[Kaunisenkeli]

You see, I just don't understand people like that. In the transgender community, there are folks who are so uptight about things that they've been known to ostracize even other trans-folks if they stray from this person's narrow definitions of things. It's always destructive. For example, there are a lot of transsexuals who try to keep those in our community who are sex workers of any form in some other little pigeonhole, regardless of how they ended up in that position. I don't give a single flying fuck if someone does porn/stripping/whatever because they want to or if they do it because they felt they had no other choice. They are human, they are trans, and they need support. I've heard stances like this jokingly called "trannier-than-thou" attitudes.

I also don't get people who rag on bisexuals. I'm a lesbian, myself, but that doesn't mean that bisexual folks don't exist. To claim this is just bizarre and damages our community, but I know at least a few people who feel that way. Nobody should be made to feel unwelcome in these forums except those who are just there to berate everyone for being LGBT+, be they straight, cisgender allies, someone who is bi, or a lesbian transwoman like myself.

Yeah, the reception I've gotten both times has amazed me. I was expecting someone in my biology class to say something, but every kept quiet and listened. In my psych class, though, a young woman asked me after class if I minded getting a hug from her. I've been so lucky thus far, and I keep wondering how long that luck will last.

Yeah, it wasn't easy, but a year after I moved away to Colorado (and a year after I had come out of the closet) I got some help in the form of my parents finally coming around to full support. That was such a huge help, to know they were there to talk if I needed them, that I had a home to return to if things went too far south (which they did once), and money if they could manage it. That was a gigantic help, but I still should have tried harder to make some friends (there are no support groups where I am, being out in the boonies).

Hmmm, the public image thing is one of the harder hurdles to clear. I know that took me a while. Some come right out at the start of transitioning physically, others hang back a bit. I'm really having trouble with this bit, but if they still want you using the female pronouns nobody else has the right to yell at you for doing so. I know little of binding from the ftm folks I've known, but I can imagine sizable breasts would wreak havoc with it (and be hella-uncomfortable).

Burned hands are never fun. :( -looks over the scars she got as a pro cook- Hopefully it heals quickly without scarring.

I haven't really talked much about my old self-destructive habits, but you'll be the first one I come to so we can trade "war stories." :)

That sucks! Nobody should be told that they and their opinions don't matter, much less raised to believe that. I'm so sorry to hear that he blamed himself for all that. :(