Trans friend

[tawny socket]

My best friend is trans, and he transitioned recently, which I was very happy to know because I grew up with him and saw several moments when he had dysmorphia, which made him feel really bad, but now he is doing really well and I love that. But sometimes people still use feminine pronouns with him and treat him like he is a girl, which makes him feel really bad. I try to help him the best way I can, but I don't really know what to do, which makes me feel really bad because I can't help him the way I would like to. One day I went to introduce him to an old friend of mine, she recently broke up with her boyfriend, and at one point she said she hated men, and then she apologized to me and my friend, which made him really happy. It was a small thing but made him feel better, and I wanted to do something similar, but I feel like I can't.

[pure berry]

Take him out for a boys night out if you can. That’ll cheer him up.

[dusk inlet]

the reason why you can’t do better is because you aren’t the one doing these things to him or making him feel like less of a male. he is probably already grateful to you for how you’ve adapted and treated him. my experience with trans men is slim so i won’t speak for him, i’ll just try and offer some insight into why you’re feeling that you can’t help.

you seem like someone who feels empathy when it comes to their friends, so it makes sense that when you see he’s feeling bad about something, you feel bad too and want to fix it. though this isn’t something you can fix unfortunately. there will always be people who misgender others and don’t respect pronouns. you can absolutely stick up for your friend and make sure people are addressing him correctly, you can continue being the amazing friend you are and be a safe space for him, but you can’t fix others. i know that sucks, trust me, but keep being you and everything will fall into place with your friend eventually

[tawny socket]

Thank you

[tawny socket]

I'll try, it will be good for us