We laugh at deluded TiM's, who call themselves "lesbians" in the vain hope that actual women will have sex with them, but behind this ideology are real people, who have been irreparably damaged by their decisions to have life-altering surgeries.
My son has a friend who is a trans man. (I'm going to use male pronouns as I only know this person as a man) He's had his top surgery, he makes a living in a very male-oriented profession (which is open to women too) he met my son through a mutual friend around a year ago. I don't mean to use antiquated gender stereotypes, but this guy was so obviously socialised as a woman, he loves a gossip, he's happy to chat on the phone for hours, I've tried really hard to relate to him as a man, but my instincts just tell me otherwise. I really like this guy, he's very polite, he's great fun, and he just seems to be a lovely person. I also have a very strong feeling that he is a little bit in love with my son.
It really upsets me that this poor kid has been indoctrinated to the extent that a double masectomy has been presented as life-affirming surgery. Who is going to have a relationship with this person? Gay women don't want women who have removed their healthy breasts. Gay men don't like vaginas. Straight women tend to prefer men with a penis. And straight men like women who don't think of themselves as men.
In a different universe, my son may well have been bringing home a young woman, one who wasn't particularly "girly", one who succeeded in pursuing a career in a male-dominated environment, one who, despite some MH issues, had grown to love her body, and to appreciate the differences between the sexes, and one who could have a normal, healthy relationship with whomever she chose.
I sincerely hope that this young man finds happiness, and that his decision brings him peace. But somehow, I doubt it. And that makes me very sad indeed.