I'm unsure if I'm going to delete this post in the future, but for now I'll lay everything on the table. I'm a 17 year old transsexual boy that's mainly attracted to males. I've been transsexual since I was 11 years old and started going to therapy when I was 6. I want to go to a prestigious university; my life is centered around school and I make decent enough grades and have a couple competitive extra curricular activities paired with my personal journey that gives me enough confidence to think I have a shot at getting into one. I plan to study engineering and neuroscience.
Outside of the US, I'm interested in HKU, HKUST, KAIST, SNU, NUS, NTU, Tsinghua, HIT, and ZJU. By the time I apply to universities, I'll be 20 or 21 and be fluent in Korean, Cantonese, and Mandarin. I've been trying to learn about the transsexual situation in China, South Korea, and Singapore to get an idea of what I'll be dealing with if I'm accepted, but so far I've been in short-supply of resources; particularly when it comes to Singapore and South Korea.
What I do know:
A) In all three countries, GRS and transsexual identities are legal, but none have governmental protections for any members of the LGBT community. Despite a lack of protections, getting fired or not being hired for being LGBT is uncommon, but this is strongly correlated with a lack of coming out in Asia, and those that are out in their workplaces are frequently told to keep their lifestyles private (I don't have an issue with this since it also applies to the non-LGBT community).
B) While the younger generation in all three countries are becoming more accepting of LGBT concepts, the older generation have a hold on society. Thus, for transsexual boys who transition legally, we likely won't be able to marry our significant other for quite awhile if we date males, and staying in the closest is still common for this reason.
C) Transsexual girls are more well-known than transsexual guys; so much so, I've heard that some South Koreans don't even think we exist. Transsexual boys may have a bit more explaining to do than transsexuals girls in those countries.
D) There aren't many gender clinics in all three countries; it'll be important I have access to a city where they're mainly situated.
E) Transsexuals are less known in Asia compared to the US in general; when it comes to medical care, there aren't any official procedures to follow when encountering people like us, so I'll likely be running into a lot of inappropriate and uneducated doctors granted I ever need medical care.
F) Dating is going to be difficult; since the older generation have a hold on things, homosexuality is still looked down upon and homosexual marriage is illegal. Being a transsexual boy who prefers males, I won't only have to put up with society potentially viewing my relationship with a male as homosexual, but additionally finding a partner who is bisexual. Marriage complicates this more if I change any legal documents; then I won't be able to get married to my male partner and we wouldn't both be able to list ourselves as parents owning the same children. For this reason, if I decide I want to live in any of these countries, although I may get bottom surgery I likely won't be changing any legal documents.
I also have brown skin. If you aren't aware, Asia prefers paler skin over darker skin, so paler foreigners are more likely to have an easier time getting dates than those who are darker. Historically, those with darker skin were people who worked in the field and weren't wealthy, while the inverse served true for those with paler skin. This mindset is wearing off in the younger generation and ultimately comes down to preference, but it will still affect romantic and sexual relationships if I go.
G) Overall, you won't have to worry about getting physically or verbally assaulted. All three countries are safe; especially when it comes to the LGBT community.
H) If I get accepted into any of their universities, I'm going to be in for quite the interesting ride unless I plan to get bottom surgery before I'm 20 (not happening). Since there aren't protections in place like there are in the US, telling the administration I want to dorm with males because that's how I want to be known can go either way; a positive way or a negative way. Unfortunately, if things go negatively, I'm just going to have to suck it up and dorm with females or get my own apartment. Luckily, I have a great family now, and I'm sure no matter what happens people will be willing to help. I can always opt for a private dorm as well if things begin to get too negative with shared dorms.
I) South Korea and mainland China are relatively more cheaper than the US.
J) Transition and transsexual identity isn't seen as negative or positive; while all three countries are loaded with blunt people that are sometimes too curious, there doesn't seem to be a rope going one way or the other when it comes to people's perceptions of us. We are seen as odd and mentally ill in these countries, but opposed to the US that has in my experience used this perception of us as a weapon to harm us or dehumanize us, Asia sees it as a label that deems a human in need of care, protection, and understanding. As someone who considers his dysphoria to be a mental disorder and transsexuality to be abnormal, this perception doesn't bother me, but will if they treat us like defenseless puppies.
I can defend myself most of the time; even if I can be sensitive sometimes.
K) The LGB and T community are pretty separated in all countries; in Singapore, the two communities barely even regard each other when it comes to issues.
L) I don't believe insurance covers transition or psychiatric care.
M) There are well-known transsexual models in Singapore from both poles and a popular TV hostess named Jin Xing in China that gets a lot of neutral and positive attention. Harisu is a transsexual woman who sings and acts; when she came out, she got a lot of neutral attention, but she's nonexistent nowadays.
Jin Xing:
Recently, South Korea made a documentary about a transsexual teenager that got a lot of support from viewers, and transgender people have been getting more overall publicity.
Though, a talk show called "XY She" on KBS in South Korea was cancelled after attacks were made towards the transsexual woman and the people that conducted it in 2012 (people complained it would encourage children to transition), which leads me to believe the changing attitude is recent.
I know this is rather long, but I hope you all enjoyed reading, and I really hope to get some feedback about the situations in one or all of the countries.
