I suspect a co-worker is clocking me as TG even though I'm still closeted.

...figure he's just intentionally being ironic and uncomfortable to get under my skin under the assumption that I'm a straight, cis male.

I'm unsure of this; where I work it'd take about 3 of those comments before someone busted your nose. It doesn't happen, at all, ever, because of this.

Men that are suspected of being gay - and we have a few - are not remarked on; nobody brings up sexuality or makes homosexual-themed comments to them.

The one out gay - a lesbian - isn't teased or messed with; no one even alludes to her sexuality - in her presence.

It's remarkably hands-off for a red neck blue collar job.

...how a straight cis male who is secure about that would even react to that and he does it a lot recently. Can you help me wrap my head around it?

"Hey, if your looking for a dick to suck, I'm not wired that way but I got a cousin that's single; I can hook you up?"

"I don't know what the fuck's wrong with you but this is you first and last - it happens again and I'm taking this to HR; keep your faggotry to yourself."

Or first go to HR and let them know, so he doesn't try to claim you're harassing him.

I'm getting to the point where I'm about to start reciprocating the awkwardness in kind as my true self ironically, just to be a shit, but I don't want to out myself...

This is sure-as-shit not "normal male cis" behavior and whatever you're trying to telegraph, this would be completely wrong - unless you want to date him. Even then it's probably the wrong approach.

When he first started, he would walk up and play 'twist your nipple' and I had to warn him that that kind of conduct is a potential sexual harassment case, and I asked the boss to make sure he was clear that he needs to keep his hands to himself. I'm worried that's what provoked this.

What the fuck?! Is he 12? Go immediately to HR and let them know he's still messing with you and you're done tolerating it. If it's not resolved in a week you'll take "other action" (going two levels higher in the HR chain, filing a hostile workplace suit - find out your options).

Don't be supine here - that shit is completely unacceptable!

/r/asktransgender Thread