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September 13, 2017 8:42 am  #1


Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

After thirty years of marriage I found out a week ago my husband dresses in women's clothing, He goes
out in public and has sex with men. Last week,  I knew something was
wrong, he smelled like perfume, and was acting strange. I thought he was having a affair. But he
told me he dresses up in women's clothes and finds men through ads
and has gone to their homes, apartments, hotels and even our home.
This has been going on for the past twelve years. I am in shock. He said
he did it because we weren't having sex often and now when we discuss it he changes his story.
He keeps minimizes it and says, I do it very infrequently.  I said, you just were caught five days ago!  He said, when I was with men we only touched, nothing else. I know that's a lie because the men in the ads want more then that. Plus that doesn't make it ok either. Any help or insight would be appreciated.

 

September 13, 2017 10:23 am  #2


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Hi Jana,  Welcome to our forum.  I'm so sorry you are going through this.  Be assured you are not alone in your struggles.  We all share the homosexual spouse (or ex) and some of us dealt with the cross-dressing as well.  

You asked for help and insight..  for effect I'm going to edit your own comments to show you that you already have all the insight you need.  Here's what happens if I turn your post into bullet points:

Jana'slife wrote:

My husband dresses in women's clothing, 
He goes out in public and has sex with men. 
This has been going on for the past twelve years. 
He said he did it because we weren't having sex often. 
He changes his story.
He keeps minimizing it  
I know that's a lie. 
​Plus that doesn't make it ok either.

Every word you wrote is important, but I wanted to highlight the important points.  Your husband is gay and cross-dresses.  He does this behind your back and lies to you about it.  He blames you for it.  It's not OK. 

Please know that none of this is your fault.  You've been lied to and cheated on and taken advantage of.  

The realization of this is devastating.  You are likely experiencing intense mental anguish and physical shock that accompanies this.  My first concern is for your health and safety, so I'd like to offer some advice.  First, please go see a Dr to get tested for STD's.  Stop having sex with him from here on.  If you are having trouble sleeping or having anxiety attacks ask for medicine to help control those symptoms.  

Next is finding support.  We are here for you.  Please feel free to share as much as you wish.  Just the act of writing it out and sharing it is very good for you.  We can offer support and compassion and advice.  But, we are only anonymous people on a website and no substitute for real people.  Please consider reaching out to the SSN to find a local face to face group.  Fill out this form and someone will be in touch with you:  http://www.straightspouse.org/test-2-home/contact-us/
I strongly recommend establishing a network of friends and/or family to lean on and cry with.  I would also recommend finding a therapist to talk to.  Having a professional help you through these emotional times can be a huge help. 

At some point you need to decide what this means for your future.  But don't stress too much of this today.   When you are safe and ready you can start to tackle those hard questions.  But take things one day at a time. 

Again, welcome.  I'm so sorry for your pain.  I was in the same boat a year ago after finding out my wife of 16 years was lesbian and cheating on me with a married woman and planning to leave me.  It's a miserable storm to endure.  But I can tell you that life gets better.  There is peace and happiness on the other side and a good life ahead.  


-Formerly "Lostdad" - I now embrace the username "phoenix" because my former life ended in flames, but my new life will be spectacular. 

 
 

September 13, 2017 10:32 am  #3


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Jana'slife,

    Your husband is an autogynephile, a man who derives sexual pleasure from imagining himself as a woman.  His cross dressing allows him to inhabit his fantasy of himself as a woman--to "bring that woman inside into being."  His contact with men is his way of "validating" himself as a woman; he likely remains a heterosexual male--one whose sexual orientation is to women--but in the case of an autogynephile the woman he is most strongly attracted to is the one he imagines himself as and attempts to bring into being through cross dressing and contacts with men.  
  You can find out more about autogynephilia by reading the work of these psychologists: Michael Bailey ("The Man Who Would Be Queen" is his book, and available for free online), Ray Blanchard, and Anne Lawrence (who is a transwoman).  Feel free to PM me if you like (my husband is an autogynephile as well). 

