I really only wear the kilt part time...I am not and, in my particular context, don't see much point in trying to be a full time kilt wearer. In a way, I think that this attitude has actually helped several of the folks around me accept my wearing it more readily. It has become clear to them that it's a piece of clothing...I haven't joined a cult or decided to change my gender or gone off the deep end...it's just another piece of clothing that I wear when I feel like it. I'm not getting "in their faces" nor am I trying to "stick it to the man", "make a statement" or "weird them out".

I have a couple of friends that have expressed their opinion that they don't like it so I don't wear it to any of their events. Oddly enough even though I'm not wearing it, they still ask about it..."Are you still wearing that kilt?" Yes, thank you, I do still wear it but since you seem to disapprove of it, I'm not wearing it today because I'm here at your party and I don't see any point in forcing the issue. I have obviously made the decision that their friendship is worth more than a particular item of clothing and maybe they will realize that and it will make them stop and consider what their attitude about my kilt wearing means to me.

I think that one can't gain any ground here by being petulant, stubborn, bullying or unreasonable. A reasonable person can retain their own identity without having to impose conditions on other people with whom he has relationships. "Take it or leave it" doesn't go down well with anyone, does it?

The difficulties that some of us encounter in the pursuit of our kilt wearing should teach us a larger lesson. When someone doesn't "get it", we would rather that they took the time to stop and ask us why we chose the kilt, what our reasoning was, what it means to us and how it makes us feel rather than just summarily rejecting the kilt and, by extension, rejecting us. We should only all try to remember to stop and try to ask the pertinent questions before we form an opinion.

Proceed carefully in matters of this type...there's always a way to sort these things out so that at least basic respect for the other is maintained.

Best

AA