Straight dude with a t-girl friend needs advice

[rawr1313]

Long story but I'll keep it as short as I can. I hope I do not offend anyone with my ignorance, and I am truly sorry if I do.

I have a best friend, known him since kindergarten. Around 7th grade I figured out he liked dudes, I didn't care, he was my bro. Nothing changed really, except I ended up grilling all his boyfriends like I do for my sister. I protected him and treated him like I would a sibling.

In our early 20s now he's been making the transformation into a woman over the past 2 years. Long hair, womens clothes, breast implants, the whole deal pretty much. If I haven't known him forever I probably wouldn't even know he was born in a males body.

I've tried to be as supportive as possible being there for him for emotional support during the hormone therapy, and since we live in a place that isn't exactly tolerant of anyone who isn't "straight" I've always had his back when people give him hell for it.

When I found out he liked men, I didn't have any issue. I was glad he figured it out as early as he did, and he's had some very healthy long lasting relationships. My problem is I'm slightly weirded out now that he's a woman. I know it sounds like I'm a jerk, but I'm trying to be as open minded as possible.

Knowing him as a man for over a decade and seeing him as a woman in the physical sense (even though I guess he's always had the mind of a woman) is just hard for a simple man like myself to get used to. Sometimes he gets flirty with me like one of my girlfriends would and I know he's messin but I have a hard time not seeing him as the guy I grew up with. Sometimes I feel because of my inability to cope I'm not being the best buddy I can be for him/her and I feel like a terrible person for it.

I was referred to this board by a friend of his and I'm hoping some you guys who are more educated in such things can give me a little advice on how to be a better friend and not be so uptight.

Again if any of my close-mindedness offended you I apologize in advance. Also sorry for the ridiculous wall of text.