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January 27, 2022 3:37 pm  #1


Any military spouse moms with a Bi MTF spouse?

Here's my story, Does anyone have a similar experience?

My spouse and I both come from conservative Christian backgrounds. We met when I was 16, started dating when I was 18, and married when I was 20(spouse and I are the same age). My spouse joined the Air Force and for a long time was depressed, stressed, and anxious but refusing help for fear of losing his flight status. Fast forward to the BML and pandemic, my spouse and I begin to deconstruct partially from our religious beliefs. My spouse becomes very political and creates a socialist/anarchist book club. During a virtual meeting, they come out to their friends as bisexual, feel guilty about not telling me first, and come upstairs and drop this bombshell. 

We've already had problems up to this point because in the beginning of our marriage there was a lack of intimacy and sexual encounters that I found confusing and devastating. Then I discovered multiple times that my spouse was constantly looking at porn, which cut deep because the images being looked at looked nothing like me. I've always been self-conscious about my small chest size, and these were depictions of full women and large muscle men. So when they came out as bi I felt like they married me because I looked sort of like a man. I also felt guilty that we had only had sex with each other and that they were robbed of experiencing this other side of their sexuality, but they said they were monogamous and didn't want anyone else. 

Fast forward to a few months ago, my spouse says they have been on a lot of trans support groups and they felt they were nonbinary. I was a little concerned they were reading so much about the trans experience, but we had friends who were nonbinary, so I felt they were just trying to be supportive. Then a couple weeks go by and they say they want to start wearing more feminine clothes. Again, this is a bit concerning because I've thought a lot about my sexuality since the beginning of all this and I am only attracted to masculinity. But I feel things like clothing, jewelry, and makeup are more gender fluid, so I tried to get used to the idea and be supportive.

Then right before Christmas, my spouse tells me via snapchat (they were gone for work) that the more they think about it, the more they think they're a woman. Which has been devastating because I don't know if I want to be married to a woman. All this is so complicated by the fact that we have three young children all under 6yo, one with ADHD and one with ASD, and we're a military family. So that means I am stuck in they're closet for who knows how long because the military is not super accepting of trans people. And I'm having so much difficulty finding a therapist with my military Tricare insurance especially since I feel I can't fully disclose why I need a therapist. 

Has anyone had a similar experience? After 8.5 years of marriage I feel so lost, betrayed, confused, guilty, and deeply sad. 

 

January 27, 2022 3:38 pm  #2


Re: Any military spouse moms with a Bi MTF spouse?

Also if anyone wants to private message me in response to this instead of comment, I would welcome any insight/advice/support.

     Thread Starter
 

January 31, 2022 6:11 pm  #3


Re: Any military spouse moms with a Bi MTF spouse?

I"m so, so sorry for what you're enduring.  It sounds ghastly.

I have no good options to offer, but plenty of sympathy, particularly because you have special needs children.  My sister had a severely disabled child, and I know for a fact it takes an exceptionally strong marriage to deal with what you need in these situations.  The divorce statistics for families with special needs are daunting.

I don't know that you're in a situation that will give you and your children the kind of long-term stability you all should be getting.  It's not easy to get divorced, trust me, but I think in your case "Step 1" has to be putting yourself and your children first.  If you have a man-child ... sorry, I guess I should have said "person-child" ... he/she/they do not automatically get to be the center of the universe.  Whether you decide to stay or leave this situation, you should make it clear that you can only deal with so many children, and he's not the person most important right now.

I don't think I could handle the "spouse" and "they/them" and all that.  I'm willing to call someone either male or female, but that's just me.

 

February 1, 2022 1:05 pm  #4


Re: Any military spouse moms with a Bi MTF spouse?

As a military spouse you have access to confidential legal information and assistance. This site provides more information:

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/legal/other-legal-issues/what-to-expect-when-meeting-with-your-lawyer/

If you have a child with a disability you may want to look into childhood SSI benefits:

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6vvAtoff9QIV0giICR0Whg1JEAAYASAAEgLeNfD_BwE

If you do decide to separate from your military spouse getting child support benefits paid in a timely manner is a much smoother process than many civilian parents experience.

Stop listening to what he wants and focus on what you truly need in a marriage. Now is the time to gather accurate information so you can decide what is best for you and your children and take rational steps to achieve your goals.

Life doesn't need to be this complicated.

P.S. I am replying via the forum rather than privately because this information my be helpful to others

 


Try Gardening. It'll keep you grounded.
 

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