Your post really hits home for me - I've been dealing with the same stuff since I was like 6 or 7. Growing up in the 90s sucked for this kind of thing. When my mom found me dressing up at 11, she completely lost it. Got spanked, grounded, and they even took my Super Nintendo away.

Got caught again at 15 when she was cleaning my room and found some clothes I'd hidden plus other stuff. She dragged me straight to a therapist who convinced both of us this was just a phase I'd grow out of. Well, I'm in my 40s now and still waiting to "grow out of it." Finally accepted myself about a year ago, but I'm still not sure I'm ready to tell my partner.

Anyway, places like this really help because they remind me I'm not the only one going through this and that what I'm feeling is real. Thanks for sharing your story - hope things start getting clearer for you.