You're at lunch in the company cafeteria with three of your colleagues. All men. Just "the guys."
The conversation goes from work stuff to wives to politics.
And then, oddly, to the transgender woman who just started in marketing.
When her name comes up, your palms start to sweat, your heartbeat increases, and you get nervous wondering what they're going to say.
You stay on the outside of the conversation, just observing.
One guy says he just doesn't get it; can't understand why anyone would want to do that.
Uh-oh, you think, not a good start.
Another guy takes it further. "Yeah," he says, dismissively shaking his head, "That's pretty fu**ing weird, if you ask me."
You don't recall anyone asking him.
The third guy responds with what almost passes as a show of support: "Well, to each his own. Or her own. Or whosever own."
Haha, they all laugh.
Not aggressive or angry laughs. They're worse than that. They're disparaging laughs. Sneering, contemptuous, disdainful laughs.
You excuse yourself from the table to hide your tears of anguish and sorrow.
You go straight to this woman you've not yet met and thank her for her courage and inspiration.
"Why?" she asks.
Because you're transgender too. And now you're ready to tell people.
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