Community Conversation => Transitioning => Coming out of the closet => Topic started by: Liam on February 16, 2015, 10:42:47 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Starting university and coming out to professors
Post by: Liam on February 16, 2015, 10:42:47 PM
Post by: Liam on February 16, 2015, 10:42:47 PM
I'm starting university very soon and I'm enrolled under my birth name. I was thinking about sending this email to my professors before classes start. How does this sound? Any advice or changes?
Hi _______,
I'll be taking your ______ class this semester and am enrolled under the name (birthname). However, I use the name Liam and go by male pronouns. Can this be noted in any documentation for the class?
Thank you,
Liam (surname)
I want it to be short, sharp and to the point without a long eplanation about being trans.
Hi _______,
I'll be taking your ______ class this semester and am enrolled under the name (birthname). However, I use the name Liam and go by male pronouns. Can this be noted in any documentation for the class?
Thank you,
Liam (surname)
I want it to be short, sharp and to the point without a long eplanation about being trans.
Title: Re: Starting university and coming out to professors
Post by: Cindy on February 16, 2015, 11:06:52 PM
Post by: Cindy on February 16, 2015, 11:06:52 PM
Hi Liam,
Sounds OK, I would put slightly more info into it. You are in Australia?
University is an extremely tolerant place and staff are very use to dealing with such issues.
Sounds OK, I would put slightly more info into it. You are in Australia?
University is an extremely tolerant place and staff are very use to dealing with such issues.
Title: Re: Starting university and coming out to professors
Post by: Eva Marie on February 16, 2015, 11:26:30 PM
Post by: Eva Marie on February 16, 2015, 11:26:30 PM
I recently started college as a guy and when my transition date was eminent I simply approached each of my professors after class and when everyone else had cleared out I told them that the next time they saw me I'd be presenting as female. They noted my new name, and there were no slip ups later on with the old male name.
The weird part was showing up as me and sitting in the same seat as he did. I guess people put 2 + 2 together but no one asked, no one stared, and it was a total non event.
The weird part was showing up as me and sitting in the same seat as he did. I guess people put 2 + 2 together but no one asked, no one stared, and it was a total non event.
Title: Re: Starting university and coming out to professors
Post by: Cindy on February 16, 2015, 11:32:07 PM
Post by: Cindy on February 16, 2015, 11:32:07 PM
Sorry to OP for going a little off topic. I transitioned as the Lecturer. One week a class of 250 students had a lecture from the old male me the next I was wearing a skirt, blouse and high heel boots and a change of name.
No one blinked, I did get one question from a young woman after my lecture 'I love your boots, where did you get them?'
No one blinked, I did get one question from a young woman after my lecture 'I love your boots, where did you get them?'
Title: Re: Starting university and coming out to professors
Post by: sam1234 on February 17, 2015, 12:53:46 AM
Post by: sam1234 on February 17, 2015, 12:53:46 AM
If you want a more personal interaction, go to your professors in person and explain the situation. If you are passing or wish to, you can always go to the registrar and see if there is still time for you to change the name on the enrollment.
sam1234
sam1234