We all love a bit of gossip (though it's not really our business)

but the gender of his bit on the side just isn't an issue.

I don't know if you mean a transvestite or someone who's going/been through gender reassignment.

Either way, it's just a person who, for whatever reason, allegedly adds something to his life he's otherwise missing. Which, if true, is sad for his wife and his marriage, though far from unusual (I'm not going to say "these days" - it's never been unusual).

It's easier to be openly gay now than it's ever been, though I doubt it's "easy" (the Daily Mail Tendency is still out there); it's still quite hard to be someone who feels they're in the wrong body.

I have the utmost admiration for people who take the path of gender reassignment. I'm "lucky" enough, as a straight bloke, not to have to face those questions, but I'm quite certain I wouldn't manage it with the dignity of those who do so in public that I'm aware of. I am very certain that for everyone who takes that path, many don't, and suffer horribly because of it.

We can - all of us - reduce that suffering by being aware of and accepting and supportive towards people whose natural imperatives are different from our own. It's not OK to use "gay" as an insult (as routinely happened at my school and I'm sure most others); it's not OK to snigger or sneer at people who have taken brave decisions to be more comfortable in their own skin.

Posted By: Old Man, Dec 12, 11:48:51