To "stealth" or not to "stealth"! by "Amanda."

My first posting so let make it controversial...Is stealth the best way to go.. or is honesty the best policy.! In the United States, most experts preaches " deep stealth"... How ever the USA also have the highest murder rate among TransGender's in the world.... hmmmmm! To "STEALTH or not to stealth... is honesty the best policy when it comes to your own personal safety as a transgendered female. For years "deep stealth mode" has always been considered the best approach to "starting over"... howeverI believe I strongly disagree. I'm Canadian and have been in the "system" for almost 7 years..and I'm about to go "full-time". I'm considered one of the "lucky ones". I have been told.I pass with flying colours with or without make-up on. No surgeries of any kind.. hormone enhanced only. .I just don't pass..I attract! I'm not going to walk around with a neon sign around my neck declaring my gender however I'm a firm believer in "NOT" leading people on because that will only lead to a potentialy dangerous situation. The insanely high murder rate among tg's in United States is my wake-up call to maybe... honesty is the best policy being a tg....... any thoughts on this??? "Amanda."

Things that I am learning about being a "TransGender"

Even though I found movies like "Tootsie" or "Mrs.Doubtfire" and sitcoms like "Bosum Buddies" extremely funny. I am realizing that these are just stories made to make money, and are far from reality! The men in these movies or sitcoms dress and act like women out of necessity, to spend time with their kids or to live in a college female dorm (I believe that is the storyline for "Bosum Buddies"). Another misconception that I am overcoming is that my friend Amanda. is not a draq-queen, or someone who dress like a woman for publicity /or money!.."Amanda." is just a person who is born more feminine than masculine, and deserves the right to live the life that "Amanda." wants to live! I realize that my understanding, (right now) is basic but I got to learn to "crawl" before I can "walk"!...The more that I learn about being a TransGender, I more I learn that I haven't even touch the "tip of the iceberg"! In simplier words, I know "sh*t" about what "Amanda." been or is going through, but I am willing to learn and help in any way that I can!!!

Glossary

To help you find this site more informative. I have made this basic glossary to explain some of the terms, that you will find on this blog!
(1)MTF (male to female)
(2)FTM (female to male)
(3)Transgender (TG)..are basically people who were assigned a gender (usually at birth and based on their genitals), but who feel that this is a not a true or an incomplete description of themselves. May include other categories, such as transsexual; cross-dressers; tranvestite; consciously androgynous people; genderqueer; people who live cross-gender; drag kings ; and drag queens.
(4) "Going Stealth"..: After an a person has transitioned, this person may choose not to reveal their transsexual status to those around them (for example, to coworkers, friends, neighbors, etc.); this is referred to as "going stealth" or "being stealth."

There are plenty of websites that have more scientific definitions of the above-mentioned terms, such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender#Transgender_Identity etc.