Well, they just can't blame me then for not understanding what's going on in their heads. What a feeling that must be, keeping it a secret that they were of opposite gender once. It's mind-boggling to me, really.

There can be severe consequences for those who reveal their transgender identity, from discrimination to death.

The situation is directly analogous to that of closeted gays. The more trans people who come out, the easier it will be for individuals and for society at large to accept them. But many of those in the vanguard will pay a terrible price.

> It's mind-boggling to me, really.

I felt similarly about concept of homosexuality as a teenager back in the late 1980s. When I found out that a musical hero of mine (Bob Mould) was gay, I thought hard about the issue. What was it like to be gay? Could I be gay? What does it feel like to be attracted to someone of the same sex? It was a worthwhile exercise, regardless of the conclusion.

They can blame you for not making an effort to read the many articles about trans people and their views.

You may not know any Nobel Prize winners, but there sure are a lot of books about them you could read, which would give an idea of what's going on their heads.

I prefer talking, thanks.

If you refuse to seek out the information that's out there because it's not your preferred means of learning - then, yes, they can blame you for not understanding what's in their heads.

They don't need you to understand them, they need you to accept them. You don't get everything you want just because you ask.