General Chat

It seems that this month is Pride Month.

Of course, I believe everybody has the right to live by their own sexuality but it does occur to me that there is a great deal I don't understand about gender identity because nobody has ever informed me.

I do understand homosexuality but it is he transgender bit I don' understand, not why but how. I know that sometimes there is surgery involved but are those people who have undergone that surgery called something different from people who have not.

It is not that I have closed my mind, I just don't know how to find out, it would be rude to ask somebody but, if hey were o offer information, I would be very pleased to listen to them.

Maybe it is because I have been out of school for over fifty years and we only had maiden ladies and confirmed bachelors in those days. I hope young people know he details but I don't.

One of my cousins is going through transgender process , she has been treated as if she saw it in a shop and wanted to buy it, which I think isn't right, she has, as she put it always felt more male than female, she as bullied at school etc, thought she wasn't normal, she is normal and I told her "they" have the problem not her. She should be who she is not what "they" want her to be.

Not everybody has surgery do they?

Are those who do called something different from those who don't?

Not sure about that about that but my cousin will be just known as her new gender and new name, its quite a long proses.

I know of a child of a friend going through the process and as ZZZZZ says it is a long process, it involves hormone treatment as well as operations and lots of therapy as far as I can tell, it is definitely not to be taken lightly, but those are the people who go through the correct channels. I am not sure (as Sharron says) what happens about those that just decide they identify as the opposite sex to the one they were born with and choose to dress accordingly. Or those who identify as neither.

The first time I knowingly came across a 'trans' person was in Southampton, when me and my future brother in law's two brothers (B and R) (we were aged 15, 16 and 17) were going to the pub.
As we walked up the road, we saw three ladies being taunted by about half a dozen 'men'. The ladies had ordered a taxi, and were outside waiting for it, when the 'men' appeared. The ladies were very upset, and scared.

Coming from the other direction, were two young policemen, who I recognised as the two lads who had chatted my sister an I up, in a carpet shop.
They'd told us they were policemen, oh, how my sister and I laughed!

On seeing the fracas ahead, the eldest amongst us (B - built like the proverbial brick wotsit) shouted out. The 'men' turned to us, I spotted (and recognised) the policemen, went over and explained what we'd seen.

It was only then that I realised the ladies were men dressed in women's clothing, referred to then, as transvestites, or 'trannies'. They were scared becaus the 'men' had been threatening them.

The police had a word with the 'men', then the taxi came.
We, and the police persuaded the 'ladies' to let the 'men' have the taxi - then they'd be gone, and we'd wait with them until another came along.- like 3 underage teenagers would be protection!
'Men' is in commas, as these weren't men - they were narrow minded bigoted bullies - or possibly males scared about their own sexuality - but you don't 'cure' fear by attacking others.

I've always thought it unfair that women can easily dress like men, (trousers,boots, etc) but men can't wear frocks without it causing a stir.

A year later, I was working and living in Portsmouth.
One job was at St James' Psychiatric hospital, where I was printing autoclave bags with Mary, who was going undergoing gender re-assignement.
In those days, a psychiatrist was involved, to make sure it was reallly what you wanted, and you had to stay in the hospital.
Mary's family had disowned her, but Mary assured me, there was a good trans community in Portsmouth.

I found out how true this was when, I went for my next job in Portsmouth Dockyard!
:-D :-D :-D
I felt very safe going into particular Portsmouth pubs alone, where I could have a civilised drink and a chat.

About a year after leaving the hospital, I saw 'Mary' on the bus. 'Hello.......?.'
I asked 'Michael' he replied <3

I did see on the television once that somebody was holding make-up classes for transvestites and I think that could only be a good thing.

So often, when you see a man in women's attire, they are not too bad until you get to the face. They nearly always over-egg the pudding. Somebody needs to point out that tere are very few women who look like Dolly Parton. Less is more.

Use to go in hardware shop in Lancashire the woman behind the counter was a man in women's clothes he didn't have any operations but just liked Women's clothes but his hands were enormous & he had a very deep voice but a lovely person chatty friendly.he was happy with his life as he told me .saw him in men's clothes very handsome but each to their own Barbara

Danny la Rue was gorgeous either way.

True Sharron good person .

As is Julian Clary - he's just yummy.
Actually, now I thnk about it, maybe it's their love of animlas that I find attractive.
;-)