Living In Sin: Have a Very Lesbian Christmas

Every week in Living in Sin, Jen Sincero provides advice to LA's sexually confounded. Sign up for her newsletter and have it sent to you every week. Ask Jen your questions: all are posted anonymously.

Dear Jen,
I'm a male to female tranny, 7 months on estrogen and I'm curious about something. I know that Mildred L. Brown/Chloe Rounsley had mentioned in their book, "True Selves," that many of us transexual MTF's, long before transition, had what she termed "lesbianic relationships" with women even though we may have thought of ourselves as "straight." I'd like to hear your take on this one, if you may.
- Dude Acts Like a Lesbian

Dear Lesbian,
I'm sitting here eating a box of Christmas chocolates I bought to take to a party tomorrow night and I once again find myself marveling at how depressed so many people get around this time of year. How so many poor suckers buy into this idea that there's some great joyous thing that everyone else but them is experiencing. That everyone's supposed to be bursting at the seams with song and cherubs and mistletoe all aglow and, most importantly, that they must frantically spend money they don't have on stuff no one wants. All in order to perpetuate a concept that doesn't really exist. And that makes so many feel so sad and lonely and broke. How is getting your nephew the new Playstation supposed to contribute to peace on earth and goodwill towards men? Me no understand.

This is why I love that there are trannys in this world. Trannys defy our neat and tidy seasons greetings ideas of how the world works and remind us that just because you're born with a penis, it doesn't mean you're a boy. And that just because you have the body of a boy, it doesn't mean you can't be a lesbian. And that just because it's Christmas, it doesn't mean you have to show up with a full box of chocolates to a party. I had Christmas dinner with a couple friends in a diner in my pajamas last year. No presents. Lots of freaks. It was huge fun. Nobody is the boss of you. Not Santy Clause, not your chromosomes, no one. So, yes, of course a woman in a man's body can be a lesbian. And no, if you're curled up in a ball until all this is over, you're not missing out on something magical.