For those of us who have settled into our desired genders, and I'm speaking in terms of years and not months, what do we think about our lives? So, the question is:
Post transition, and this covers both social and physical, have things gone as expected or better or worse?
In terms discussion:
- What happened that drove your response?
- What surprised you, positively and negatively?
- Do you like how your relationship with the trans community is going?
- Is the COVID situation playing a role in your transition?
- Is the political environment playing a role in your transition.
DeeAnn, I'd love to take this poll, but I'm not sure what constitutes "post transition" for me. From a physical standpoint, that will occur this Fall. Everything I want to present the physical side of me will be complete. It is the un-quantifiable aspects of my mental and emotional being that I'm not sure will ever become 100% carved in stone for me. And to a certain degree, I'm also not sure I want it to be. My concern would be that if it is carved in stone, then I might not be open to whatever new and exciting worlds there are out there.
As to a few of your points; yes Covid did hold up my electrolysis for a few months, and the political climate for me has zero bearing on my 'development'. As for liking my relationship with this community; well, I'm still looking, but I have yet to find the right word, in any dictionary, to describe the excitement and joy I feel each day I wake up. Hugs, Michelle
"Post transition" was intended to be a bit open because I think there are many ways in which we can define transition. I don't think it is a universal thing.
As it sits for me, my social transition is essentially done. I present as DeeAnn at least 90% of the time. I only present as Don in very specific situations. The last time was about 2 weeks ago when we went for our first vaccine shot. I have no plans to change my personal documents as it would represent an extraordinary amount of work. Ultimately it would be doable, but my time is better utilized elsewhere. Right now I hold offices in 4 organizations and there is possibly of a 5th. 3 of the 4 are LGBT organizations. I am not currently involved with a trans-specific organization for 2 reasons. I don't rate any of the trans leadership here very highly and I also think that my time is better spent being out in the world. I represent the trans community in effect, but functioning in broadly focused organizations involved in advocacy, politics and charity. Unfortunately trans people are generally thought to be unreliable and untrustworthy. My goal is that my presence helps to counteract that, or at least provides a positive data point.
Physically, I have no plans for hormone therapy or surgeries. I am fortunate in that I don't have dysphoria. But, eventually I realized that I have always been an amalgam of female and male energies, perspectives, habits and preferences. My coming out was the realization and recognition of how it is for me.
Whenever we enter the unknown, we often have a preconceived idea if what it will be like. We can talk to others and have a general idea how things will go, but there is enough difference in our backgrounds that will create differences in our paths and outcomes. So, some of the questions relate to what we thought at the beginning of transition compared to what we thought later on. Further, as we know, MANY things can come into play: family situations, employment situations, financial situations, etc. Some can navigate the waters fairly well where others struggle mightily every day.
Anyway, these are unprecedented times. The times, the environments where we live and political shifts are having some significant impacts on the trans community. Considering all of the ups and downs of our lives in these turbulent times, how is it really going?
Hi DeeAnn ,
When I transition in my early/late 20's it was one awesome journey I must say . I really didn't ID my self as transgender or even transsexual but as female . Even before I went for my surgery in 2005 and I still do . I present myself as female ,even on forums which now seem to have more options now for ID 'ing your gender .
Never had any troubles blending in with cis-gender females or within society . Even with men which was a surprise . Living in a very conserv society and government ( Red Necks ) I had a lot of males friends which protected me . Even after being back on my hormones now , still blend in with society . I do think this is also based on your Attitude and how people perceive you . So I also made sure when I left the house I looked my best and sharply dressed to suit the powers at be . I still do to my hair and make-up everyday . I do get overwhelmed with compliments on my looks and my out look on life with questions as to who I'm .
I'm not part of the trans community in my area , this was a negative experience for me and an eye opener . I was dissed because of my looks , the males always hitting on me and few of the females . I have meet a few other individuals starting their journeys or on their way , but again I get dissed because I'm not part of the community . So I really don't know if I ever will be involved in the community . This part still puzzles me , regular society expected me with open arms , while the trans community did not ...
As for my life turning out or what I was expecting ....NO ! My plan was make the transition and live my life , continuing dating get married and have a wonderful life . I did not expect to get sexually assulted which had a huge negative impart on my life has turned it all up down . This left me in a state of just existing not having and emotions towards anything . Always in a mind state of numbness and I carried this for 13 years . Covid has for me opened up feelings and emotions which I don't want to face at all . However I have no choice but to confront them . For me I find this to be positive for over the past 2 and 1/2 months I'm finally regaining who I'm , rediscovering myself with a totally different mind set I starting to love myself again in ways I never did before .
