IthinkImnutz

Not flying related but if your friend truly wants to live as a female you might want to ask them if they would prefer you refer to them as she from now on. It sounds like you honestly want to help and support your friend, bringing up the question yourself might take some pressure off of them.

I'm part of a Toastmasters group in the Boston area. Would it be crazy to ask if you would be willing to be a guest speaker via zoom sometime?

Yea, I'm in a similar situation with someone I know who went from she to they and changed their name a couple of times. I call them they but wasn't certain which name I should use so I directly asked. I was told to continue to use the name I first knew them as. I explained, and certainly hope that they believe me, when I tell them that I will be happy to use whatever name they prefer.

Using they, them was a bit confusing for me as well at first. I'm almost 50 and was raised with the whole "be a real man, boys will be boys, and boys don't cry" mentality.

This is what I have come to realize over the years:

• I have known men who were extremely masculine and women who were extremely feminine. If someone can be on one end of the extreme why not the other to the point where their gender really doesn't mean that much to them?
  
• It's hard enough to be happy in this world if someone finds a way to be happy that doesn't harm anyone who am I to tell them that they are wrong.
• In general I want most people to be happy and feel welcomed in my presence so I will address them however they like.
• They and them can be used as a singular. If they sounds weird in the sentence then try using them.