Saturday, April 30, 2016

Letter to My Gay Lover When I Realized I Was Transgender



                                                                                                                                     Spring 2012

Dear Marv,

            I guess abruptly turning to talk of moving my job closer to you and moving in has triggered a bunch of both practical and emotional concerns. I was feeling some of this too. I do believe that creating this eight month period to let the dust settle is a good idea. It changes things between us, and that makes me sad, but it is the right thing to do—for both of us.

            You know, I am so used to living in unsettled circumstances that I don’t think much about it anymore, even though my goal is to get to a settled situation. Our coming together was a life-changer in so many ways. I have never felt so accepted and cared for. For me such major changes began the day I met you and continued at an incredible pace each day during all of this time. I have tried to keep you up-to-date with what is going on inside me, much of which is obvious. Your tolerance and patience allowed the changes going on inside to keep on going, which has never happened before. In all my past situations a little resistance would have just stopped everything in its tracks.

            The trouble is that profound changes just kept evolving. I had no idea where any of this was leading. I just followed the internal cues. It just hasn’t, it seems, ended up in a place that’s great for you. To put it most simply, I have discovered that I am transgender, not just a crossdresser. I think you were able to follow me all the way up to and including the crossdresser stage; but I also think I lost you at that last step.

            While you are absolutely right that I will be better off with some time to experience or at least be exposed to other relationships, it’s not likely to take place the way you imagined. You see, I have really come to realize that I am not gay. I am bisexual. My relationship with you blossomed because of the love and tenderness that was you, not because you’re a guy. I have made you my glorious exception—I have completely thrown myself into my relationship with you, and it’s been fabulous. But I don’t think I’ll ever look for another guy. My feelings are feminine. I desire to experience my body in a feminine way. While I can see it as possible that I might hook up with a guy who accepts me in this feminine way (as I hoped against hope you might be able to), it’s more likely that I’ll want a woman as a partner, or another transgender person. These are the kind of people I will be trying to meet.

            None of this is your fault. You did everything right and nothing wrong. It is just the way it is. I understand completely that you are a man purely and simple interested in other men, hopefully in a relationship like what we’ve had. No one could have seen this change coming. But here it is, and you have come up with a good way to deal with it.

            I do understand your issues (or most of them anyway). You want to be settled, independent, have company in a loving relationship, and to share your remaining time with a lot of adventurous shared activity. And, of course, not only do my gender issues get in the way, but my ‘baggage’ does as well. I have to work; right now I have to work at least one weekend; I have to see the kids two weekends a month; I have to make payments to both family support and creditors. I am pretty booked up without much that I can do about it. This doesn’t leave a whole lot left over. I understand that as a long-term diet this won’t work for you. I really appreciate your asking directly, so that I understand. I wish I had more of what you want to give. I really do.

            I think I could have coasted on in our relationship the way it’s been for quite a while longer. For me it was hectic, but it worked, and turned out to be quite stable. But for you I have come to understand that it just doesn’t work. I’m sorry. You have every right to want and to get what you really want, but I don’t think I am the one who can give that to you. I am really grateful that you have forced the issue in this way because I don’t think that continued drifting was good for either of us.

            I look forward to seeing how it plays out. I’m grateful that we haven’t burned any bridges. We have just become more realistic. You are, without a doubt, the best person ever to have happened to my life thus far. For that you will always have my love and appreciation.

                                                                                                            Ever fondly,



                                                                                                            Colleen

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