OK a new thread.

Those of us who have gone through it all often leave, and I know why.

But are those of us of any direction who have transitioned successfully in any way willing to act as 'Question and Answer' people?

I am.

Ask.

Sure, I would be willing to help where I can.

As background, I lived the "standard story line" as a child in the 1950s, began living a double life in my teens, started HRT at 17, transitioned and had SRS at 24 in 1974 before disappearing into the woodwork for almost 30 years. Transition was a snap, like falling off a log, and I thoroughly enjoyed life as a woman (with no asterisk). In my late 50s I told some of my close friends about my childhood (some of whom refused to believe me!) and joined a few message boards. It was such a profound experience it just helps to talk about it.

Ask away if you wish.

I started walking this part of my lifes journey in 1999. Born a baby boomer and living in a small town i had not a clue until way late in my life.
Its been hard at times, seen the darkness first hand and also seen the light. Found there is noting so bad that there is not a way to happiness. Its there but you need to stay positive or the fears will eat you alive.

Just this year my transition journey has finished. My mind is so quiet now and clear.

Izzy

I'm not quite done, but close enough. And as Cindy is aware, I've taken my own path.. So feel free to ask whatever you want..

Ok - here's a general question for all of you:

Over the years, since way back when you all began to transition until today, have you seen things get significantly better in terms of how transgendered individuals are treated by others and accepted in society as a whole?  Is it getting easier?

Dollars and cents wise, I am Canadian, on a disability pension and my life's income circumstances are almost certainly NOT going to change short of hell freezing over.

Is my dream of becoming anatomically accurate a wall I will never climb over?

Because it is one thing to save up for clothing, another matter entirely to just find the sort of cash surgery must entail.

If I were asked, if you could live your perfect life, where would it be? It would be a 30 minute walk from a country grocery store up north where it would be classic Canadian winter snow fall conditions most of the year. It would be so rural that going outside butt naked, grabbing some firewood for the fireplace would not be even worthy of a seconds thought.

But even considering all of that. 'I' don't want to look down and see that thing. I don't care who else can or can't see it, 'I' know it's there.
It's for me, it's not so I can win an argument about what goes on my identification.

Here's my question!

Do you want us to ask questions here in this post, or via private message?

Quote from: Michele on August 12, 2013, 08:35:25 AM
Ok - here's a general question for all of you:

Over the years, since way back when you all began to transition until today, have you seen things get significantly better in terms of how transgendered individuals are treated by others and accepted in society as a whole?  Is it getting easier?

I've only been out for 3yrs & in the UK it is getting easier due to changes to the NHS process, the changes only came into effect over the last months but i'm already seeing improvements.
For the society part of being trans i'd say things are improving, this is one of the reasons why I had the courage to transition now & not earlier in my life (it's not the only reason however). From time to time I encounter a chest thumping, knuckle dragging neanderthal but these incidents are rarer than i'd expected.

Quote from: Northern Jane on August 12, 2013, 06:40:39 AM
Sure, I would be willing to help where I can.

As background, I lived the "standard story line" as a child in the 1950s, began living a double life in my teens, started HRT at 17, transitioned and had SRS at 24 in 1974 before disappearing into the woodwork for almost 30 years. Transition was a snap, like falling off a log, and I thoroughly enjoyed life as a woman (with no asterisk). In my late 50s I told some of my close friends about my childhood (some of whom refused to believe me!) and joined a few message boards. It was such a profound experience it just helps to talk about it.

Northern Jane you are incredible!  As another child from the 50s I recall an era and community based heavily on conformity.  You were truly a pioneer with a commitment to your vision and identity, wow.  We didn't even have words like Gay or Trans in common use.  For so many of us a big regret was not starting sooner.
What do you wish you knew going into all this?

Quote from: Michele on August 12, 2013, 08:35:25 AM
Ok - here's a general question for all of you:

Over the years, since way back when you all began to transition until today, have you seen things get significantly better in terms of how transgendered individuals are treated by others and accepted in society as a whole?  Is it getting easier?

I say yes as treated in the medical field. For me i wish i was starting out today and not 12 + years ago. There is 3 fold more places to get help now then there was. In the public eye i would say maybe a little improvements. I feel as long as we are grouped in the umbrella term of trans there will be this idea in public of some back alley form of entertainment more then the GID its self.
In the states there is starting to be more and more in the news but they are very young children, this might make things better in the long run. The media is not helping bring to light us dealing with GID.

Tomorrow is another day who knows what that will bring and i sure am glad i will be there for that.

