Will Relationships Change After Gender Transition?

In becoming who we are, we're bound to piss off a few people.

I hope I don’t look this simiam - Image via DALL-E, modified by the author

A friend of mine celebrated a birthday recently. Even though I tend to downplay my birthday, I enjoy making others feel special on theirs. As I have for years, I sent my friend a text wishing him Happy Birthday.

He did not respond. I was surprised - he and I have celebrated birthdays together for years. Instead, I received an email weeks later.

In short, my friend told me we cannot be friends any longer. No - he did not say we cannot be friends. He said he needs friends who are male, and if I cannot fill that role...

So I made the final decision to end our friendship. I sent a reply asserting I would not fill a male role any longer, precluding a relationship. I sent a blessing to him and his family, and wished him a happy life.So

I knew it was possible - probable - that relationships would change as I transitioned gender. That said, I have received almost universal support during transition. My father's widow is a notable dissenter, and I was not bothered by her response. The email from my friend, however, is the first true casualty during my gender transition.

Oddly, I found I didn't care.