I’ve been in my current town for almost ten weeks and I can’t say that I’ve been mightily surprised at the reception I get from complete strangers.
I have known from the outset that I won’t ever be a fashion model, at least not a stereotypical one. Nor will I be able to appear 100% female 100% of the time … so I don’t try 100% of the time.
What I meant by that statement is that I won’t spend thousands on shapeshifting clothing or ‘magic’ cosmetics that require several hours to apply. That’s simply not practical and is reserved for very special occasions.
I simply dress comfortably, or uncomfortably but stylish, and get on with my day. I tend to walk to the stores so there’s no surprise that I encounter some of this town’s finest inhuman beings on my travel and a few seem to take exception to my existence. So be it. Strangely it’s almost always blokes in their early 20s to late 50s.
My guess is that they swallow the diatribe that certain sections of the media regurgitate relentlessly but have never sat down to talk to a transgender person? Possibly* they have never knowingly spoken to anyone who is LGBTQI+ ?
What I did find strange is that I never seem to encounter these people in supermarkets or other stores – I guess they have someone else to do their shopping? Perhaps I could ask them one day? Maybe not.
What is odd is that I have only encountered one other trans woman locally (in Tesco’s clothing section), and she was from another town. So, where are they all? It certainly suggests that my theory above (*) may well be correct?
I’ve been around the sun a few times and will turn 60 quite soon so I can cope with barbed words. I am worried, however, for any younger LGBTQI+ folk in this town who may feel very unsafe at present.
The local population elected Nigel Farage as their MP, perhaps that explains a few things?