The original theme of this thread was about CDers being left behind. Gays and lesbians, and now increasingly, TS are becoming accepted. Not everywhere and not by everyone. It is a process. It takes time as it did, and is still doing, for gays and lesbians but it is slowly happening. Even the non binary are making progress. Small and slow though it is.
The CDers still face prejudice and ridicule. That they do is wrong and crazy. How you present and dress should be your business. But as Paula as tried to patiently explain it will never change unless CDers take action.
Do not take action for the sake of the TS. Although greater visibility of CDers would probably help, we are already doing it for ourselves. Take action for the sake of other CDers. Take action to protect yourself if you are ever outed by accident or by a SO. Take action so we can all live in a saner and more accepting world.
That does not mean all of you. Compared to Paula I do very little. But I am living full time and I am very visible. That in itself makes a difference.
I was the first TS patient my GP had ever had. I was the first TS in my company and family. The first TS 99% of the people I came out to had ever met. It was hard (I hope) for them to put me into a little box as a freak, as a potential bathroom rapist, as delusional etc because they already knew me and knew (again I hope) those things were not true. They were forced to deal with me as a friend and as a human being who just happened to be TS. One or two had a problem but the majority were fine and now those seem to have come around as well. I know it is not always that easy but it was easier for me because of those who had gone before and those who are active and visible now. It was easier for me because of the people who had come out quietly before and because of people like Paula who devote so much time and effort to change things now.
I know what it is like to be terrified of coming out. I lived with that fear for decades until the fear of what would happen if I did not transition became greater. Zooey is right. The TS section has a lot of CDers who come on to it complaining about being hidden and not having rights and freedoms. That often spills over into blaming TS for going stealth. The question is where are they in this thread? Why do they never challenge their fellow CDers?
That is very true and a very good point but if more people got on the soapbox now then maybe people like you would not have to worry about losing eveything in the future.It's easy to get on a soapbox when you have nothing left to lose.
