 After being married to Irma for 25 years, Roy decides the stress of being a woman in a man s body has grown intolerable. He unburdens himself to Irma and their pastor, shocking them both. Roy s decision to pursue a sex-change operation is greeted with intolerance and disgust by some of his co-workers and members of his church. Irma eventually comes to some understanding, and supports Roy through his journey to becoming "Ruth."