Resources for exploring gender identity?

[Josie Angel]

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>What are some good resources for exploring one’s gender identity? </span></p>
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>A year ago, I finally admitted to myself that I want to come out of the closet and live more openly as my feminine self (the part of me I currently have to hide). </span></p>
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>For most of the past twelve months, I’ve imagined transitioning socially to live as female only.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>Especially after getting to spend an entire week living as female with some other trans friends at a conference this summer. </span></p>
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>But now I’m questioning that.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>Sometimes I like the way I look as a guy.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>I’m considering I might be gender fluid or non-binary instead.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>Even though it seems like living as an identity that isn’t binary is going to be harder to explain to people, be less accepted, etc. </span></p>
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>Since I first came out to myself as trans, I have identified as bi-gender.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>But part of that is because I never thought transitioning was an option for me.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>I had to live in two different worlds.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>Now that I don’t have to include masculinity in my identity, do I still want to?<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>I’m wrestling with this. </span></p>

2 users thanked author for this post.

Lauren Mugnaia, Shiloh Rose

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[Lauren Mugnaia]

Hi Josie,
You can ask me any questions you may have regarding gender identity, I’m happy to try and answer.
I am transgender, a trans woman. I have transitioned and live as a legal female.
You can go to my profile page and read through my history.
The sisters below have already provided you with some excellent pointers. You may reach a time where there is no other choice but to embrace who you feel you truly are, then life can really get interesting!

Feel free to ask us and we’ll see what we can come up with, that’s why we’re here sister.

Hugs,

Ms. Lauren M

[Shiloh Rose]

Just my humble thoughts..
Therapy is a good place to start.
And you spoke with the term..explore. I love putting it in that context. And it’s a thing of action to find out what makes us up deep down inside. What drives us. And what our needs are. Transgender is a very important and life changing decision. And the changing is not over night. It’s a journey of discovery and that is the rest of our lives. Both with it’s ups and downs, it’s heartaches and joy’s.
Just my thoughts.

Shiloh Rose 🌹

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Lauren Mugnaia

[Evelyn Jaye]

Josie,

Events like the one we were at this past Summer can certainly open new views. Whether they are correct for our future, or just exciting due to the overall energy of the event can sometimes be hard to sort out. I know, it took me decades after my first big conference where it was a week of just being me. The excitement at the time sure said in my heart I wanted to be full-time, but I couldn’t admit to myself in my mind that I could/should do it. I’m not saying that for you transition is right, but for me it is. It’s just that no matter the prompting I had ages ago, it took me a while. What helped a lot was looking to myself, and having a good therapist who was experienced and skilled in gender therapy.

I hope the two of you are doing well. Feel free to call or text.

Hugs,
Evelyn

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Lauren Mugnaia

[DeeAnn Hopings]

MANY here have worked with therapists and found it very helpful. Agreed: the key is finding someone with interest and experience in gender issues.

What makes sorting out our gender issues difficult is that it can be VERY hard to consider things that may require significant changes in our lives. Further, beyond our lives, our family life, work life, etc. may all be effected. The human mind works to protect ourselves from difficult and stressful situations (consider how procrastination works). That can make it hard to objectively think about these potentially major issues and decide what we need to do. What a therapist can do is to help us maintain focus and work through what needs to be thoroughly considered.

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Lauren Mugnaia

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