Hello all,

I've been lurking here long enough that I feel I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Jimmy/Erin, and I am a transwoman just beginning her journey.  I am 28 years old, still live with my parents and have fought against what I am all of my life.  But, at the beginning of this year something changed, I don't know what, and I finally was able to admit the truth to myself.  My yearnings to be female were not some odd  ->-bleeped-<-c mental illness, hell such a thing doesn't even exist.  No, I was a woman, and needed to take steps to affirm that. 

So, I visited my roommate from college and his wife at the beginning of the summer and told them, later I told another good friend from college.  Finally, I made an appointment with a gender therapist (it only took me three tries to get the courage to make the call!), and had my first appointment with her this previous Thursday.  My therapist has already set me on the road to HRT, I have instructions to have my GP do a blood panel and send it to the endocrinologist she's recommending me to.  I'm scared, nervous, and excited all at once.

I have yet to tell my parents, or any of my family, but know that I will need to do so before beginning HRT.  I hope they will be as accepting of me as they were of my sister when she came out as a lesbian, but I don't know.  I'm still debating the merits of a letter vs in person and am very open to suggestions!

Thank you for reading,

Jimmy for now, Erin later

PS.  If there's anyone in the Dayton, Ohio area and has recommendations for physicians, electrologists, or any of the other numerous resources I'll need during transition please let me know.

As to coming out to parents, even if you do it in person, it isn't a bad idea to write a letter to help keep yourself on track. You can even just hand it to them in person and be near for when they finish the letter and have questions.

LordKat,

That is the direction I think I'm heading.  My current draft of a letter assumes I'm standing in the room as they read it.

First Hi and welcome

With coming out to parents depending on how confident you are and how good you are with speaking, I like the idea of giving people a letter while you are nearby. This way you know they have read the letter (e-mails, text, and snail mail can be "lost"), you have put everything on there that you want to say and other people will not inturupt you.

You don't have to be in the same room as they read the letter but you are also there to answer any questions straight away afterwards.

Anyway you decide I wish you the best of luck