Why don't they accept me?

'Why won't people accept me?' I hear that complaint a lot.

Some people are jerks - there is no getting around that. But, for the most part, people don't want to be jerks. You have to give them a fair shot.

When I was in college I took a drama class and we went to see a version of 'Our Town'. The sets were sparse and the theater small but still we were mesmerized by the event. Another interesting aspect was a completely ethnically diverse cast. A black girl was the daughter of a white father and an asian mother. You know what? It was a non-event. We didn't even notice after a few minutes.

It is called 'suspension of disbelief'. It is a contract between performer and audience. The audience accepts what is given as long as the performer doesn't RUB THEIR NOSES IN IT.

A point?

Getting there.

I used to go to a support group. I wasn't a big fan of the group but I went once in a while. There was a transitioner there who was in her 30's and, in my opinion, visibly an attractive woman.

So, bolstered by the fact of her medical condition, decided to transition immediately. Right now. No preamble. She showed up in a dress to work one day and demanded to be referred to with her new name and female pronouns. Also, immediate access to the women's shower facilities.

Of course this was immediately followed by her threatening to sue everyone in sight for sexual harassment.

I suppose in a perfect world, this would be acceptible. But, she had some issues. She wore dresses every day, nothing wrong with that except that she worked in a very hands on blue collar job. The dresses she wore would be good for a 19 year old to go clubbing. She also refused to speak other than in a booming baritone voice. People offered to work with her on her voice but she refused, saying it was 'fake' (more on the 'fake voice' later).

The discord between her appearance and her voice. The inappropriateness of her attire. Her RUDE transition style. All have led her to a hostile work environment.

Transition, at least in the early stages is a contract between the transitioner and those around them. An honest attempt makes for a much more positive reception that beligerence.

Social acceptance is not a right - it is won over a little at a time.