Sherri Mackleberry Comes Out As a Transgender Man
Sherri looked in the mirror one last time before heading out to the reunion. His suit was gorgeously tailored, and more than complemented by the equally gorgeous woman beside him. And he had been successful in career as well as love – he was fulfilled as well as well-paid from engineering.
But would any of that matter to the others?
Sherri walked through the doors, noting the crooked and badly-drawn "Happy 25th Reunion, Springfield Elementarians!" sign. Some things never changed, at least. He parked himself by the punch bowl and hoped it was spiked – but no such luck.
His wife Noa Katz, on the other hand, was having a marvelous time mingling about, looking radiant in her imperial purple gown. "Oh, this old thing?", she laughed, twirling for Martin Prince, who was suitably impressed. "Seriously though, I'm just glad for the excuse to dress up. Being a Conservative rabbi, I have to wear suits to be taken seriously, though I do hope that will change soon." And then, the moment Sherri had dreaded, but knew he had to face, arrived. "Oh, no, you wouldn't remember me. I'm not from your school. It's my husband who went here – Sherri, darling, where have you been? Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
And so, with a deep breath, Sherri did.
"Hey, Martin. My sister Terri couldn't make it – she's sick – but I'm here by myself. Not what you're used to, huh?," he laughed weakly.
Martin's famously big brain visibly churned. "Sherri – Sherri Mackleberry? Terri's sister?"
"Well, her brother, as it turns out. That is – I'm a transgender man."
"But your name is still Sherri?"
"Well, why not? I've always liked my name. I mean – it's kind of hard to explain, but this isn't about hating girly things. A woman doesn't have to be a frilly little princess and a man doesn't have to hate everything girly; that's not why I knew I was a man. Heck, I still have the long purple hair, as you can see. I just really needed to be called a man and to have this body. And I still can't explain it completely, not even to myself, but I hope you can accept it."
Martin shrugged. "I don't mind, if it makes you happy. There's little enough happiness in the world as it is. Besides, I know what it's like to not be accepted for being different. Speaking of which, have you met my robot companion, Maya? I know some say Maya is an odd name for an android – well, really she's a gynoid, not being androgynous – but I think it suits her. Now, the interesting thing about her programming is…"
And Sherri smiled and nodded. He had never been so happy to be bored.