Yesterday at 5:16 AM I texted my parents that I was coming out as transgender. The plan was for them to wake up, read it, and send me a nice message to read when I woke up. Unfortunately, it appears my text woke them up so they decided to come into my room and talk for two hours. If anyone wants to see the text for "inspiration" I'm glad to share, but I don't feel comfortable posting it publicly on the forums.
While coming out at a 5 AM message seems silly, I really believe it was the play. While having them come into my room unexpectedly was not something I was hoping for, I knew I was going to have to have these difficult conversations at some point. Sending that text message was extremely terrifying, and 5 AM is the only time I had enough confidence to do it. While the result might have been unspectacular, I do not regret coming out the way I did.
Their initial reaction was that I was coming out as gay. Despite the first line in my text being "I am coming out as transgender" they were shocked to actually hear I was transgender. While the conversation that would follow was pretty horrible, at least I find this moment hilarious.
Their reactions were not the worst, but also certainly not the best. They made it quite clear, at least to me, that they are adamantly opposed to me coming out as trans. They kept using their own experiences ("well there used to be guys I know who were only friends with girls") to push "alternatives" to being trans such as being Emma online while being "regular" me in real life or simply being a more feminine male. Of course, men can be more traditionally feminine, but that's not for me. Furthermore, I've been Emma online while pretending to be "regular" in real life since around Halloween, and I don't plan to continue now that I've told them I am trans.
Another sinking feeling I have is that they think I'm going through a depression saga again. Back in High School, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and it was a really tough time for the family, but
I was able to eventually get through it. I believe their thought process is staying up until 5 AM to send the message --> bad sleep schedule (this part is true) --> depressed --> being trans is a way to cope (these two things are not true). They kept suggesting "solutions" such as quitting the football team (I did do this!), eating healthier, exercising more. etc. While these are all good suggestions and things I should be doing, I was really confused on how they related to the topic of me coming out as trans to them.
They also did not
even try to call me Emma or use she / her today. Obviously it will take a long time to switch names and I know they are going to misname a large amount of times, but the fact that they just continued to refer to me as they always have was disheartening.
Overall, my parents do not want me to come out as transgender, despite telling me they "would do everything they can to support me". I hope this is a case of two boomer parents who grew up in a different time having no idea how to deal with their child coming out as trans at 5 AM on a random Monday morning. I think they are afraid of me coming out as trans and then realizing it's not for me, or that its "just a phase". They kept saying I should "wait" to come out which I am willing to accept. I plan to do the next school semester from home, so if I'm able to come out before I go back in the Fall, I will count that was a major win.
While this is not the response I wanted and it made me quite upset, I can work with this. I believe I have to be persistent and continue to tell them that I want to come out as trans (since I already am transgender). I also need to continually correct them when it comes to my new name, which sounds incredibly difficult and awkward, but such is the life of being trans. I hope with time for them to fully understand and dedication from me, I can eventually fully come out as transgender.
For anyone reading this that is in a similar position to me -- please do not take this as demotivation to come out as transgender. While this is not the response I wanted (and of course different people respond differently), it is not going to deter me. I have made it through much worse, and I refuse to let these two boomer clowns get in the way of expressing myself how I want to. Fear not my loves, I am not stopped this easily. Being transgender is unfortunately extremely hard, but it is also something that makes me incredibly happy so I am going to keep working towards it.
I am on discord at emma ❤#4133 if you want to talk
