I didn't think I was going to experience it this soon. But it happened today. I walked in today, and an employee named Jess called me a girl. I said hi, went to dress myself and then I pulled her aside, away from people and asked her please not to call me a girl and shook her hand and said my name is Raffi, call me that what is yours? Later she came and asked to talk to me before I leave. So I go and she says she didn't like my attitude that I shouldn't have approached her and shook her hand and asked what her name was cause how the hell was she supposed to know *what* I am. And why didn't I tell her right then that I didn't like being called a girl? (I went to get undressed first). As I sat there, perplexed I said maybe you should stop and ask yourself why is it that you're assuming things about people instead of blaming me and others? Why is it that women that get raped don't report crimes immediately? Does that make the rape not valid because they didn't immediately fight back? As a society we need to be educated and you're sitting here being angry because I'm taking the emotional labor to educate you. She continued blaming me. I stepped back and said I'm done. I'll talk to your manager about this. She went hysterical made a huge scene in the front desk, yelling, talking over me, completely humiliating, unprofessional, disgusting and out of line. Her attitude made me feel unworthy and completely unsafe. Yes, people are always going to assume things because the world is a very ignorant place. I don't get angry over assumptions because if I did I wouldn't be able to live. But the pettiness, arrogance and violence when you correct and educate people and they slap you right back, that's a problem and I'm not gonna sit back and take it. There's no training in the world that's going to fix what I'm feeling and what other trans people feel. This is why there are queer gyms opening all over the country, because our existence is a mere goal for a diversity award. David says he's going to call me over the weekend.