It seems that this person was in the process of transitioning at age 40 or so. He said he had "felt wrong" most of his life, but had fought it and did what some of us have done! Macho to the max. Football, military, policeman, sheriff, but alas "the gift" won out! He had been married, I think three times, maybe only two, but he had three daughters and one son ranging in age from, I think, 8 to 21. She came on the show as Melinda or Merissa or whatever, which was gutsy, to say the least. She had been taking hormones for several years, was evidently currently single and had had no contact with her children for at least two years. She would have passed, in my opinion.
Of course Phil the Idiot took every one's side but hers!!!! She was an unworthy, uncaring parent, all this interspersed with audience applause. Her daughters were crying and saying that they just wanted their daddy back and Phil the Idiot of course took their side completely. That after saying that "he did not want to appear bias and to be as fair as possible."
It was there that I just turned it off! I was/am biased - I know what we go through. I finally spoke to my daughter on the phone for the first time in two + years. I know that many of my sisters here have children and some hide this "stuff" from them for any number of reasons and that's fine. I would be the last to judge how you raise or participate in your family. For me, I am who I am, I accept it, I cherish it, I nurture it and when given the opportunity, I share the feminine qualities that most of us so admire, the gentleness, caring, listening, sharing, touching. It make me who I am, I am Virginia and Virginia is me!
How will I be around my daughter and my two grandsons? No, I won't "dress-up" out of respect for my daughter and her family, but I don't need to "dress-up." Clothes don't make the woman (where have I heard that before?
) My daughter has trouble accepting this - fine! I am not going to "throw it in her face." It is not necessary. I am still who I am and no one can/will change that. If "it" comes up in conversation, my response will initially be, "let's don't go there!" After that we will just see!Keep the faith ladies! and p!$$ on dr. phil the idiot!
Love you all,
Virginia
My mother hangs on Phil's every word (and Oprah's, too) . . . no wonder we don't get along!! 
Proud Military Family - Navy, Army, Coast Guard, National Guard 
