[HiTech RedNeck]

I met her through friends who knew her, at a time when she had been beaten by a boyfriend who found out she was once ‘Billy’.

Boyfriend probably saw it as something "gay." While there is no excuse for violence, it would be wise for someone in her situation to tell a potential partner about it BEFORE anything romantic gets going. Then, if the partner would be weirded out there is minimal opportunity for repercussion.

[antceecee]

I think we have come a long way toward understanding things like this since the 1970’s. Many viewed her as a “sex change” when in fact she was not.