This time I decided I should probably conceal carry. I’ve done it before, so it’s not like I don’t know what I’m doing, or am generally unsafe with a firearm. I went to the bar I used to cook for, and after I got in, this hick just loudly proclaimed every minority by slur they didn’t like and wished them all dead. He basically only liked white Christian cis-heteronormative people 🤷. This is not the first time I’ve heard this kind of hate to me and my family, so I’m unsurprised. I sit and have a light beer and a shot, and wait while everyone leaves. I got to talk to the bartenders, about nails, some stories about ex boyfriends, plans for the future, catch up about what happened since I left, minus my transition of course. She said I look good. Said my arms have thinned, my hair is back, I’ve lost weight, I look younger, etc. All stuff that made me feel good. I thanked them for talking to me, the one lady started to cry, she was sweet enough for an industry girl, and understood if you treat me well I’ll move mountains for you if I can. Kinda made me feel pathetic that I was thanking a bartender for talking to me like a person, but I don’t get much of that anymore.
Today my mom (who knows and is transphobia white Christian nationalist incarnate) came by with her parents (liberal-light). They drove for hours to come visit, it was actually nice. My live in family all calls me Jessie, but only my partner knows why. So they are all referring to me as Jessie, my mom is asking people if they want dessert and she deadnames me stumbles over it, gets upset (not mad, but emotionally upset), and I tell her no thank you, that it’s okay, that she’s good, and she keeps walking to the cheesecake and apologizes and asks again, and I tell her no thank you, that I don’t eat like I used to while I walked to her, hug her and hold her while she kinda cries. “I tell her it’s okay, that I love her, that I’m willing to meet her halfway, that I know it’s hard, that I’m not mad, that it’s all good, that we’re all good. She hugs me tight and tighter and cries. I cry. Even if it isn’t understood, in that moment of cooperation, we had an understanding, she’s trying, and I’m here to calmly be the best child I can in helping her have a relationship with me if she’s willing.
We texted when she got home, she wants to come back, talk more, not holding my breath for a breakthrough, but I’m hopeful that she might do some personal growth and come to accept me as me, even if I have to lie a bit and just be Non-Binary butch when she sees me on the random holiday.
One day at a time I suppose.
Attached is my handgun, but not my picture, with all the threatening bullshit I’ve been getting, I’m gonna get back in the habit of having a edc again.
I pray y’all are in safer places, but what do you all carry for protection?
Edit to fix typos and add, I’m loaded with Hornady .380 Critical Defense
Edit 2: replace original opening text with the same text but citing a hyperlink to florida law re-iterating that I do indeed know what I am doing and didn't do anything illegal where I live or break any rules.
I first started carrying over a decade ago when I turned 21. I grew up around firearms, my family carries, I like them, and I’m a huge buff for sovereignty and self reliance.
You don’t know shit about fuck, I live in a suburb of Orlando, I have experienced more than my fair share of exactly what these ’men’ think of me, I am at the hospital near pulse night club at least twice a month.
Where were the interrogations when I was a dude-bro? Where were the people trying to get me to justify why I’d bother to exercise my rights then?
It’s very suspect that nothing has changed except the way other people see me, and suddenly I’m subject to all this scrutiny about the laws and where I fit into them, and insisting and linking to the laws does nothing to assuage y’all’s fears.
Thanks for the gender affirmation though 💕
I don't get these dipshits' reasoning. If anyone has a need to be carrying, it's queer folk.
Thanks for the support, I was expecting maybe a question and a caution, but I wasn't expecting to have to justify my qualification and legal standing like I'm representing myself in court, ridiculous. I was a fat gross gamer guy and nobody batted an eye with WAYYY more reckless behaviour than that. People hoop and holler and applaud if you have a drink next to you while you blow up tannerite but god forbid you want to ccw while trans and try to have an ounce of human connection for the first time in months at a place where they know you, know you ccw, know you are responsible, and know your character, no "STRAIGHT TO JAIL CRIMINAL" 🙄.