I used to think that hugging(or lack of it) was related to being raised in New England, where it simply was never done. Compare with those, Southerners who seemed to do it all the time. Foolish me,. And certainly two guys hugging would be an instant red flag,. Im sure much of it goes back to being raised in the era where the ultimate media hero was the "strong silent" cowboy,. Fast forward to post transition, where I now look forward to hugging my close friends. And when I think back to the few close friends I had as a Teen, Id love to have been able to give them a big hug in my gender :)