30 Day Trans Challenge - Day 4

4) How did your family take it when you came out/ if you are not out why aren't you?

The family that I have come out took it better than I expected.  They seemed to have the same response of everyone else I've come out to.... "Oh yeah, we knew that."  I'm out to my parents, my sister, her husband, and 2 cousins.  All have been supportive and fine about it.  My parents tend to be a little less supportive or they are just clueless.  I'm hoping clueless.  They just still reaffirm me being their son.  Like they say it more than they did before I came out.  Maybe they are still getting used to it.  Maybe it's hard for them to see me as a daughter as I still present mostly male for now.  But in time I think they will come around.  Baby steps.  It only bothers me when I'm on the downward swing of my emotions.  And I know slip ups happen.  Everyone has known me as male for 34+ years.  It's an adjustment.  I get that.  Like last night I was called uncle.  I know it was a slip.  It didn't bother me.  

As for why I'm not out to the rest of my family.... they are super religious and conservative.  I think some of my aunts and uncles would be fine if I came out to them, but my grandmother and great aunt would not be.  They both live for fox news and they are the type that pick and choose from the bible to what suits them.  Both are up there in age, so I don't have to hide forever.  Interesting though is that even with how religious and conservative my grandmother is... she didn't care when I was six and my sister and aunt dressed me up as a girl.  She at times encouraged it.  I know she isn't like that now.  Three husbands later and now alone made her bitter and all about church and believing every word of Fox News.  Oh well.


I need to amend my answer to Day 2 regarding my name.  I may be keeping my birth name, but I did pick a nickname for myself.  It's many for the kids in my life that I call nieces and nephews.  I picked the nickname Bibi.  It means aunt in Indonesia.  And another variation has developed... Beebs.  I like both and wish I was called them more often.  They're cute nicknames.