Unlabeled Love

Struggling with acceptance in gender-expansive relationships? You're not alone! This week's Unlabeled Love episode is dedicated to holding space for partners on this journey. Listen and discover you're part of a community where your story matters.

You can contact us:

Email - [email protected]

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Dive into our latest episode! How do significant others navigate the journey with gender-expansive partners? Violet and McCartney candidly discuss and explore the dynamics of love and support and what significant others wish their gender-expansive partners understood.

You can contact us:

email - [email protected]

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Violet and McCartney address common myths about cross‑dressing and emphasize how partners can communicate through them. They encourage using nonjudgmental questions, active listening, and clarifying what each person means rather than making assumptions. They highlight the importance of ongoing dialogue, especially as feelings shift over time. They also recommend setting and negotiating boundaries collaboratively, with both partners having genuine choice in what feels comfortable. When communication becomes difficult or emotionally charged, they suggest considering working with a gender‑experienced therapist who can help both partners navigate the situation with clarity and support.

You can contact us:

email - [email protected]

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Violet and McCartney discuss how illness or hospitalization can create extra caregiving challenges when a spouse is gender-expansive and may still want gender-affirming clothing, names, and routines. They encourage couples to talk in advance, create a flexible game plan for both partners’ potential health crises, and consider end-of-life wishes and what to do with clothing and belongings after death. What conversations and plans could you start now so you’re not forced to decide everything in a crisis?

  You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Violet and McCartney discuss why some significant others choose to stay with a cross-dressing or gender-expansive spouse. They note that acceptance, honest communication, and mutually respected boundaries can help couples navigate the change. They remind listeners that staying is a choice—not an obligation—and leaving doesn’t mean anyone failed. What reasons, boundaries, and defining moments would guide you if you discovered your partner was gender-expansive?

You can contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: Unlabeledlove

Facebook: Violet S Lee and McCartnie Rose

Violet and McCartney focus on whether cross-dressing is always about sex, noting it can be sexual for some, nonsexual for others, or shift over time from fetish to gender expression and authenticity. They compare experiences and emphasize that partners should examine attraction and comfort levels, set and communicate boundaries, and recognize intimacy can include affection without sex.

You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

McCartney and Violet’s conversation centers on partners of gender-expansive spouses sometimes missing “their husband,” wanting predictability and to be the focus without managing an alter ego’s feelings. They emphasize examining what “wanting the old husband back” means, communicating boundaries respectfully, and recognizing they can’t control how their partner receives those feelings

You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Violet and McCartney discuss an upcoming business cruise, during which McCartney’s spouse, Deanne, suggested presenting as Deanne throughout the trip, including on formal night. McCartney explains she is not ready to introduce Deanne to business colleagues and worries about the added stress of being on high alert, especially sailing from a local port where acquaintances might be present. Violet affirms that saying “not this time” is a valid boundary, not rejection, and suggests communicating clearly and gauging colleagues’ attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ topics. They emphasize open communication, balancing personal and professional life, and reassuring a partner that a pause is not a permanent refusal.

You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

McCartney and Violet discuss the internal struggle partners face when a spouse is a cross-dresser or gender expansive, prompted by a quote from Savannah Hauk’s book about mastering internal balance for peace of mind, body, and spirit. They describe challenges like redefining roles in a dual-gender relationship, balancing support with personal comfort, and communicating needs without guilt, especially around intimacy, attraction, and public presentation. They emphasize setting boundaries, moving at a manageable pace, acknowledging grief and anxiety, and avoiding shutdowns that can create hiding and resentment. They encourage honesty, curiosity, and seeking counseling, while reminding listeners that every situation is different and that the goal is personal peace alongside respectful negotiation.

You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose

Reference:

Living with Crossdressing: Defining a New Normal by Savannah Hauk and Judith Swain

Living with Crossdressing: Discovering Your True Identity by Savannah Hauk 

Gender 101: An A-Z Handbook & Exploration by Savannah Hauk and Selva Dragani

Violet and McCartney discuss what it really means when a spouse says they are “okay” with a cross-dressing or gender-expansive partner. Violet shares how her own “I’m okay” evolved and describes how a communication breakdown led to feelings of betrayal. They encourage baby steps, honesty without passive aggression, considering therapy, and recognizing that while couples should try to work through it together, it’s also valid to leave if it remains incompatible.

You can contact us:

• email - [email protected]
• Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnlabeledLove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook - Violet S. Lee & McCartnie Rose