 As for his blameshifting tactic of saying that he does it because you aren't having sex...don't for a minute buy into that.  What responsible spouses do when they are unhappy is to initiate conversations with their spouse, not dress up in women's clothes and go trolling for validation through sex with men.  

 Get yourself tested for STDs, contact a therapist (for you, alone), and start going through your financials to see how much money has been siphoned off into these activities.  Ultimately you will have to decide what you will allow, and if you can't stomach this, then make an appointment with a lawyer and get yourself free of it.

Last edited by OutofHisCloset (September 13, 2017 10:37 am)

 

September 13, 2017 3:40 pm  #4


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Oh, wow.  I'm so sorry, Jana.  What he's done is a huge betrayal on so many levels.  And it's a big old slap in the face to act like it's not THAT big of a deal.  As if you're making too much out of it.

He's lying when he says it was "just touching".  It's NEVER just touching with these guys.  I don't know what difference it makes, anyway - if a man touched all over me, my husband would certainly consider it cheating.  I'd draw the line at intention to cheat, communicating in ways that are reserved only for the two of you, and not forsaking you for all others.

Please do get tested ASAP for STDs.  The fact that he risked your health over his desires shows you that you play second fiddle to his whims.  It's more important to indulge in his desires than it is to not hurt you, or to not endanger you.  And then to lie about it and make it seem like you're overblowing what he's done is just..... insulting.

I'm so sorry.

Kel


You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.
 

September 13, 2017 3:47 pm  #5


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Oh Jana - I'm sorry you find yourself here but glad you found us.

I too found my partner was cding and trolling the internet for sex with men.

I also heard the excuses about sex, my guess is that your husband wasn't really pursuing sex with you anyway? As OOHC says, just don't buy it!

He is turned on by himself as a woman (well his idea of it, we know what being a woman is really like!) and You will be shocked at how him looking at himself drives him crazy. He is likely into shemale porn and BDSM, all sorts of weird stuff. It will take you ages to get your head around it,actually you probably never will and if I could advise you I'd say don't bother trying because it's a total waste of energy...but I realise it's not realistic to suggest you don't try to make sense of it because that's human nature. Just bear in mind that it will exhaust you and you will achieve nothing, be kind to yourself.

You will experience the blameshifting, circular arguments and confessions and retractions that we have all had here. It's a pattern, part of their problem.

Try and get some distance, you can't stay with this man, get away and get some perspective, baby steps.

We are here to support you, keep posting, a few of us here have dealt with th cross dressing thing so we can try our best to help you.

 

September 13, 2017 6:47 pm  #6


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Thank you for your messages. Each one has helped quite a bit.
My husband is acting so strange since I confronted him. He is being overly
nice, friendly and helpful. I know he is trying to manipulate my emotions.
I am sure I want a divorce. Even before he finally was honest me, I was
feeling so detached from him. I know something was wrong. Unfortunately he controls
our finances. He has a degree in accounting and felt he should handle the money.
I see what a big mistake that was and getting a divorce is going to more difficult. I am sure he has been using money for his cd clothing and money for entertaining men.
Since I confronted him he has shown no emotions, empathy, concern for
what he has done.

     Thread Starter
 

September 13, 2017 8:21 pm  #7


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Jana, it is hard to say what is behind your spouse's sudden helpful nature. It may be a lure to bring you back "on-side" but, with no empathy or remorse, he might think this is no big deal. A few times here we have heard someone say they got a confession and then their spouse began walking back on it, sometimes to the point where they said they made it all up. (By the way, I don't think any heterosexual man would fabricate such a story about themselves.) Kel recently pointed out to someone else here that this sort of thing could be a tactic, dump you in the deep end, then throw you a rope you'll be desperate to hang onto. With such a shocking revelation, he may be hoping that the thought of swimming will be far from your mind.

