Reply #9: Okay, I said I was bowing out but I lied

[TallahasseeGrannie]

because I do have a bit of experience in my life with transgendered folks, all male to female. And I find myself gravitating towards them because they have known such pain. One I met at church in choir and two were parents of kids I teach. I don't want to say I pity them, because to me pity is a negative emotion. But I always go out of my way to be friendly because I feel so much empathy. Yet I have never experienced anything like this personally. Well, I am a very large lady. Maybe that is why. But then I am always going around smiling and saying hello to obvious Muslims in the grocery store because I'm afraid they get a lot of dirty looks and comments.

I'm kind of dippy that way, I guess.

But I cannot begin to even imagine the courage it takes to change gender and remain in your present life. I don't understand the gender urge, but it sure as hell must be strong for people to go through what they go through.