I think it could be safer if they told the individual they’re dating/seeing/etc. ASAP in a place that has plenty of people. Especially if they still have the parts that would identify them as having been of the gender they were born. I know that they no longer identify with their birth gender and I personally support the transgender community in being accepted as their affirmed gender but there are a lot of people who aren’t understanding especially in the Western world.
However, I’m also aware that several studies propose that in a high school setting, steps can be taken to improve the overall social support of the transgender community by increasing awareness and sensitivity, professional training for educators and school personnel, as well as improving upon and adding to services provided as well as the school curriculum.
I know there are many people, despite being pro equal rights, think that transgender rights are not a priority as their community is quite a small one. However, despite their small population, some of the statistics regarding them are frightening if not another part of the sickening reflection we get to see everyday of the failures of our fellow humans and perhaps humanity as a whole. While an old statistic, it’s a bit disturbing to see that between 1985 to about 2000, 20% of all murders within the US were of transgender individuals (this is a community that makes of 2–5% of the population). A more recent statistic for 2011/2012 indicates that out of all the hate crimes committed against the LGBTQA… however the rest of that acronym goes… community, over 40% were the MURDERS of transgender individuals and most of those victims were affirmed females.
I know it’s not a solid argument to make, but when in an argument I often point out that in respect to transgender individuals, Iran is doing better in the civil rights and social support departments than the United States. (Oh I do love the look of patriotic Southerners digesting that Iran is better than the United States in some manner).