Trans·gen·der
/transˈjendər,tranzˈjendər/
denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
Seems like that definition encompasses a whole lot of real estate, yet is somehow still lacking. Does my personal identity and gender not correspond with my birth sex? Well……..sometimes. But sometimes it does. So am I transgender? I have asked myself this question numerous times over the past few years. The truth is I still don’t really know the answer. But I have come to realize that “transgender” is just a label. The real truth is that my gender expression shifts as my internal identity shifts. When I see myself as more “April” then that is my truth; when I see myself as more “Bill” then that is who I am.
I realize that this duality can be difficult for friends and family to accept, but after decades of trying to be what others wanted me to be, I have found that the path to happiness and acceptance for me is to allow myself the freedom to be myself, and to express my identity as it feels right for me. At times I find the term “transgender” to be limiting, as I see the gender spectrum as a fluid thing. For many of us we cannot say unequivocally that we are male or female, because our concept of ourselves, our identity is constantly changing. Many of us occupy various points on the spectrum at various times in our lives. I find that I go back and forth between my male self and April. My identity fluctuates. Lately I feel more April than my male self, but I know that can and probably will change. My hope is that one day society can accept the fluid nature of our being and find it OK to let us be who we are at the moment.
No judgement, just acceptance.
I know we aren’t there yet, not even in the Seattle area where I live, which in many ways is a wonderfully accepting and supporting place to be. Yet, there are times when I would have loved to have gone to work as April because it was how I felt inside, but except for a single day (Halloween), that just hasn’t been possible. At least for now. Maybe one day I will be able to be “myself” at work at those times I identify as April, but we’re not there yet.
I suppose for those who feel more confident in their identity as their “birth” gender, my shifting sense of self is very hard to comprehend, possibly even more so than understanding those who are 100% certain their physical birth gender is totally wrong. At least they are certain of who they are at all times. I have noticed that the people that seem to be most fearful of the “other” tend to have the hardest time with this duality. I think uncertainty and fluidity is very tough for a large number of people to deal with, so they shut off the thinking parts of their brains, and fear kicks in. And it’s hard to be accepting of differences when you are fearful. And when the fear has no rational basis it is hard to counteract.
I know it will be a long road to acceptance, but I have learned to accept myself and that is the most important first step. It has been liberating to finally accept that I am not one or the other – but both. That my life is complex, but that is OK. I am happy with who I am – all of me.
I hope you are happy with who you are too.
More Articles by April King
View all articles by April King
April King
Latest posts by April King (see all)
- 6 Years On…….. - January 12, 2023
- Enjoying What We DO Have - August 14, 2020
- Why Do We Do What We Do? - April 29, 2020
-44x44.jpeg){kind=small}
Beautiful!!! 😉
You wrote: “When I see myself as more “April” then that is my truth; when I see myself as more “Bill” then that is who I am.” Been there, done that, got the cami. After it became apparent that I couldn’t shut off my Patricia side when I got married, as I had always thought, and I knew I was going to have to deal with it, I lived with that duality for about three decades. It can be confusing. Trying to explain it to someone is very difficult because you don’t understand it yourself. You referred to gender as… Read more »
Hi Patricia – I’m glad you found yourself. My journey has been different, but enlightening nonetheless. What I have found is that the freer I became to express April the more I have found that I am very comfortable with the duality. I actually prefer to be my male self most of the time, but there are times when I really need to express April. And I am so glad that I am now able to do that without fear, and with joy.
Hugs,
April
Excellent
Well put.i my self feel the same at times it’s so hard when you are caught up in between two ways thinking and feeling and which way do you turn
April, I greatly admire those who identify as fluid. The drive to identify under some label can be immense and there are cases of girls who transitioned only to figure out that was not their right answer. Unfortunately we are such a small community that it is hard not to see others and wonder if something you see going on is for you. Add to that people who are so hung up on binaries that they think everything and everyone has some static point. I think it’s jus about finding your balance. Like anything, that is subject to change too.… Read more »
Finding a balance has been difficult and is an ongoing process. But with a great family and good friends the journey is immeasurably easier.
🙂
Thank you for your post. I have felt the same way for so long, sometimes very happy to feel male, and other times happier to feel female. Lately I notice that where I find myself and my activity determines my feeling. At home I dress female almost all the time, and it feels normal. When I teach my karate class, I feel totally male. And I too are happy in both places.
trish
Thank you, April. I respect and absolutely agree that society needs to accept our fluid nature. I think that most everyone is fluid in some ways and many are just solid not allowing themselves to flow freely. Personally, I’m overdue to be free. I am dealing with that one day at a time. I can relate to the need to go back and forth though. I don’t know if people who are transgender FTM or those who crossdress as men feel the same feeling to be fluid in their life. Still so many questions. Thanks so much for sharing this.… Read more »
Thank you for posting April. I have many of the same feelings.
Love my girl time but also like dude mode for the ease of
getting dressed.
Hugs,
Samantha