hey fellow trans people and whoever else
the general public will always have a considerable demographic of people who have never seen, met or known a “noticeably” trans person.
people who find themselves in that visible category, (me, bearded ftm in retail) could at any point be someones first and ONLY real-life impression of a transgender person. thats an incredible amount of pressure to hold on your shoulders in any circumstances; to be someone’s first or only impression of a marginalized group you represent. especially one that is often otherwise targeted and harassed by government powers, corporations, and media creators in the public eye.
but frankly my friends, the reasons why a stranger doesn’t have experience with something will always be nobody’s business. the public stranger could have any reason imaginable for never meeting someone like you before. its “not your job to educate people”- no. but it really is as simple as a smile and sympathy sometimes to make a difference.
choosing to be a kind person doesn’t take your autonomy away either. set your boundaries in social interactions and when needed, decline clearly or disengage entirely with someone.
ive managed this way for many years. ive accepted that people are mean to me often. they wont see it phase me. i choose to be nice.