It reminded me of something that happened over 20 years ago.
I had a friend in high school who later became the opposite sex (insofar as that is possible). I was the first "straight" friend she (at the time, it was actually "he") confided in. I wasn't certain how to deal with his admission at first.
My very first response was "Hey, I know these really religious guys and maybe they can talk to you about it."
Later, I realised that I wasn't friends with her because she was male, but because we both liked cars and motorcycles, we liked the same music, and we both had a wierd sense of humor.
Even she wasn't certain what she was. At first, she assumed she was gay. Eventually, she decided she was transsexual, and wanted to become female.
I did a lot of reading on the subject of human sexuality, gender identity, transgender issues, and just about any other book I could get my hands on to figure out how to deal with this "problem". I finally figured out that the "problem" wasn't hers (though I'm sure she had some of her own anyway) but mine. She was my friend. My problem was learning to accept my friend the way she was. I did. I kept her secret because she asked me to.
I did even though it meant that some people (mostly just his immediate family) assumed that because I didn't reject him out of hand, that I was gay, too. She eventually moved to San Francisco to pursue her goal of changing gender. I haven't seen her in many years.
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I consider myself a tolerant person. I have Christian friends, Jewish friends, Muslim friends, gay friends, staight friends, friends from both sexes. I've dealed with a lot of weird issues, and I can honestly say that I've never even imagined that happening to me. I'd like to think I'd be as tolerant as you Baloo, but that's pretty damn strange. I wouldn't hate or fear the person, but it would take a lot of getting used to.
------------------ Josh: I think they're getting to know each other a bit too well, if you catch my drift. Me: Oh, I agree. I think they're spending too much time together, that is of course, if you catch my drift. Asher: I think he's *ucking her, and he's cheating on his wife, and he's risking his marriage, and if his wife finds out about it she'll leave him and take their son, and his life will be ruined. If you catch my drift...
I have never known anyone that was transgendered, but I have known many gay people, and of course (as everyone is aware, *LOL*), am bi-sexual myself, .... I think this maybe runs along the same lines?
These people think that it was something natural to them, something they were born with. I understand that, I know that I personally am SURE that my liking for woman is purely genetical. Other people in society may have found their own reasons to explain this phenomenon - some say it was the way they were raised growing up. But no one is going to ever find a way to rationalize it to themselves or "make it right" unless they realize that It already is.
My mother had the same problem adjusting to me. For awhile I wondered if it was my fault the way she was acting. Then I realized that I'm not responsible for her reactions to me. I can be the reason she reacted, but I can't be the reason she reacted in the way she did. So Baloo's right.... it was HER problem all along.
------------------ �From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold � all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. ... Know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.�
Seriously though, gender is a complicated thing. There are the obvious physical aspects, as well as a whole host of mental and social ones.
------------------ "Something I can't comprehend. Something so complex and couched in its equation. So dense that light cannot escape from." -- Soul Coughing
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