In our community the word “Out” has so many connotations. I want to cover of few of the ways we us the word “out”.
First: The phrase “I was outed……” This is when someone outside of the community reveals the fact that you are who you are. This could be a Friend of whom you confided in, pissed off girlfriend or someone you are dating or even if someone just happens to figure out it’s you being you. The later is one we’ve all worried-worry about. I have accepted the fact that I am recognized as a man in a dress some of the time. I do see and hear a lot of questions like “Is that a man or a woman?”and I do get referred to as being a woman. The main thing I was going for was not to be recognized as my butch self and I have manage to do that. I will discuss this in more detail in another blog.
Second: going out and about…This is a term used when we go out as our true selves. Whether it be shopping, dinner or whatever we do we do en femme.
Third: “I came out”……This is when we start to tell not just a few select people, this is when we begin the journey of telling all our friends and our work about our true self. This might be a certain date where we through a party and invite all we know and announce to the world we are TG. This could be something in which we begin to tell others one at a time and it may take a couple of years to get the word out. For some they will tell everyone except their parents, while others their parents are the first to know. Telling the parents is something that only you can decide when and how to do. For many TS their therapist require that they tell their parents before they can even start Hormone therapy. No matter what, you are the one that should decide on when, if at all, you come out to the public. You still owe it to yourself to be with others like yourself. That’s what the group is for, to be with others like yourself; no we will not force you to do anything that you are not ready for or comfortable with.
Forth: “I go out to the club”…..This one refers to exactly what it says. I went out to the club last night and thats the only place they went….home-club-home, that’s it. Occasionally this might include going to a very early breakfast after the club closes.
I go out and about regularly and I am in the process of coming out or should I say blossoming. I’ve really been surprised by my acceptance from those I’ve told and met.
HUGS Sandra
