u/nimrodpa

I started a new job in December. I come from a smallish town where a lot of the barflys know each other.

Several of my coworkers recognized my last name and asked if I was related to one of their bar buddies, I am. He has a habit of telling people I am trans when he's out drinking. I told these two coworkers that if he ever brought that up it was true, but it was something I didn't want getting around.

I was added to a group chat with everyone where people make plans to hang out. I went out with coworkers to karaoke a few times. I had friends at work, which is very unusual for me.

In May someone mentioned that they and several other people had been told I was trans back in January. I asked around and found out that essentially everyone at work knew. Multiple people said they didn't tell me because they thought it would upset me. Several people told me I shouldn't have told anyone and can't be surprised they told other people. No one is willing to admit talking about it, but everyone heard.

There was a woman I work with who was messaging me all the time in a way that made me think she was interested in me but she stopped speaking to me completely when I told her that I was disappointed in her for not telling me everyone was gossiping about me.

The person who told almost everyone was fired, not exclusively because of her outing me but that was a part of the decision. I feel extremely guilty. I know some of my coworkers blame me. I haven't been invited out since this happened, people make plans in front of me constantly but I am never asked along.

I'm trying to stay positive but I'm in the middle of a long stretch on and I hate feeling like the unpopular kid in school everyday at the job that's paying my bills.

I gasped! Is she related to Ken Marino or do all Italians share like 5 last names?