Hi

[NatalieRene]

Hi,

My name is Natalie.. I'm a 29 year old Male to Female living in Sterling Virginia. I started therapy back in July of 2009, hrt in January of 2010 and my real life experience at the beginning of September when my name change went through.

It's been quite a year emphasized by the best month of my life so far.

[Janet_Girl]

Hi Natalie,

Welcome to our little family. Over 3600 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister.

And be sure to check out these links ( MUST READS )

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Hugs and Love,
Janet

[NatalieRene]

Hi Janet. I love that smiley it's so cute.

So far I have not run into any failures. I guess I've been very fortunate. Although it's surreal to look back and remember when I was afraid to do the most mundane of things as myself and now I don't even think about it anymore and just do.

[xAndrewx]

Welcome to the forum Natalie Congrats on the hrt and the name change that's awesome!

[NatalieRene]

Thanks Alexander.

The name change was actually really easy in Virginia. All I had to do was fill out the form and the cover letter along with optionally electing to write a letter  to the judge telling him in my own words why I was requesting the name change. It took about 4 works for the court order to arrive . Then the next day I went and got my license updated.

My experience with the Virginia DMV is that they are very disrespectful and refuse to address people by their preferred pronouns. I was in in a dress with a cardigan on with my hair done up and looked nothing like a guy. But as soon as the lady saw my paper work she loudly addressed me as sir while getting my license updated. But at least I have my name and photo updated even if I have do have to wait until after my srs operation to get my gender marker changed.

I've been on hrt for a while. For a while it really didn't seem to be doing anything, but after around the seventh month the effects just kind of snuck up on me. I think I was getting more strange looks going to work as a guy in August looking the way I did then I did all this month going to work presenting in my preferred gender role. I'm very thankful things have gone as well as they have.

[Azalie]

Welcome Natalie!

I'm glad everything's gone well for you in transitioning and name change! Must feel great to get it all done

[NatalieRene]

I'm not done by a long shot. I have my paperwork filed for my name to be updated on the social security records and to get a new social security card. After that then I have to get almost everything else changed, including my bank accounts, loans, work records, deed. The list goes on and on, but it's not really that bad just very time consuming and has a pecking order.

[lilacwoman]

as you had your name changed before you got to DMV the clerk was out of order in referring to you as a guy.   When this used to happen to me in my early transition I made sure that next day a letter of complaint would land on the office manager's desk.   These small minded people need to know they must treat us right.

[NatalieRene]

Oh really the person was out of order? I don't recall the name of the person that handled it but I'm sure it's still listed in the paper work. I'm going to go ahead and send a complaint to the manager because it really made it awkward for me. Thank god it didn't occur before I was finishing up and not right before I had to wait.

[NatalieRene]

Maybe it was a little harsh but this is what I sent to the DMV right now.

This comment is a little late, but my experience at the DMV was very offending. I am in the process of transitioning. I've started my real life experience and I'm not presenting as male. While I understand the legal process and why my gender marker is not yet able to be changed I think it was extremely rude and in my case dangerous to out me to everyone in the building by loudly addressing me as sir. The Sterling DMV needs diversity and sensitivity training badly.

[Jillieann Rose]

Hi Natalie Rene,
It is good to meet you.
Oh I don't think your comment was at all harsh. You sent a clear message of how you felt and what your rights are.
Way to go girl.
Welcome to Susan's,
Jillieann

[Randi]

Hi Natalie, Welcome to the forum. I can easily see that you are much further along the path than some of us who have been here for a good while. Oh if I could only go back and be 29 again!!! There are so many things I would do differently. Anyway, it is great to have you here.
Randi

[NatalieRene]

Hi Randi,

Yeah I'm about half way done transitioning. I just need more time under the effects of hrt and to touch things up with some ffs and srs before I'm happy. I think we all wish we started sooner almost as much as we wish we could have just been born correctly.

[Azalie]

I'm not done by a long shot. I have my paperwork filed for my name to be updated on the social security records and to get a new social security card. After that then I have to get almost everything else changed, including my bank accounts, loans, work records, deed. The list goes on and on, but it's not really that bad just very time consuming and has a pecking order.

Well I hope we get to read about your journey on here as you go through it. It's always a hassle no matter what happens. You get one thing you've worked for then you have to fit everything else around it. But seeing your display picture, you are a definite pass. Pretty lady.

[sttc1]

u look like a bio female 

[NatalieRene]

u look like a bio female 

You really think so? I hope you're not just saying that.