What is your gender?
Just Some Guy
What are your pronouns?
He/him/his
When did you first realise you were trans?
I didn't fully put it all together until I was about 18, and I didn't start transitioning socially or medically until about 21.
Did you change your name?
Socially but not legally. My deadname is so close to my chosen name that if someone sees it I can pass it off as a typo, so it's not too high a priority. Plus a legal name and gender marker change costs like $300 where I live, and like, I could buy so many boba teas with that money!
Are you out to your family?
Yeah. My little sister was one of the first people I came out to, and she was extremely kind and supportive. I ended up coming out to my parents by just quietly starting to refer to myself as a man until they picked up on it. They've also been amazing about it. When I first started T, my dad mailed me an empty cigar box so I could have "a manly place to keep [my] syringes and testosterone."
Are you out to your friends?
Friends, yes. Coworkers, it's complicated.
Do you have trans friends?
Hell yeah! And a wonderful nonbinary spouse!
Did your sexuality change when you came out?
Yeah! Talking to other trans folks, I'm learning this is weirdly common! Before realizing I was a guy, I thought I was a butch lesbian. But transitioning brought out an interest in men that I'd never noticed before. It turns out everyone is cute!
Did/do you take hormones?
Yep! Been on T for about 6 years, and stabbing myself with the needle still freaks me out sometimes.
Do you have penis envy?
I think it would be nice to have a dick in the same way I think it would be nice to have a boat. Fun in theory, but I acknowledge that I'll probably never be able to afford one, and even if I could, there's other stuff I'd rather spend that money on. Plus it'd be a hassle learning how to use it, and even more of a hassle figuring out what to do with it when I'm not using it. Okay, maybe the analogy got away from me but you get the point.
Do you plan on medically transitioning?
I used to want top surgery, but I think I've changed my mind on that. Most of my chest dysphoria is gone now that I've been on T a few years and there's hair on my chest. I look in the mirror and the joy and excitement over the fuzz kinda negates the nebulous discomfort over the boobs. I'm lucky to be able to bind all day at work with no problems and I hate undergoing surgery, so I'm probably gonna stay non-op.
Upon transitioning, did you notice a difference in the way society/the public treats you (if applicable)?
Oh my gosh yes. Back when I presented as a woman I would get a lot of condescending, "Oh, you can't lift that heavy thing, let me get that for you,"-type shit. There was one job where a man didn't believe I could even lift the chainsaw I had been trained to use. Now that I'm presenting as a man, sometimes at work I am called specifically to lift heavy things for people. It makes me happy in a weird affirming way, but it's also dumb as hell considering I am physically in worse shape now than I was back then.
Any tips for passing?
Oh I hate the concept of "passing" so much. Trying to control every single other human being's perception of me is futile and exhausting. I get that it's neccessary sometimes for safety to want to not get clocked, but it sucks so bad. If you want strangers to gender you correctly, wear your pronouns somewhere visible. If they see that and misgender you anyways, they're either illiterate or an asshole.
Do you wish you were never born trans?
No. Although it was difficult growing up before I knew I was trans, and just feeling like there's something wrong with me but not being able to name it, that was an integral part of developing into who I am today, and without it I would be a different person. Also, the process of transitioning has brought so much joy into my life. I have the perspective needed to fall in love with the things my body does that a cis dude might take for granted: my lowering voice, my growing facial hair, and even my receding hairline. I wouldn't trade that for anything.