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Making the Other Significant
by
Julie Freeman
There
is always much discussion and effort put into helping crossdressers and
transsexuals feel comfortable at support groups and find the answers,
if possible, to their many questions. Often there are educational
seminars accessible to address their needs and social activities
available to allow for intermingling of the various transgender
lifestyles.
Family members, in particular wives and partners of crossdressers known
collectively as SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, are welcomed into the transgendered
support groups and frequently have special meetings of their own to
address their needs. More recently there has been an increase in
couples groups where the activities center around the crossdresser and
his significant other. But for the most part support groups cater
to the needs of the crossdresser and transsexual.
The question that comes up is how should support groups continue to
support significant others who may no longer be in a relationship that
allows them to feel comfortable attending gender meetings. In
others words, when a couple breaks up, the crossdresser still has his
support group, but the significant other may feel reluctant to continue
attending gender activities alone.
Although she may feel comfortable attending an occasional SOS meeting,
particularly designed just for significant others and partners, this
may be somewhat limiting to her interests and needs. In all
probabilitiy, she has already established friendships with other
members of the support group who are not significant others and may
even have found it very rewarding to attend support group activities.
Thus, gender groups have to find a way to allow for the continued
participation of significant others, if they wish, to feel comfortable
and still feel welcome. Keeping significant others happy should
not be limited to those who are in a significant relationship.
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