Why is it so strange that I have a trans* roommate?

I live in a residence hall at school and I have a roommate who identify as a trans*guy, and I cis-woman. I see nothing wrong with this, but others, including my family are not 100% fond of the idea. Luckily, though almost the entire building is, so there is at least that, even if they think we are dating, were not though. But now it is story time of earlier today.

One of my brothers and his family was up today to Christmas, which was nice because I hadn't my one nephew in nearly a year because he is in the AirForce. But anyway we ended up on the topic of school and my Dad asked what was my roommates name, because he can't remember. My Dad is horrible with names, he even call us kids by our siblings and occasionally cousins names all the time. So I said his name, and it is an obviously male name, like John, so we will call my roommate John. So my brother and sister in-law, said "John?" and I said yea his name is "John". He is a guy.

Then they were all sorts of confused. So I tried to explain that he is a trans*guy, and they were still confused, so I explained it in couple different ways including having to use "she" pronouns. I eventually explained how since he is still listed as a female on records, I am allowed to live with him and that is what we chose to do.

I just wish people could be accepting that he is my friend and my roommate. It is not like anything is happening between us. I am Demi(my family doesn't know, and will not know) and he is Ace. We are just friends, and wish people would understand that. It is nice that they are concerned, but nothing is going on. Maybe if they have met him, they will understand but as of right now, I do not know if they will ever get it. Which is really strange considering, my cousins, cousin is a trans*woman and my sister is gay.

By the way, I do have his permission. Once I say his name is John, the cat is pretty much out of the bag anyways.

 

I try to explain it in the simplest way I know how. I wonder if it is just because they think it is weird or they are not used to the idea.

 

My sister has accepted him as male and my is trying but I know my brothers do not understand him being well a him, so they haven't really accepted.

The thing is, I choose for him to be my roommate, it wasn't a random selection.

 

I can understand why they are a little leary but at the same time, they know we are just friends, and that I am not in the dating scene. I however, do not see an issue with sharing my room with a trans*guy. I have tried explaining it in the manner of my cousin and it has only barely helped.

My school "sorta" has gender neutral housing, but it is not in the building that he is currently living in. The building that we are living in is a living learning community, on top of being on of the cheapest buildings on campus. It is a great place to live, but since I am graduating, next year is all up in the air.

 

I can try explaining it that way. They do have the idea of men as sex hounds. I know that this throwing them for a loop because the other college that I attended before this one was a small Christian College (800/900 students) and I lived in an all women's residence hall for two of those years, but I only had a roommate for one of those years. The other two years I was in a co-ed suite based buildings, but the suite were all single sex and even then I did not have a roommate.

Now I am attending a Large secular school (25,000+ students) and last year and this year were the first time since my freshman year in the all women's building that I have had a roommate, and both of them have been not what one would consider to be a normal roommate. Last year my roommate was an international student from China and this year I have a trans*guy.