Stephanie and Phili, I can so relate to both of your stories, and found both of them profoundly sad to read. I, also, am in a long term marriage with a non accepting wife and, like Stephanie, have endured the silent treatment and emotional distancing after The Talk and my appeals for understanding. I would never try to demand that she accept my femininity, but her refusal to do so has hurt me and our relationship more than she will ever comprehend. As far as the arc, the older I get, the more I realize that I am transgender, the more I want to be a woman, the more I want to be feminine, and the more I would like to share this with my life partner. Nancy