Do not feel bad about letting him handle the money. You trusted your partner to look out for the both of you and his qualifications made it a logical idea. You should quietly collect up copies of anything you can find, bank statements, pay stubs, tax forms, etc. When you go lawyer hunting, look for someone who will insist on a 3rd party audit.

Don't be overwhelmed, Take things day by day and a task at a time rather than stare too far down the road. Try to find someone you can confide in. Friends can help pick you up when you think you can't take another step. Take time for you! A hobby, walk in the park, whatever helps. You can survive this. Please don't lose the clarity of mind and character that said this "Plus that doesn't make it ok either"

Be well. You are not alone.


“The future is unwritten.”
― Joe Strummer
 

September 13, 2017 9:56 pm  #8


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Jana,
"..Since I confronted him he has shown no emotions, empathy, concern for
what he has done..."

So sorry..yes that is what they do...  it took me a long time to process that I would not get any remorse or empathy from my ex..  She thought what she was doing was right...that I somehow deserved it.   It's a complete brainf*k. .  Know that it is not you...do not think anything he is doing is ok.

I also, let my spouse handle the finances... I had complete trust.     Do not worry about that...it did not take me that long to learn how to do them all myself...it is not complex or hard;  they just made us think that way.     Remember in a divcorce he also is entitled to half of the debts.   In my state anyway neither spouse has any real advantage.  

Detach...small steps...build a support system.    It is a season  but there is an end.

 


"For we walk by faith, not by sight .."  2Corinthians 5:7
 

September 13, 2017 10:58 pm  #9


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

Hi Jana,

Achieving a financial settlement is the hardest part of a divorce.  It is, it's awful.  One step at a time.  The first thing I did gave me a flying start.  Like you I realised it had been a mistake to let him take over paying all the bills.

This might not work for you but what I did was sit down on the opposite side of the desk look him in the eye and start talking - 'I've lost touch with the finances' I say, 'I need to regain my ability with handling money'.  

I don't know exactly how I swung it but mainly because I brooked no interference and gave him no chance to say no.  i just carried on - 'so starting this month I am going to take over paying the household bills again'.  Kept my eyes on him and his mouth opened and closed but he couldn't find anything to say.  A guilt-edged moment.

Yes, you could find he has been helping himself to shared funds.  My ex certainly had been.

Don't forget to be kind to yourself at all times, don't be too angry with yourself, we all got taken in, it's just being a nice normal person that makes you vulnerable.

Wishing you all the best, Lily  

 

 

September 14, 2017 6:42 am  #10


Re: Just discovered husband is a cd and has sex with men

I second Rob's comment--what you are seeing in your husband's reaction to your uncovering his activities is narcissistic rage.  You can even read Anne Lawrence's article on narcissistic rage in autogynephilic men; it's available here: http://www.annelawrence.com/

I also second Lily's suggestion you get access to your finances.  Even if you don't confront your husband, you can go access your financial information.  I, too, turned over the finances to my husband, years ago, but after reading here and on Chump Lady about spouses using money for their "extracurricular" activities and affairs, I decided I needed to keep a weather eye on our finances.  I went to the bank, and with a banker there I got signed onto on-line banking, with my own password, so I can track all our accounts, and the activity.  It's been an eye-opener, that's for sure.  No siphoning off of funds, but poor money management, and money spent on himself for things that were never discussed with me.  
    Finding this out actually helped me move forward in my plans to divorce him; one reason I hadn't begun the process was financial--I thought I'd be hurt financially.  Now I see that he's been spending much more than I do, for years, all the while making it seem as if I was spending too much, and I've been cutting back and cutting back to the extent that I made do with my growing son's hand me down coats rather than buying anything new for myself.  Well, that changed last year after my husband said his wearing women's clothes was no different than my wearing men's.  As I pointed out, I was neither deriving any sexual pleasure from wearing them nor thinking they made me more like a man when I was wearing them!  And then I went out and bought myself a lovely women's nightgown and a new winter coat.  
  

 

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