass brake out by all to really get things accepted but that is difficult as we all have a different degree/style of doing it so it is going to take a little longer yet but it is heading that way .( i hope ).
One thing i will say and that is if you are young and want to do it ,do it now as it is a lot easier for you to grow up with your friends knowing about it and getting use to it than springing it on them in 10 years time .