a previous life...

   Tonight I spoke for a speakers bureau at a local university about LGBT issues. I've done well over 100 speakers bureaus, and have had all kinds of experiences at them. It's usually a very rewarding experience just as tonight was. One of the interesting things is hearing other people's stories. My own story is much different from some of my friends who are older, have been married, have kids, came out in the 60s and 70s, etc. It's enlightening.
   Tonight I learned something new about a part of the community that I had never considered. On the panel was a transgender man. As he spoke I found that I related to much of what he was saying - the whole "feeling different growing up," finding resources to deal with issues, family issues, coming out, and all that. There are many commonalities between gays and lesbians and transgendered people. But one thing that I had not considered is that many trans people have different ways of dealing with their "past lives."
   When someone comes out as gay or lesbian, they are still the same person. Granted some people may not see it that way, but I think most do. But when someone transitions from male to female, many people, often including the transgendered person themselves, see them as a different person. Some people integrate their lives as the opposite gender into their current self, but others leave the whole "other person" behind. Some vehemently deny their previous existence in favor of who they are now. I'm not saying either way is right or wrong, but it's interesting that it's a whole new dimension of coming out that I never considered.