Hugs
Izzy

Thank you for the kind words TJ.

Quote from: Tessa James on August 12, 2013, 10:46:27 AMWhat do you wish you knew going into all this?

HA! That's an easy one! I would like to go back to visit my eight year old self and tell her "YOU are right, everybody else is wrong!" and convince her to stand up for herself (earlier) instead of being so accommodating and worrying about other people's feelings.

I wish I had known how RIGHT I was!!!

Quote from: Tessa James on August 12, 2013, 10:46:27 AM
What do you wish you knew going into all this?

I wish i knew all the fears i was feeling where just that fears and not true. Would have keeped many a tear from falling.

Izzy

Quote from: Michele on August 12, 2013, 08:35:25 AM
Ok - here's a general question for all of you:

Over the years, since way back when you all began to transition until today, have you seen things get significantly better in terms of how transgendered individuals are treated by others and accepted in society as a whole?  Is it getting easier?

I only came out 3 years ago and must say, that apart from employment issues, being trans hasn't caused me any major issues.

Quote from: Tessa James on August 12, 2013, 10:46:27 AM

What do you wish you knew going into all this?

That it would work out as well as it did..

I was born in 1957 and it took me til 1978 to realise that I was a girl inside.I often thought of being a girl from 13 onwards when I first dressed.It took til 1989 before I knew this feeling wasn't going away and I went to see a doctor and 1990 before I started HRT,electrolysis and living in role at nights and weekends.I went full time in 1991,had my op in 1994.I might not have all the answers but if I can help please ask.Things have improved vastly in the UK over the past few years but there's still some way to go.I only wish I had accepted my being  transexual in 1978 and sought help and advice instead of wasting over 10 years

I just want to say thank you to those girls that stay even though they finished transition. It means a lot to us that are still working on it. I miss some of those that have left the forum for whatever reason because some of them were quite a help to me in the past.

So I have a letter from my therapist to start hrt and a referral to an endo. I am afraid of going forward because I feel it will be a point of no return.  Were you afraid at all when you started hrt?

Quote from: Antonia J on August 12, 2013, 07:24:31 PM
So I have a letter from my therapist to start hrt and a referral to an endo. I am afraid of going forward because I feel it will be a point of no return.  Were you afraid at all when you started hrt?

No I wasn't afraid I leapt at the chance. Remember it takes 3-6 months for permenant  changes to occur. I went full time when I started HRT so for me there was no return. I would talk to your therapist about your fears.

Quote from: Antonia J on August 12, 2013, 07:24:31 PM
So I have a letter from my therapist to start hrt and a referral to an endo. I am afraid of going forward because I feel it will be a point of no return.  Were you afraid at all when you started hrt?

As Cindy said, it takes months for changes to be apparent, up until the 6 month mark any changes are reversible should you decide that this isn't right for you.
I had these fears when I first came out but have spent the last 2-3 years living as female as much as my health allows, I'm due to start HRT in the next few weeks & there is no doubt or hesitation now, i'm like an arrow shot from a bow, I know my target & it's a straight line to get to it

My biggest surprise in this was how easy it has been. I have had no issues in any area of my life.
Biggest regret is not doing it sooner.

Trans people in Australia appear to be very well accepted, as Kelly said.

For example Kelly and I have been out for lunch, dinner, coffee etc and we have always been treated as two woman friends socialising as normal.

What I wish I had known? That my fears, and I was a nervous wreck, were totally silly and none of my fears even got close to happening.

Quote from: Antonia J on August 12, 2013, 07:24:31 PM
So I have a letter from my therapist to start hrt and a referral to an endo. I am afraid of going forward because I feel it will be a point of no return.  Were you afraid at all when you started hrt?

I got my referral on a Wednesday.. Saw my gyno on the Friday.. I was too excited to be scared.

Quote from: Cindy on August 12, 2013, 08:05:48 PM
My biggest surprise in this was how easy it has been. I have had no issues in any area of my life.
Biggest regret is not doing it sooner.

Yeah, it has been almost too easy.. And yes, I also regret not doing it sooner.

QuoteTrans people in Australia appear to be very well accepted, as Kelly said.

I get around amongst some intersesting groups of people - including some that you'd never expect to be accepting, but they are, almost universally..

QuoteFor example Kelly and I have been out for lunch, dinner, coffee etc and we have always been treated as two woman friends socialising as normal.

Even when I'm more than a little drunk and sporting bright pink hair.. lol

QuoteWhat I wish I had known? That my fears, and I was a nervous wreck, were totally silly and none of my fears even got close to happening.

I can agree with that..