I guess it did, although especially in middle school I took the disapproval of the some people as a sign I was probably doing something right. I was definitely not dressed like any of my peers even long before I knew I was trans.

But I was also taller than everyone until high-school (reached 5’7” some time in 6th grade) and it might have helped more than I realized back then ? It’s not easy bullying someone who’s 2 feet taller than you 😄