This Sunday I have a lunch with Louise, Nicole and Marie-Denise; 3 women who know nothing of my gender history; all are slightly older than me save one. Telling them now feels a little pointless because the news would be irrelevant to our relationship. Plus I might see them maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
The other day over coffee Sylvie briefly mentioned transgender people in front of me and I said nothing but in her case I am fairly certain I will eventually tell her.
My most recent coming out was with the girls at the Atwater Market but they are all 45 and under and it went over amazingly well. I do things at my own pace and when it feels right.
Over the years as I grew into myself I told the truth about my life save for my transgender history because it wasn't information impacting the rapport with the person. The only people who were told everything were those who had worked with me. Those I met as Joanna were a different story as many were relegated to people you saw once in a while.
My aim has never been to deceive but to simply test living openly in the world and see what happened. I wasn't wearing a costume but simply being the authentic self I had never been permitted to be
Today, if someone would ask me outright I would admit it and if I saw someone on the street who knew me before I would simply greet them and say hello likely surprising them.
For older transgender people coming out slowly it can be a little tricky and yet I am generally very satisfied with the way it has gone thus far.
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