About Kathleen
Most of my life I thought I was a heterosexual crossdresser or transvestite. I stifled myself; I hid my interests; in fact, I developed interests for camoflage: that's why I took blue-collar jobs after getting my B.A. in English literature, so no one would suspect that I loved to wear women's clothes.
I stressed myself by going to an all-male, football powerhouse college. I just did not fit in. When I transferred to a less prestigous school, I did my best to show rah-rah, school-spirit -- but it didn't help. I was just acting, and not even acting very well.
It wasn't until I was 58 years old that I acknowledged my nature. Until then, I was convinced that transsexualism was a dishonest scheme to bilk unhappy people of their money, and that gender therapists were either crooks or charlatans.
The person who changed my mind was Monica Cross, who was very active in New Life Metropolitan Community Church in Norfolk, Virginia. She explained to me that God created her transgendered, and that by expressing her trans-gender she was fulfilling God's purpose for her. That concept -- that for me to dress in women's clothes was to please God by cooperating with His purpose for me -- changed my life. It was the first time in my life that the pieces came together and made some resemblance of sense.
A year and a half after the discussion with Monica, I came out to my employer and transitioned on the job in December, 2007. I had Gender Confirmation Surgery (also known as Sex Reassignment Surgery or Gender Reassignment Surgery) in March, 2009. More about that later, when I find a way to present information about the surgery and related issues.
I was married in spring, 1976, while I was male. Our marriage survives today, in late November, 2010. Legally, we are still married as far as I know, but the Commonwealth of Virginia has some impediments for same-sex couples, whether they are legally married or not.