Not only do we lose inhibitions and self-consciousness. We may lose civility and the ability to compromise. Many of us must, by necessity, be self-focused in order to survive. In the individual, this is admirable. But when we're together in our family, we need to let this guard down.
Fear is understandable in a hostile outside world.
But we cannot give it any quarter in our family. Here amongst ourselves, we can all acknowledge our differences in an affirmative way. We will lose nothing by embracing new forms of transgender self-expression. Crossdressers can honor transsexuals by appreciating the nerve and the verve that it takes to transition, even if they themselves do not feel called to that path. Transsexuals can appreciate that crossdressers have found their own space on the gender continuum, one that suits them.