With the official announcement at work, most of the people that I see on a day-to-day basis now knew about my transition. Both Cathy and I agreed that we didn’t want to have to explain our new situation to people as we bump into them and continue to keep coming out. We figured it would be best if we posted something on our socials. This should cover the rest of our friends and family that had not yet heard the news.
The Post
I had been working on a message for the past month that I wanted to share. To this day, I still cry a little when I read it because it really was from the heart. I’ve attached it down below with my deadname whited out. It gives a look into what I was feeling and had been feeling for some time. At the same time, I knew there would be some people who would not be able to accept me. We allowed those people to step aside and no longer need to be connected.
After the post came out, I had a lot of apprehension. I really didn’t know what to expect.
What I got, was a lot of love, congratulations, support and understanding. Sure there were a few people who decided not to reconnect, but a vast majority stayed with me.
Cathy then posted a beautiful reply which still resonates today as it did then.
Sharing
Now that I opened myself up and shared, people felt more comfortable sharing with me too. I heard stories from people letting me know that they have someone close to them who is trans or is a part of the LGTBQ community. There was even an old friend that let me know that they were gay and were not able to come out yet to everyone else, but they were comfortable telling me. I chatted with people that I haven’t spoken to in years. This was the connection that I needed to bring them back into my life.
Every message I received helped built my confidence. It was so reassuring; I was safe and doing the right thing. I felt so close to so many people. By the end of the day, I was all cried out. But in a good way.
Another Starting Point
The previous day at work, I thought about the things that I would be doing for the last time. I didn’t really think about the fact that that day would be the last that I would have to hide. I do remember thinking that from that point on, I would get to be myself though. No more changing back and forth every day. No more having to plan what we were going to be doing that day, in an order where I could still find time to be myself. I am me now… finally.
The next week was going to be so affirming. Cathy and I had taken a vacation week and we had lined up my hair, makeup, nails, and a bit of shopping. But that’s in the next post :)
