to ask if there's anyone else who has never met a trans-person?

[manicinsomniac]

I have never (knowingly) met a trans person. I have no trans friends or acquaintances. I have never (in 11 years) taught a trans child. I have no friends whose children are non binary, trans or gender queer.

I'm not a recluse. I know 100s of people.

The prevalence of trans threads on mn baffles me. I know they're important issues. I find many things about the trans agenda very concerning. But I just struggle to believe it is as common and pervasive as reported. I've seen posters refer to ' all my trans friends' , there are several non binary children in dd's school', 'I know loads of trans people' and things like that.

Is there anyone else who, whatever their opinion on the apparent 'trend/craze' just does not see it in their every day lives - at all?

[SuckItUpSnowflake]

*three transwomen not children.

[manicinsomniac]

Bluntness - those statistics make total sense of my experience. They don't seem to fit with other poster's lives though. One pp has several trans people just in her family! I find it really strange. I suppose it must be partly down to area and, with schools, as a pp said, possibly to do with them influencing each other.

That's a fascinating table Ferdinand - would love to know whether it's to do with more acceptance, power of suggestion, more knowledge or actually more occurrence.

[donadumaurier]

I don't. Student in a diverse area, know lots of people, never met a trans person. I'm sure I must know people who have, but not amongst my immediate friends.

[BillSykesDog]

I used to work at an educational establishment with students in the tens of thousands. Anecdotally, from student support staff, there are probably less than 100 students who appear to be seriously transgender and living a lifestyle which reflects that. But probably getting on for a couple of thousand students who are in heterosexual relationships living as the gender of their birth who have just chosen to label themselves as 'non-binary' or 'gender fluid' probably because it's just the thing to do at the moment

According to one long serving member of staff things like this come in waves and if something like eating disorders, self harm, mental illness etc gets a lot of attention and becomes a buzz subject at a particular time it will create a churn of 'hangers on'.

[VestalVirgin]

I never see it in my everyday life; but I live in Germany and people are still relatively sane there.

Males do not get access to women's spaces by identifying as women in most places, so they have no motivation to do so - simple.

The actual number of males who are genuinely dysphoric about their actual bodies is much, much lower than the number of gay men, and I have met (as in, talked to) about two gay men in my life, so you can imagine how many male trans I'd meet by mere statistics.

However, last time I went to a German "Ladyfest" (the meaning that they consider "lady" a category that includes males), there were lots of male-to-trans, and some women who identified as "nonbinary".
Considering that it was called Ladyfest, not Transfest, this thing seems to attract a lot of trans.

[Freshprincess]

I used to work with post op trans woman, 20 years ago and she got a lot of abuse, people made quite openly awful comments about and to her.
With all the talk about gender neutral bathrooms recently I've been racking my brains trying to remember which ones she used. I honestly don't remember it even crossing my mind.
to my knowledge, I've never encountered a trans man.

I've noticed that 'queer' as a thing amongst the few teens I know. It seems not to mean gay but I don't really get what it means. I'm old though; in my day 'gender non conforming' girls were tomboys.

[museumum]

I work with a trans woman whom I knew as a man previously.
I don't talk to her about trans activism stuff. She seems to just want to live like a woman and not draw attention to herself.
I don't associate her at all with the online crazies.

[noeffingidea]

I don't know any either, but then I don't get out much.
When I was growing up there was a guy who used to dress up in womens clothing who we would see out and about. I would think he was more of a transvestite though. Nobody used the word transgender then, and I got the feeling that he hadn't made any physical changes.

[skerrywind]

I have met lots, but I lived in Thailand and Indonesia for a time where "Lady Boys " are quite a thing.

[Ollivander84]

One who is a friend. He was born female and transitioned to male. I hadn't a clue, neither had anyone else

[stumblymonkeyremix]

I don't know anyone who is trans...I work in London so not exactly a recluse and have worked in several large organisations.

Perhaps I've known someone and not known they were trans?

Otherwise, zero.

[egosumquisum1]

I've never met a trans person outside of clinic appointments and meet ups.

I often wonder if I'm the only trans person that some people ever meet?

[Headofthehive55]

No I don't know anyone like that. I do know of a few vegetarians and a few bellringers though. That's about as radical as it gets here.

[Bluntness100]

Op, this is an online forum..sometimes folks exaggerate

[ragz134]

My cousin is transitioning from female to male (in Ireland). I knew a transvestite as a child, in rural wales. I live in the south east of England and don't know any here.

[AgathaMystery]

I don't know any anymore. I knew a man who dressed in women's clothes about 10 yrs ago.

None at work (that I know of) but there are 2,000+ of us so there are about 1,700 people I don't know that well.

There was one girl aged 15 transitioning at DC school but it is an all girls school so the head said whilst they fully supported the child, they would have to leave the (girls) school.

It has been made clear that it is a girls school for girls who are happy to have the female genitalia they were born with and who identify exclusively as girls.

Thank god.

[gillybeanz]

I haven't met one, I have seen one crossing road and walking in our area, would speak if we ever got close but usually a way from each other.
I haven't seen any others.

[rubybleu]

Hardly anyone for me too. I know of one in the wider business as I met her at a women's network function who apparently transitioned whilst in the role - left as Bob on Friday and returned as Sue on Monday. I did wonder what she planned to get out of a discussion on managing maternity leaves with career progression.

I have no trans friends but do have lesbian and gay friends.

Living in London you frequently see trans people on public transport, I saw a transwoman today actually. I genuinely struggle with why people insist that so many trans women "pass" (hence you don't notice their biological sex) as the uncanny valley instinct is very strong.

[CaoNiMartacus]

I have a close friend who is genderqueer (born female), and another friend who was born male but dresses androgynously and wears makeup. I don't know any people who cross-dress in the traditional transvestite manner.

I move in quite "queer" circles, and am myself natal female with no gender identity.

[egosumquisum1]

I genuinely struggle with why people insist that so many trans women "pass" (hence you don't notice their biological sex) as the uncanny valley instinct is very strong

Maybe you only noticed the ones that don't pass because they don't pass

And you didn't notice other trans women because they did pass.

[RestlessTraveller]

I really hope that most of the people
on MN haven't. I can't see how anyone who has been friends will this anyone going through the transition could be as filled with hatred as most of the people on here.

[dangermouseisace]

I've met at least 2 that spring to mind.

I met them when I lived in a major city. Now I live in a small rural town I don't know any!

[lizzieoak]

I don't think it's common, but off the top of my head I know one man who was formerly a woman (surgery and hormones). He's short, but otherwise looks and presents as very traditionally male (& is a bit of a dick). I also know a kid, born a boy, now dressing as a girl, age 14. Kid has always been a bag of nerves, maybe that's why.

[topcat2014]

I am not aware of ever having been aware of any trans people in real life.

As far as I can recall, I have only ever known one pair of lesbians, and have never had any gay men as friends.

Not through any kind of choice - more that my path has never really crossed.

Statistically, I suppose, I must have met more - but I am a bit naive about these things and wouldn't always be the first to realise.