I’ve definitely noticed this too. People I meet in the wild may start with an initial feeling toward me based on their politics, but with people who knew me before I transitioned I think it has more to do with their pre-existing image of me. Some folks seem to have a harder time processing me as a woman than others, and while politics is sometimes involved in the manner of their response, I don’t think it’s usually the determining factor.

I can often win over someone who’s a little conservative at least on a basic level just by being myself. But they don’t start with an image of me specifically because of that, but of trans women as a stereotype.

It’s a lot harder to get someone to think outside of their established understanding of another person, though. Especially if they’re so unaware of what’s going on with that person internally that transition is some big surprise.

Like I had friends who I literally used to regularly hang out with with other trans women who completely bailed the second I came out. Their other friends could be women, but not me.

People are weird.