Being happy and transgender

[Ms Grace]

Being happy and transgender
theguardian.com/membership/video/2015/jun/05/trans-event-guardian-membership-video
via theguardian.com

Paris Lees, Kate Stone, Owen Jones, Peter Tatchell, Munroe Bergdorf and Jake Graf discuss the main issues facing the trans community, and what we all need to do to ensure we live harmoniously and happily as one society. The Guardian Live event took place at Amnesty International on 4 June 2015.



An interesting ten minute chat...

[Jake25]

Men's clothes make me happy. Discrimination wouldn't though.

[Tysilio]

Interesting video. I like the emphasis on building community and on actively working for change as happy-making things.  One speaker said that what makes her happy is "knowing that I am enough;" I think that for all of us, that's something to strive for, but we are social animals, and there's a sense in which we can't be "enough" by ourselves.

I feel very lucky to be part of a family/friendship community whose members have accepted, supported, and continued to love me as I progress with my transition. Not everyone is so fortunate, and we all need some version of that; joining a community of activists is a way to find it and to feel good about what we're doing.

The more I achieve my goals in transitioning, the happier I feel. However, what goes along with this is that I feel a need to give back: to do something positive in the world, to find a way to contribute to the well-being of my larger community. As I start to do that... yeah, I feel very happy, and also excited.

[Jake25]

Interesting video. I like the emphasis on building community and on actively working for change as happy-making things.  One speaker said that what makes her happy is "knowing that I am enough;" I think that for all of us, that's something to strive for, but we are social animals, and there's a sense in which we can't be "enough" by ourselves.

I feel very lucky to be part of a family/friendship community whose members have accepted, supported, and continued to love me as I progress with my transition. Not everyone is so fortunate, and we all need some version of that; joining a community of activists is a way to find it and to feel good about what we're doing.

The more I achieve my goals in transitioning, the happier I feel. However, what goes along with this is that I feel a need to give back: to do something positive in the world, to find a way to contribute to the well-being of my larger community. As I start to do that... yeah, I feel very happy, and also excited.

Glad you have a supportive community. May I ask how far along are you in your transition.

[Tysilio]

Sure, it's about two years since I said, "OK, I guess I have to do this," and started figuring out what it would mean, coming out to people as trans, transitioning socially.  I've been on T for 15-16 months. Just lately it seems that the changes have been starting to accelerate -- it's about time.

Right now, I'm read as male pretty much 100% of the time. The physical change I'm most aware of is that my voice has dropped a lot -- I can now sing along with baritones on the car stereo.  My singing voice still sucks, even more than it used to (my voice cracks when I sing ), but I have the low range.

It doesn't seem to me that my physical appearance has changed all that much, but friends tell me I look completely different, so I don't argue...

But dammit, I want facial hair, and that's being slooow.

No surgery yet, but I'm working on that.

[Jake25]

Sure, it's about two years since I said, "OK, I guess I have to do this," and started figuring out what it would mean, coming out to people as trans, transitioning socially.  I've been on T for 15-16 months. Just lately it seems that the changes have been starting to accelerate -- it's about time.

Right now, I'm read as male pretty much 100% of the time. The physical change I'm most aware of is that my voice has dropped a lot -- I can now sing along with baritones on the car stereo.  My singing voice still sucks, even more than it used to (my voice cracks when I sing ), but I have the low range.

It doesn't seem to me that my physical appearance has changed all that much, but friends tell me I look completely different, so I don't argue...

But dammit, I want facial hair, and that's being slooow.

No surgery yet, but I'm working on that.

Are you allowed to take more T to get a Bass singing voice, even though you can't sing?

[suzifrommd]

I think I would be happier with someone to share my life with. Some of the problems I've been having meeting people stem from being Trans.

[Jake25]

I think I would be happier with someone to share my life with. Some of the problems I've been having meeting people stem from being Trans.

Maybe you should find another trans person, they'll understand.

[suzifrommd]

Maybe you should find another trans person, they'll understand.

I would be fully open to that. Haven't met many trans people lately who are interested.