Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all

I guess it's only fair that I post some sort of an intro so you know a little about me.

I was born in 1960 in Europe and moved to Australia as a 2 year old in 1962. I spent my childhood years here as an extremely shy child. In 1975 we moved back to Europe, a move which in my mind was a blessing for me. I was 14 at the time and with what lie ahead I was much better off in a more liberal Europe than an extremely conservative Australia (where being gay was illegal way into the 80's).

I had SRS in 1984. In my home country SRS and following breast implants, rhino etc were covered by the health system (this is where the blessing comes in :)). All HRT was also covered by the health system and only a gap was required to be paid.

After my surgery I sent a letter to the Australian Embassy to have my passport corrected to my new identity. I had already done this with all my school document and written work references, some even backdating to the original date. The response from the embassy was that they were happy to change my name but not the gender so my passport would show an "M" under gender. This prompted me to relinquish my Australian citizenship and become a citizen of the country I currently lived in.

In the years after SRS I had a few relationships, normally lasting not more than a couple of years. My brother and I had been speaking for some time about going to Australia on a holiday to perhaps consider whether we would like to move back. We did so in 1998 and both agreed that we wanted to give it a go. My brother moved down in 2002. In the mean time I had met a new man and strangely enough, his dream was to move to Australia.

Anyway... I had made a decission, I wanted to go back to my childhood home, there was only one thing... none of us had Australian citizenship (my brother has dual because he was born in Oz). I figured that times may have changed so I applied to have my citizenship reinstated based on the unfair treatment I experienced in the 80's. Australia is very big on non discrimination, and needless to say my applicaton was approved. My passport has an F in it :)

We came to Australia in September 2003 and settled in with work and a nice home. Unfortunately my husband did not like living in Australia and wanted to go back home after 2 years. He has very storng ties with his immediate family and I think it was too much of a dramatic change to go from seeing them every day to not seeing them at all. Personally I was not prepared to go back to the cold climate we left behind so we decided to separate and go our separate ways.

Being TS here is fairly ... how should I put it... comfortable. It's hard to know whether people know or not because you are always treated the same.. with respect. In a sence it is a bit frustrating not knowing but on the other hand it is very relaxing. I have made some enquiries in regards to obtaining hormones but was told that there are hardly any doctors that will prescribe them. Not that I have been too fussed, I haven't taken any hormones in the last 10 years.

Well, to end this little intro I'd like to say that I find these forums and this community to be a very welcoming and loving one. I look forward to get to know some of you better. I know most of you live in the US but there are also a few from other countries. Hopefully I will be able to contribute to the community with experiences. I am planning on having FFS, hopefully within a year or so and then there's those bloddy nipples! :( lol

The end... (or is it?)

Hello Tarasita

welcome that was a great intro. now I feel as if the one I posted wes very lacking..lol. you sound like a very interesting person with a varity of experiences I am sure the family here at Susan's will benifit from you being here I look forward to getting to know you!

Hello Tarasita,

Sounds like a wild and crazy ride so far :-D
Wow, Health system paid SRS.... very very nice. Most of us in the states won't get that.
Welcome! I hope I can vacation down under some day... *sigh*  :)

Welcome to Susan's Place Tarasita...that was a great intro :)  Sounds like you've had quite an interesting life so far.  Hope to meet you in chat soon :)

Hugs & kisses,

Monika

Yeah, I was wondering when you were going to introduce yourself!  ;D

Welcome to Susan's, Tarasita!

Thanks so much for your introduction. Please take a few moments to get familiar with all the boards of the site, review the site rules  (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)before posting, and take advantage of our many resources such as the wiki (https://www.susans.org/wiki/Main_Page), chat (https://www.susans.org/chat/index.html), and the links listed at the main page. (https://www.susans.org/index.html)  We look forward to your future posts and participation.  Enjoy your stay :)

tink :icon_chick:

Welcome to Susans, Tarasita!

