Hello all! I've been around for a few years now and finally gotten around to doing an introduction. So here goes!
After first learning about transsexuality from TV in the 80's (Maury Povich's "Born a boy or girl" themed shows) I knew this is what I needed to do. I had no resources to learn about how to go about it, though.
Then in the 90's, the internet came about and a wealth of knowledge was at my fingertips. But I came upon a stumbling block when I read that you basically had to be a gay man to be allowed to transition. I've always been attracted to women, so I assumed I would never meet the gatekeeper's requirements. I resigned myself to never transitioning.
Then around 2010, I started reading more online and discovered that sexuality was no longer tied to gender identity. I knew then I just had to do this. But like many of us, life got in the way. I got sole custody of my son, my mother died, his mother died, the company I'd been at for 10 years folded, etc.
In 2015, I finally got some stability in my life, came to terms with the need to transition, and started working on getting the nerve to come out. That finally happened in August of 2016. I came out to my step-son and his girlfriend (now wife) first. I was still scared to tell my son. Everything went so well, that evening I came out to my son.
He listened patiently to what I had to say. Afterwards, he just said that I had made so many sacrifices for him and his siblings that now that they are adults, I should do whatever I needed to do to be happy. He said he loved me and he supported anything that I wanted to do. I was in tears. All of that fear I had was gone. After that, nothing else mattered.
I started therapy the following month. I had a difficult time finding a therapist due to the fact that I live in a small conservative city at the western edge of the Bible belt. I've had to travel a hundred miles for my transition needs. After three months I got my letter to start hormones. February, I came out to HR. March, started HRT. August, came out to my coworkers after getting my legal name change. September, I went full time. December, received my new birth certificate. Boy was that a busy year!
This year has been much slower. I started voice therapy a few months ago. It has been difficult for me as I'm rather an introvert. Next step is to finally get around to laser hair removal. I've been putting money aside for an orchiectomy. The surgeon requires 30 days smoke free, but am having a difficult time quitting smoking.
It's now June 2018, and I will be going to pride for the first time. I'm excited beyond belief!
