Wow, "genital mutilation." What does one say? My GCS surgeon was on a panel I saw yesterday and my thought was "she's the person who made me (physically) right." Far cry from "mutilation" ☺

I'm not surprised on the sexual orientation part, even LG people seem to often have a problem knowing the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation.

I agree, Chrissy. I was really taken aback. He said it without any disdain or attitude but clearly that's how he considered GCS. Hopefully the email I sent to him will clear that up.

I think sometime people dont know what to say or how to react in this situation. 

I agree, Kitrah, if I had just told him that I'm trans. But I had done it earlier, he'd provided his support via email, and earlier in the dinner told me that he'd told his parents who knew me well when I was a child and in high school. His father remarked that I'd make a pretty woman - which was a big surprise! I thus think that his "genital mutilation" comment came from what he really thought although it wasn't given with any disdain or negative baggage. 

He did respond to my email and apologized, saying that his ignorance was really on display. So, we're all good!

well that nice for him to do that. sometime when people talk to me, they real dont understand gravity of what they talk. i do the same thing some time also because i only can see thing from my perseptive. i try sometime to see thing from other point of view. when i first start this transition i had intent to keep thing the way it is because it is how i was made. my view have change and this remain interesting for me. i rememer when i first start to come to tgguide. i didn't care what people call me shemale or tranny. i think sometime this come from fact that i was bullied for be this way. so now he knows more so there is no worry.

We still have a long way to go in this country. Your encounter, unfortunately, is pretty typical of what you get for feedback. I don't think that anyone who is not trans really has any understanding of what it's all about.

Dear Friends,

Just because you have known a person for a long time, doesn't mean they will grow parallel to you.  

Emma, I hate to say this, but this man hasn't grown much since the first grade when you knew him.  By the way, education does not always imply maturity.

When I attended my 10 year high school reunion, I was amazed that those who attended looked and acted as if they graduated YESTERDAY.  Asked to be taken off the mailing list!

When I moved to Dutchess County, I reunited with a friend of mine from high school and I wondered why I was ever friends with her.  She did not look or act like she had grown at all, and she and I had graduated 40 years ago!

My youngest brother, he claimed he did not recognize me on an emotional or physical level in the ten years we were out of touch.  Took this as a compliment!  

The upshot is that we all grow at different rates and directions.  Even if we compare ourselves to ourselves, every ten years every cell in our body is replaced, and if we are growing at a healthy pace, we should show significant differences every ten years.  Even when I look at myself from six months ago, a year ago or two years ago, I see significant change in myself.

By the way, that man was just plain RUDE!

Your friend,

Monica