Being identified as trans

[darkblade]

I don't really know I'm supposed to feel about this..

Yesterday I was talking to a guy, and then he asks "you identify as transgender, right?" Which was kind of odd, because I didn't actually start identifying as trans until a few days ago. I asked him how he knew, he said he just figured. This brief conversation left me quite happy, for some reason. When I was recounting this incident to my roommate, she told me it was pretty obvious that I was trans, based on the way I've been dressing and the way I carry myself.

Right now I think it's a bit odd that that made me happy. I mean, yes, I identify as trans so nothing wrong there, but what does it really mean when people ask you whether you're trans? I guess these are people I see every day so they've seen me going from dressing in a certain way to dressing in a completely different way, so that's part of it. But, I don't know.. I'm not even sure I should've been happy when he asked me whether I was trans..

[gennee]

There are people who know what we are sometimes before we do. Enjoy the good vibes from the positive compliments. In a sense, it's an affirmation of your identity.

[Devlyn]

I don't really know I'm supposed to feel about this..

Yesterday I was talking to a guy, and then he asks "you identify as transgender, right?" Which was kind of odd, because I didn't actually start identifying as trans until a few days ago. I asked him how he knew, he said he just figured. This brief conversation left me quite happy, for some reason. When I was recounting this incident to my roommate, she told me it was pretty obvious that I was trans, based on the way I've been dressing and the way I carry myself.

Right now I think it's a bit odd that that made me happy. I mean, yes, I identify as trans so nothing wrong there, but what does it really mean when people ask you whether you're trans? I guess these are people I see every day so they've seen me going from dressing in a certain way to dressing in a completely different way, so that's part of it. But, I don't know.. I'm not even sure I should've been happy when he asked me whether I was trans..

I think it means he respects you and just wanted a clarification. We seem to have an unwritten law that you should absolutely never ask someone if they're transgender. The problem is, no one tells the REST of the world about the unwritten law. I'm happily transgender, and if it makes you happy too, all the power to you!

Hugs, Devlyn

[darkblade]

It's just that, it got me thinking. What does it really mean to be identified as trans?  Does it simply mean a recognition of the fact that you don't identify as cisgendered? Or does it go deeper than that? Because of so, wouldn't he have asked whether I identify as male? (To put things into perspective I had previously asked him if he knew anyone I could borrow traditional male clothing from). Though it did make me happy, I just got thinking about whether there's any subtext to what it means to be perceived as trans (as opposed to male/female/nonbinary).

[samblack]

This is something I've been thinking about for a few weeks. When I was a teenager and I first started identifying as trans (FTM) I was hell bent on "i'm a guy" and being identified as a guy. It brought great misery because I didn't always pass.
After going through a period of suppressing my true self I am now 25 and figuring out who I am.
I've accepted that I am transgendered, I am not a male but I do not identify as female. I will never be a biological male, so I'm learning to be okay with being transgender. This is me, this is who I am and I'm learning to love myself. I hope I pass as a guy but if not, it's ok because I know that some people don't understand to recognize me that way. I am transgender and I'm learning to be proud of this.
Being my true, authentic self is freeing and it makes me very happy.

[darkblade]

I've come to the conclusion that I really like this identification.. Just now I was in the middle of a very casual conversation where one of my friends who I don't talk to that much said "ladies" and then promptly took it back and asked me for my pronouns. I was quite taken aback, really didn't know I was so obvious, but this is pretty cool it makes me happy  at least I'm not failing too badly at what I'm trying to do.

[Sandy74]

I think for me and the way I am living and the lifestyle that I am living its not the right place or time for me to be living as a transgender woman and it's on hold right now and I constantly underdress and that's about it and I am not sure when I will dress full time or when. I want to scream to the world that I am really a woman but I am so scared.