Legally, haven't started. Not super important to me, it's pretty far down the dysphoria tier list.
Physically, (I know you didn't ask but I care) I realized that body hair and balding were the main triggers for my dysphoria, so after talking to my wife about it, I got a prescription for finastride and a laser hair removal thingy. Using those the last week or so has been super gender affirming (and itchy).
Emotionally, this has been really hard on my wife. She doesn't perform gender, and the only connection she feels to her gender is her sex, so she feels that her womanhood is threatened by me fully coming out. If I am a woman because I feel like a woman, then what does that make her, when she doesn't have a specific attachment to her gender? The newest compromise is that I can be as fem as I want, but I'm still her husband, not her wife. I'm trying to tell her that if she wants to be a woman, even in a "don't let go of what I have" way, that's totally valid, but if she just drops the gender completely and goes they/them or xe/xer, that's also totally valid. We are going to make this work somehow.
Socially, my sister is throwing a little superb owl party this weekend, so most of my family (and no one else) will be at this party, so it's time to rip the 30 year old bandaid off and come out. Since I'm still in negotiations with the wife, it'll be phrased "struggling with gender dysphoria and being more fem helps so much" instead of a full "My name is Amber, please refer to me with she/her pronouns." I'm expecting a lot of acceptance and questions.
Spiritually (I know you didn't ask but I care) I found a verse that is very specifically trans affirming. No idea how I missed it every time I read Isaiah. "For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off." Isaiah 56:4-5 NKJV. I've been trying to find a way to reconcile my faith with my gender identity forever, so reframing eunuchs as trans people and then doing a study has brought me much peace. My wife is still struggling to reconcile being bi with her faith. She didn't have to worry about it as she could just marry a guy and ignore the bi, but she did the most bi thing possible and married a closeted transfem, so now she has to confront it. It's a process, we'll see where we end up.
Sorry this is long winded, but your question gave me the framework needed to actually put everything down into words, so thank you for that.
Amber, I'm glad you found a spot to put all your thoughts and feelings down. It always helps to articulate them.
Sounds like things are rocky with you and your wife right now. I hope y'all can work things out, but don't be afraid to move on if the need arises. You have to let yourself bloom into the woman you are, or you will starve yourself of blossoming.
I'm curious what an owl party is. I've never heard the term.
I'm from a very Christian culture and upbringing, despite renouncing the faith at the ripe old age of nine. I still go to church every Sunday to socialize. Even though the denomination I was raised in is one of the better ones in terms of acceptance (United Methodist), it still didn't spare me from religious trauma and internalized ideas that I'm still working though. Not saying it's Christianity by itself, but the flavor that's been used for fundementalist christofacism in the US has been a lot of deconstruct for me.
It's funny, I've met some of the worst people in the world who are Christians, and some of the sweetest, most genuine people who are Christians too. Don't let anyone twist your faith to where you lose sight of loving your neighbor. I'm glad you have found some answers in your faith. I wish you all the best in your journey. Listen to your heart.
If God does indeed exist, they created you to be fearfully and wonderfully made.
"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude." Timothy 4:4
"Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future." Proverbs 21:35
"Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you." Phillipians 3:15
It's a Superb Owl Party. This Sunday at 6:30 PM Eastern time. Eating wings and cheering for the red team.
My wife and I are going to make it, I wasn't expecting to get to transition ever, so her being ok with me going all the way to femboy is a great start and huge strides in a new direction. We are talking through this like adults, we love each other, and we are determined to make this work.
Thanks for the affirmation, most people seem to think that LGBT and Christianity should be at war with each other, so being both is a whole different challenge.
Emotionally and socially, I feel the weight of the world bearing down upon more and more every day. As far as legally, I keep kicking that can down the line further because I can't budget the time, money and energy to see that through in a reasonable timeframe.
Yeah, I know that feeling. I wish you a brighter future. You can do this.
So far going well. I've been working on my voice for about 3 months now and I feel like it's now somewhere between androgynous and feminine. I also will be getting my name changed in a few months so I'm very excited for that.
Socially, things are going well kind of. My only friend (she's also trans) decided to join the army and I'm worried for her, but she says it's something she wants to do. It was very surprising to me when she told me because she is very kind and soft. Idk how well she will do there. One positive thing is that I've been out to the world for a little over 6 months now, and I haven't had anyone give me any shit for being trans and I feel very accepted.
Glad things are going well. Sounds like you've got a bright future ahead of you. Having people who support and accept you makes all of the difference in the world.
Funnily enough, I'm in the same situation. My friend who is trans wants to go into the military too because under Biden they will cover transition. But it's like...it's the military, dude. That can change at the drop of the hat. But it's his life, not mine, so there's only so much I can do to dissuade him from it.
I feel pretty good at this moment after getting meds and such in line. Currently in women's roller derby league. Third and final phase of FFS is happening. Had a random guy stare at my tail while taking an elevator at a furry convention. I feel like I'm ok after 4 years at 40 years old. Just need to work on my voice.
Only depressing thing lately is legislationSounds like things are going well. It's cool that you get to be on a women's sport team. Ain't nothing as good as trans joy.
Yeah...the legislation and mainstream discourse sucks. Sometimes I get pulled into the doom scrolling vortex and get stressed and anxious for the day. It is what it is.
Emtionally it's fine for me right now although I feel like in a sort of limbo right now because, socially I pretty much completed my transition. Every person I care about (except a few people from my family who I don't see that often) call me by my chosen name and use my prefered pronouns and they of course know I'm trans and accept that. Fortunately I didn't make any negative experiences yet that are related to coming out or just being trans. Currently my brother is the person who slips up the most with my new name but I think that will pass with time. Right now I'm waiting for my first endocrinologist appointment at the beginning of march to start my HRT. Legally I'm waiting for the new law in Germany to change my name and gender marker but with how it's looking right now that won't be until late next year or never unfortunately.
Glad you've got some accepting people in your life. Hope the first appointment goes well.
What's going on in Germany right now with the laws?
Right now to change your name and your gender marker you have to follow the old law from like 1980 oder 1970 and for that you need 2 psychiatric appraisals(?) which cost more than 1000 EUR and a judge has to decide in your favor. With the new law you would just go to your registry office and say you want to change your name and gender marker and pay like 60 EUR and that's it.
Edit: The old law is called "Transsexuellengesetz" and the new one is called "Selbstbestimmungsgesetz" if you want to read more about it. Don't know how much there is to read in English.