Hi Tarasita!
Welcome to Susan's
First I'm gonna ask what kind of bloody show are they running in Australia anyway? I live Vancouver BC Can. moved from Ontario to get away from the cold. BC is much more temperate then Ontario is. But My Soul mate and I were looking to possibly moving to Australia, but, No hormones? No bloody hell, I would sooner live in Moosonee Ontario and rub noses with the Eskimo's then doing without the hormones.

Cindy

Hi Cindy

LOL... I suspect the person I asked about the hormones (or lack of) didn't have the opportunity to elaborate and what I said about not being perscribed hormones is based on one persons email. I have not looked into it myself as I have not been on hormones for many years. Obviously if you had a letter from your current doctor you shouldn't have any problems.

What I love about living in Australia is the anti discrimination laws. Not only are the laws good but the people seem to abide by them without them being enforced. To be honest I have no idea who knows or suspects my past, you just can't tell because you are treated the same as everyone else.

Name changing is a sinch here. I was watching the news one day and there was a report about tipping at restaurants (not all that common here) and the reporter was talking with a waitor and asked him his name. "White Trash" was the answer. This guy had legally changed his name to White Trash.. you should have seen the face on the reporter.

Hi Tarasita
Thanks for the come back. Just want to know one thing, are you choosing to go without the mones? I can't imagine my stopping them. If I want to get scared I'll rent a horror movie at the video store.

Well anyway I traveled half the eastern US and have been from coast to coast of Canada, like dipping my toes in both oceans. I had always dreamed in going to Australia. Another dream that is not entirely impossible to do. But I need to touch base with California before I leave to go anywhere else. That would then mean I done both US and Canada coast to coast and then go to Australia and see just how much real estate I can get to see before I kick the bucket.

Cindy

Wow Tara, great story, there are quite a few of us in the UK as well. Hope we can bash heads some day. Luv Lucy

Hi again Cindy

I was off hormones for a period because I was in a somewhat remote location and when I went back to do the usual blood tests the doctor said that my estrogen was at the level of a woman in menopause. We agreed that I would try without for a while. Since then I have not been on anything.

Hi Lucy
You never know, maybe our paths will cross some day. UK is a common transit stop from here to my "other" home.

It's so great getting to know you all, I have not been able to talk so openly about my past for many many years.

Hi Tarasita
Thanks again for the feed back. I'm a night owl in case you were wondering how come I am still up. Sometimes I don't bother going to bed at all. I am a night owl and not because of a guilty conscious either. Just an over active mind. Like fantasising letting Jay put his shoes under my bed. Naughty naughty huh?
Glad my Soul Mate is making Z's
Jay & The Americans - Cara Mia

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1sFy5_kmEi4

Now he would be what I would clasify an Earth Angel

I hope you stick around for a while hun, I believe that you may come in handy when my Soul Mate and I decide to go visit Australia. If we get there, or should I say "when" get there we be looking for somewhere in northern Australia.

I love Traveling but my old bones give me a problem sometimes. About my past "hee, hee," just check out the other threads to be sure I left parts and pieces of it everywhere.

Just a happy me, I am Woman.

Cindy

Hi Tarasita,

I love your intro, I'm so glad to hear everything has been going well for you, its a shame about your SO, but Australia is far from Europe I suppose and homesickness can be soul destroying.  I will have to do mine one of these days, I don't know where to start though.  I live in Queensland, Australia but I have plans to move to Sydney.  I was born there and have been making trips back and forth but hope to make it permanent in the next few months.  Sydney is very trans and gay friendly.  ;D

buttercup  :)

Hi Buttercup

Nice to hear from another oz chick :) I don't know any other T's in Australia. There is a girl at work who I believe must have transitioned there because they say that she is one of the ppl who have been there the longest.

I don't know how anyone can survive in Sydney with real estate prices the way they are now. I wish you the best of luck with your move though!