I started following TaraElla under my original now closed Medium account and follow her under my new one. Her new political series is quite good.

In keeping with the views expressed by you both in that conversation, acceptance of trans-persons without the trans prefix is a hard sell and I doubt that I will live to see it. But then, I don't think it necessary for a norm of treating trans-people decently.

I've written before that 30 years ago, before trans was in the lexicon except for transvestite (another unfortunate share for different things) I was perfectly willing to treat a "man in a woman's body" as he wished. I purposefully just used "he" because I didn't think he was a woman and saw him as a flaming gay, effeminate man. And that was OK. He knew that but was good with my considerate treatment of him. Perhaps today. now that trans is a word in my awareness and thing I would call him her, but we are no longer in touch with each other. I genuinely liked him and we had conversations without awkwardness.

Trans persons who can successfully pass will have an easier time than those who don't with acceptance, but may face more danger from outraged men who are surprised after sex has been initiated. Our perfect world has not yet arrived.