This is interesting and something I have thought about.

I have no intention of changing my birth certificate, school records, military records, college transcripts, etc. I see those as historical documents that were accurate at that time. I was that person, but I am not now.

Since I am still transitioning I identify as trans. But I wonder if post-op me would still identify that way or would I just be a woman? I honestly don't know! I suspect that I will still identify as trans because there is always something more to do. Since I started late in life, I doubt I will get it all "done" in this lifetime.

I am reading some news stories, about trans legislation.. and just wondering.. do you ever move past the 'trans' label?..

humour me here.. I am 'trying' to be naive about this..   

I mean, if you have lived in a gender, name and identity for a number of years.. are you still 'trans'?..

as one accepted definition of trans* is "denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth;"  - but once you have had your birth certificate corrected.. is that then the essential definition of cis.. you are living in the gender assigned at birth (assigned on your birth certificate)...  and so, that means all this legislation is only relevant for a few small years of someone's actual transition?

The whole thing with words that start with trans.. is about moving from one to another.. or 'transition'. (like transport, transmission etc.) so, that would adequately describe the process we go through, but not the end result. If I send a package, it is being transported.. but it is not a trans-package when it gets to the destination. If I use my philosophers stone and transmute lead into gold.. it transmutes, and could be called trans-lead. or trans gold.. in the process.. but the end result (I promise you) is pure gold..

I will add a nod to non-binary folk here.. sorry, I am not including you and your struggles in all this and I realise trans* is a big umbrella - I guess I am really talking about transsexual, binary, people. People who go through a process to emerge at the other end, better for their journey. Happier and more fulfilled. Those people for which the 'process' stops... and life just continues on.

Interested to hear peoples views on this.

Actually it was 4-for-4... I should have known my one friend (a doctor) who 100% should know better that I cannot talk because of my migraines in the evening ALWAYS tries to call me in the evening would, in fact, call me immediately upon getting the note. I just saw I had a voice mail from him.  It was equally lovely.

By the way, in case people are interested or it helps anyone in the future as a suggestion — the way I approached these letters was different than family.

So far the versions of the letter:

1. For my sisters
2. For the nephews/nieces on my side (to be delivered by my sisters)
3. For my wife's family (written from both of us) — with a note empowering them to share the same note with their children.
4. And now the friend notes - but each of the six were personalized. They were 80-90% the same, but in each there were slight changes in tone based on their relationship with my sisters, or how long they've known me, or a whole bunch of different factors.

The whole thing is to keep in mind that these letters are for the READER so I'm always customizing it with that in mind.

The next "bucket" of friends will, likely, get a more generic friend letter. As that will be a bigger bucket. That's the prevailing thought, anyway.

Ok, I'm literally spent. I could use a cluster-free night... but need to go get ready.

'Night all,
Allie

Ok well first three replies came in and I'm in tears... so... yeah.

Oh damn - good tears, sorry.  I buried the lede on that a bit.

Right write

This evening I ate Sloppy Joe sandwiches.

Question

Answer

Bate bait