'I wanted to become a woman - but did I really want to become Juliet?'

[Shana A]

'I wanted to become a woman - but did I really want to become Juliet?'

As part of her transition, Juliet Jacques had to discard her male name and pick a female one. How would this name change affect her family and friends - and herself?

    * Juliet Jacques
    * guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 11 August 2010 09.42 BST

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/11/become-a-woman-juliet#start-of-comments

Having entered the NHS pathway, with its expected duration of three years, I wanted to do something immediate that would make my transition feel more concrete. I'd lived 'as a woman' for several months and the time felt right to secure my identity. Told by friends that the Gender Identity Clinic in London prefers a legal change of name before prescribing hormones, as proof of your 'real life experience', I resolved to legally alter mine as soon as possible.

Occasionally, the media run stories on people who have chosen idiosyncratic identities. The words "changed his/her name by deed poll" always feature prominently, presenting it as a dramatic and difficult step. In reality, you can swiftly and cheaply change your name in order to make a point, or just for fun, and just as quickly change it back.