In all though it really hasn't been a better or worse . I've meet some fasinating people along my travels and adventures and now it's time for a new chapter in my life start with many new adventures waiting to happen .
Terri-Alexis
Sadly, there is a lot of unnecessary strife within the trans community. Unfortunately, what people don’t realize is that the energy that goes into backstabbing, dishonesty, jealousy and other BS could be put to much better use. In turn, that would mean that we would be further ahead, but it isn’t seen that way. Small wonder that we also have such a poor reputation outside of the community.
From my observation, I think that many trans women are even more sensitive about how they look than those assigned female at birth. Actually, instead of attitude, I would say presence and I liken this to Dolly Parton. When you see a photo of her next to other people, you realize that she is a pretty small person. However, when you see a photo of her without obvious reference points, she appears to be at least average size. The difference is personality and being able to establish your presence. While this is something noticeable, it is something that you can’t measure. It is either there or it isn’t.
I think the problem that some trans women have is being stuck between two worlds and not figuring out how to fit into the female realm. They think that visual attractiveness is all there is (which may be the result of male conditioning), but there is a lot more to it than that.
I have always maintained that in addition to physical and emotional transition, there is also social transition. We don’t often appreciate the fact that women function very differently in society and that we didn’t have mothers, aunts, grandmothers and big sisters to coach us along the way...
The political winds are blowing our way, I sense that my dysphoria has increased to a discomfort point, and longing to be female all my life, I’m diving in headfirst with HRT and electrolysis all in the same month. I haven’t even dressed in 2 years, but since I mentally committed to female 2 months ago, I’ve been growing out my hair and just being my feminine self all the time. Not flamboyant but relaxed and smooth, it just feels right inside.
Carefully thinking it over l decided for Worse. The social part has really been great even though the relation to my wife still is a very open question.
The big issue however has been the unexpectedly long waiting times in the trans care system in Sweden. It is now more than two years since my first contact and all I've had is two get-to-know each other meetings with a doctor and a psychotherapist. The next step would be seeing a psychiatrist to start the psychological evaluation but there are no spots available for new patients presently. I have been waiting since early March and will probably not be able to see someone until spring. After that there is a supposedly two year process to get to HRT, hair removal and voice training and another two to three years to get to top and bottom surgery and possibly FFS.
I feel this timeline makes it questionable if I will live to have any benefits from it all. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease nine years ago at age 47 and it is right now going into a phase there more and more serious complications arise, leaving me increasingly limited in both strength and functionality.
I am not really experiencing gender dysphoria in a bad way but have always wished to experience life out of a female perspective. Transitioning seem therefore meaningless to me if l am confined to a wheelchair in a care home unable to tend to my personal needs once it can happen.
Marianne Tornander
Strangely DeeAnn I only came out 2 days after you posted your question ( me:03/03/21) So my transition is within the life of this topic.
I'm post surgery now, top and bottom. Other surgeries too. So if I had read your question the day you wrote it...I couldn't have even begun to answer.
Faster than I thought...is my reply. Less than 3 yrs to get to this point would have seemed reckless. I matured with my transition, the answers so obvious when they actually happened. It has been easy, as if I inwardly knew all along what I needed..I just wasn't consciously aware of it. Everything has fallen into place...though there have been difficulties (NHS!)
Better than I hoped but not because i knew where I wanted to get to (if I'm honest I wasn't sure) but because I have achieved a liberation and happiness I never knew I was missing. I opened a door inside and Alex came out, fully formed.
I'm part of the trans community but it isn't my purpose in life. My trans/bi/gay friends are just that...my dear friends. I am one of them but my life apart from them is my real world. Yes I'm trans...but I don't give it much thought really.
I have had a trans and CD relationship already. Better than anything that has gone before.
Covid was my watershed DeeAnn. That time when I actually sat down with myself and asked. "what do you want out of life? It may soon be over...people die from Covid." Actually my Mum did...and others.
The political climate now is relative I feel. If you are trans it feels more threatening than it probably is. I doubt more than 5% of people even think about us. In my view, we have it much better than earlier generations...so I keep pushing the agenda forward for those yet to come...as those before us did for me.
I'm 32 months...more than a few months...but not many years. I'm there in my head, it's just get on with the life you dreamed of. It's good...it's more than good...it's bliss.
Alex x