Sometimes when a new transman or women begin dating they find themselves at a quandary. How is a man or woman supposed to act? What things can a person do to start a relationship on solid footing? What about first-time intimacy and sexual encounters?

It is a solid fact that some elements of society believe that transgender individuals have very little to be proud of about themselves.

Prior to transition many new men and women spend a considerable amount of time in traditional relationships. Often they daydream about what it would be like to have their own time and place to dress and transition. When events unfold and this all becomes possible, many find living alone to be depressing and distinctly isolating.

We live in a society which does not promote respect toward persons who have different appearances, ideas or ways of living. Consequently, many transgender persons experience social difficulties ranging from subtle harassment to indiscriminate violence.

Consider the shock a "closeted" or even relatively private transgender individual might feel showing up at work one day to discover their crossdressing or gender identity issues have become public knowledge. Imagine also the trapped feeling a crossdresser may likely experience when met at the door by a spouse furiously holding up that secret stash of lacy panties, red high heel pumps and make-up bag.

Recently I attempted to run a relationship advertisement in the personals section of a local newspaper. Rather than running the advertisement, I was told by the newspaper that my advertisement "was welcome, but could not use the word -transsexual- in it contents."

This article is for you if you're a heterosexual or bisexual man seeking a relationship with a transsexual woman or are a guy looking for a girl with something extra.

Many people don't understand the meaning of the word "ignorance." As transgender persons often when we encounter someone who treats us poorly or discriminates against us we say that person is ignorant.

Can you imagine finding an employment position where it did not matter if you had a transgender identity? I frequently receive letters and telephone inquiries from all over the country, where good people are looking for work.

Are men and women with gender issues required to deal with those issues effecting gays and lesbians? Yes, absolutely. There are many issues existing that effect both transgender persons and gays and lesbians.

In my last article, I discussed responses to homophobia. For example I described incidents where I had been victimized by gays and lesbians as a result of their transphobia, and how I deal with the anger by discussing those feelings with others. Notably, I had reached a point where I was tired of the anger.

Halloween through New Year's Day is an exciting, special time of year for transsexuals, crossdressers and other transgender persons. As I ponder the holiday season, I feel both grateful and delighted that transgender persons across the country are becoming more and more visible and viable within society.

This article deals with the subject of the non-violent responses to heterosexual male on transgender female harassment and violence. In other words, men who harass or attack women.

This is an article written for non-transgender as well as transgender persons. Especially for persons interested in asking very personal questions or seeking an advice from a careprovider.

My readers may wonder why as a gender specializing therapist I am introducing a passage from civil rights history. I am doing so because sometimes life's lessons and rights apply across various lines and effect all humans.

For many years now I've heard transgender men and women, particularly persons who venture out in public or live in a new role, state that they receive a great deal of harassment out in the real world. Is however the attention these individuals receive always harassment?