I lived in Chicago from 1998 to 2005. I was a graduate student working towards a Ph.D. degree. However, at the same time, I was also working towards accepting my feminine side. During those years, I got to define myself as a transgender person, but still only came out to a few of my friends. By 2005, I came back to Mexico, where most of my transition has taken place.
Since then, I haven’t had the opportunity to go back to Chicago and show myself to old friends, and I haven’t told many of them about my transition neither as I would prefer to tell them in person and not over the phone or by e-mail.
However, I had the opportunity to meet one of my friends from Chicago yesterday. He is a retired judge from Chicago to whom I met because we both like bullfighting. He is visiting Monterrey and gave me a call, so we met after many years. Of course, I had to take the opportunity to talk to him about my transition.
He was obviously surprised, but gave me his full support. It is a great relief every time I tell somebody and get a good reaction. Still, I wish I could meet more of my old friends and tell them in person. Maybe it is time to consider coming out to them by phone or e-mail… even if it doesn’t feel right. In any case, I’m happy because I scored one more ally!