Do you think you do pass and is passing important for you?

[WorkingOnThomas]

1. Yes, sometimes. Until I open my mouth, then the game is up.
2. Yes, and no. I wish that I lived in a world where 'passing' isn't necessary, and I could just be me, no pressure to conform to anyone's expectations, narrow as they seem to be. At the same time, I'm a man. I want other people to see me as a man. Feminine, perhaps, but still, a man.

[Maybebaby56]

1. Some of my pictures are passable. Case in point, my 9-year old son saw my Susan's avatar on my computer desktop, and opened it up in all it's 8x10" glory.  He asked me who the lady was, and if it was my mom! I guess he saw the resemblance, but didn't quite put it together, thank goodness!

Another time he used my gmail account, one that has another picture of me, for his minecraft business.  One of the players messaged me, "Are you really a 40+ woman playing minecraft?"  That tickled me.  For one thing, I'm 58!  I am also proud of the fact I wear much less makeup than I used to. My skin looks better from electrolysis and hormones.  In the avatar you see of me, I am wearing just some mascara, some light foundation and a bit of bronzer on the cheeks, and some lipstick.

I'm not sure I pass in person yet, although the one time I did go out, my friend's female roommate thought I was just another woman.  So there is hope!

2.  Yes, it matters to me very much.  This whole RLE thing terrifies me.  I am hoping by the time that comes around I will be passable.

[invisiblemonsters]

yes i pass (i've been on t for over a year and have had surgery), and yes it's important to me. no one i know in my life (besides friends who knew me before transitioning and my family) know that i'm trans. at work and school i'm both stealth. i like living that way. i don't want "special treatment" for who i am and i don't want unwanted attention and inappropriate questions brought my way. i'm happy living stealth and passing. i don't have issues telling potential partners i'm trans, or doctors. those are the only people i believe need to know. it took me a long time to get to where i am and i wouldn't want anyone seeing me as anything different then a typical man because that's all i ever wanted was just to be - a man.

[lostcharlie]

For me I'm finding the whole passing thing quite perplexing right now. I'm pre HRT but have been going out in the world as the real me for some months now. Started presenting as me for my therapy appointments and that has grown to treating my therapy days as an opportunity for going out and about in the world as me. I am willing to say I can't pass on a bet but I must be doing something right. Have had several occasions when my therapist has been running a little late. I've had to wait in the hall for her. Have had numerous people walk by within feet of me and barely give me a glance. Several times men have walked by and looked at me ,smiled and said hello the way some men do with women.Have been doing quite a bit of shopping before or after my therapy appointment and have been getting the same kind of responses. Have had women standing on the opposite side of clothing racks and no weird looks or comments that I've noticed. Funniest thing has been having to speak to salesgirls. Would say my voice is horrible but again no overt negative reactions. Go figure. I have no clue what is going on, but I'm really enjoying going out in the world as the real me and the heck with what anybody else might think.

[Sebby Michelango]

I pass sometimes, but often my family etc. ruin it because they uses my birth name and wrong pronouns.
For me passing is very important. I'm pre-everything.