One of those 'well, duh' facts about transitioning around people who knew me before: Make jokes.
It's a truth well known that humor is good for defeating the elephant in the dining room. My friends are kind, generous people who don't want to hurt or offend me, so for the most part they're not going to make the first jokes while still concerned about slipping up on their pronouns. Since I'd MUCH rather my friends feel comfortable around me and sometimes call me 'she' than tiptoe around me and worry all the time and always always call me 'he', I've been working at demonstrating my willingness to be communicative. Examples:
S: Yeah, last year her boots... 'his' boots were different. SORRY.
me: No, 'her' is right. Last year it was 'her' boots.
S: *frustrated glare*
me: I'm just messing with you now.
(Okay, so that was a little mean. But S. said it was actually helpful in not worrying so much. So.)
[on a swivel stool that won't stay put; usually it rotates to the left, but when I sat down it started rotating to the right]
me: See? I go both ways.
G: Yes. Yes you do. *snickers*
7/14/09
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