<p style="text-align: left;">If one were to go back into my youth they would find a very scared and confused person. Back then, I was not sure then why I was different but back then I had to put it away.... bury it. I hid myself in books and I would take myself to those far away places I read about. My family was a very anti LGBTQ home. Things happened to make me push my true feelings into the ground. Then I escaped to college, by this time I was a regular "guy" but I was a panty wearing one. In the closet per se... I met a girl, whom was a great love of mine. Eventually I said I wanted to wear panties to her, she laughed... I wore panties. We ended up having a great time but then she pushed me away after I started wanting more feminine wear. Eventually we broke up and I found myself dressing in lingerie and bras etc and slips... all while being the rough tough "guy" none of my roommates or friends knew I had a big pile of panties and slips and such. I meet some men during this time of my self discovery and it was a good as I remembered it from years ago. Its just a phase I was in... Then I meet my wife... great woman, I move in, purged all me feminine stuff, I don't need that anymore. Soon I find myself regretting that decision. I eventually tell my wife I want to wear panties. She wasn't too keen buy accepted it. Then she tries like a sweetheart to find mens underwear that would be suitable because I like the fabric... remember, I was a man still as lables go... a straight man. Fast forward, and here I am today, but what label? Transgender? Gender-queer? Gender Fluid? I know I am not a crossdresser, I only own womens clothes (save for some jeans I need for cutting wood etc for winter firewood.) I for one, hate labels. When I came out to my wife I said I was gender fluid, why? Because I fear what she may think, after a life of hearing my family speak ill towards Transgender or queer or gays... whatever derogatory word was used... I still couldn't say I am Transgender... yet I am... I want everyone here to know, though I do not present as female, I AM TRANSGENDER. I love the real me, but only I know Emily. Thank you for reading. Sorry if I offended anyone.</p>
I don’t think you said anything that is offensive as far as I can tell.
Many people get hung up on labels, but I would suggest thinking of them as descriptions and shorthand. If I wanted to tell someone how things sat for me I could say:
- I identify as Transgender, Non-Binary, Lesbian (6 words)
Or:
- I identify as Transgender because I realized that I have always been an amalgam of male and female thoughts, energies and perspectives. I am Non-Binary because I am neither completely male nor completely female in my thinking. I am primarily attracted to women. (43 words)
Which is easier?
In terms of the various descriptive words, here are a couple of sets of definitions. There are many others, but I knew where to find these 2 quickly. Note that there will be a bit of variance in how the terms are defined.
https://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender
https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms
