Yesterday I was waiting for my bus in a pub. On sundays my bus runs only once an hour, it gave me 45 minutes to sit down, have a cider and read some newspapers. After a while I noticed that two guys moved from further away to my neighbouring table and started to give looks in my direction. I pretended not to see them. As I was close to leave for my bus, one of them asked if I have a husband or a boyfriend with me or if I´m alone in the pub. I answered quite rudely that it is none of your business. He said, you´re right, not my business, but such a beautiful woman certainly HAS a boyfriend. I wanted to say that I have a boyfriend, still taller than me (that is much!) and he is ready to beat you guys. But I just said I must get on my bus. And gave them one of my sweetest smiles. I guess I lack routine in this kind of situations....luckily I gain routine and confidence every day .

Laura

What is interesting, my voice obviously did not give me out this time. It must be the overall impression, what rules...

Laura

Yes, exactly so....

As I started to write in the internet years ago, everybody took me for a woman. No matter what the nick. I realized myself that I write like a woman...and I cannot write like a man. That was maybe the first step on my path leading to my real self. Exactly the same with the "real life". I cannot walk like a man, I cannot talk like a man.... and why should I?

Laura

Oh yes...I had that from September all the way to January. Full time except the office. But I noticed that I could not act as a male in the office either. It just did not work out. I had somewhat different clothes on, but inside it was the female me. And people noticed that...fortunately or unfortunately, I don´t know. I guess on the long run the hormones more or less force you to take your side. And you just cannot act against yourself any more.

Laura

Do you ever have trouble with people on the bus? In the U.S., and especially in cities such as Salt Lake City where public transportation isn't that good, a high percentage of the riders belong to that segment of society which I like to call "The Great Unwashed" - in other words, the nastiest, smelliest elements of society. Some of them scare me. Fortunately, I seldom ride the bus or the train so I don't often encounter these people. I haven't ever ridden public transportation dressed, but my turn will be coming. The Utah State Democratic Convention on May 7 and 8 will be in downtown Salt Lake where parking is a nightmare, so I will ride the light rail train. Hopefully, I won't get hit on - I don't like that at all.

Laura, it sounds like you handled the situation well, and it definitely meant that you passed very well. Good luck on the bus.

Heather H.

I travel every single day in trains and buses...dressed. I´m always dressed, you see . So far, no problems. Sometimes people sitting beside or opposite me say something nice as "where have you bought so nice shoes?". Obviously I pass 100% in public transportation. In Finland people traveling in public transportation are just average employees. Additionally a great percentage of foreigners, though.
I have never been yelled at in the street, only once a clearly nuts lady shouted to me " I know you, you whore". But she yelled at others, too. And even there I passed as a woman .

Laura