Hi @ginnysnow. It's tough depending on where you live, but the more you show who you are meant to be, the more you will find your people.

ALL people build perceptions of how they think others are and when those perceptions turn out to be different from reality it throws them off. This means it often takes time for them to come around to accepting the "real you."

However, you've probably also built perceptions of other people that may or may not be accurate.

For example, when I came out there were people I thought would be very supportive and they weren't but there were others I thought would be judgmental and they were supportive. I went through this again when I had cancer--some people withdrew from me, others I didn't expect got closer.

As uncomfortable as it is, you need to put yourself out there and find "your people"--those who will love you, laugh and cry with you, help you through tough times, etc. Once you have a circle of friends it's easier to ignore those who don't accept you. This process may mean ending some long time friendships which is not easy but if they don't accept you as you are then are they REALLY your friends?

Family is a different matter. I was lucky. My immediate family is great. Other family members, not so much so, with them, I just post "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas" on their Facebook pages and that's it. It can be tough to have to distance yourself from family but sometimes it's necessary.

In short, you have to build a "chosen family" of friends and family members who you love and feel safe with. I did it through volunteer work and joining a hiking club. It doesn' have to be a huge group. I'd say I have 3-4 friends in my inner circle with whom I can discuss anything, and another dozen or so that I hang out and do things with.

Good luck!

P.S. this song says it better than I can: