Hi guys,

Me again. I have a question [another one I know] but this one is more subjective and the decision will surely be my own to make. I'm a Dutch citizen and lived in Amsterdam 8 years before I moved back to the Caribbean 10 months ago. I was on the waiting list at the gender clinic in Amsterdam, did the time and finally began towards starting hormones but never quite made it there as I left. Guess I was frightened.

Now I know I want this - really want this - but going back to the Netherlands which wasn't a nice experience (residency wise) as I never fit in there and job was a killer to get even though I have a University degree from there and can speak 3 languages. So, I'm thinking about moving to London but I have no idea how the system works there when it comes to transitioning, getting hormones, insurance (as Dutch insurance covered all my expenses).

Does anyone in these forums live there? If so, can you help me with this or should I just suck it up and go back to the Netherlands?

Thank you.

I am from California, but I've put a lot of stamps in my passport over the years and I've talked to a lot of people, so I'll try to help you here.

1)  The Caribbean:  You live there, your job is there, but -- what are the available resources for transitioning?  Do you have nearby access to a gender therapist and an endocrinologist?  If not, is there a knowledgeable, LGBT friendly doctor who can prescribe hormones and is willing to do so on a letter from an online therapist?  Are you going to be able to get hormones from a reliable source on whatever island you live on?  All very important questions to know the answers to before you start, and only you can find the answers by working your in person resources locally.  For facial feminization surgery and gender reassignment surgery, where are you going to go?  You could go to Buenos Aires for FFS or back to Europe, or to the Eastern U.S.

2)  Amsterdam:  Big, big advantage for transitioning.  You have government funded health care, you have the necessary expertise right there, and best of all, you have facial surgeon Dr. Van De Ven nearby in case you need facial feminization surgery.  Disadvantages?  Long wait for government medical care, and employment situation difficult.

3)  London:  What are your job prospects there?  London, like all of the world's great cities, can be very expensive to live in, and do you know what the English residency requirements are before you can qualify for government health care?  You will either have to do private pay health care (expensive) or get on a waiting list for the NHS, and my understanding is that waiting lists for transgender care in England are very long indeed.  Here is a list of services in England:  http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Transhealth/Pages/local-gender-identity-clinics.aspx

I think your best bet is to stay where you are if you have good employment, and try to figure out your resources.  If you have enough cash you could always fly to Miami for your medical care but that is going to get very expensive very fast.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi CarlyMCX, thank you for the reply and perspective. The Caribbean is a monster of its own. I have looked into the resources of the island or others near by and they are almost nonexistent. Most of the transgenders I know have moved to Europe, the USA or Canada to transition and live in peace for it the people are not really fond of us. I'm intersex and look very much like a woman already and people are really nasty to me although I grew up here. Like I mentioned: just returned and I'm ready to go.

My job is not really fulfilling and my contract is not going to be renewed after April. To be honest I've been wanting to leave for about 8 out of the 10 months I have here.

The Netherlands in general is really great and besides that hurdle at job opportunity - would have been the perfect place. I can get health insurance as I already had it before and still live outside. That's what my doctor said over there. The UK has more job opportunity it seems but aware of how expensive it is to live there - the good side of this is that I could travel with ease to the Netherlands for my treatment.

The island situation and my dysphoria are almost driving me insane. I am walking around my waking life as though walking inside a dream and although I'm trying my hardest I feel miserable.

Heya! I don't personally live in London, but I have a friend who does who also happens to be trans.
He's been on a waiting list for an endocrinologist for a year, and there's another year left of his prospective waiting time. It's driving him crazy as well, because he was promised an appointment last month which was canceled at the very last minute by the doctor, and all the NHS could say was "Sorry, you'll have to wait another year."
Like Carly said, you'll either have to go on private insurance (which is expensive but it'll allow you access to doctors quicker) or wait to be a part of the NHS (which is free, but the wait lists are LONG).

Best of luck in your decision!

Come to Canada !!! Canada is a great place for transgender people!

I live in the best city in the world, hands down and no city even close.......Bangkok. The entire spectrum of LGBT live here  openly. No one cares how you look, No discrimination. Beautiful modern city. And the cost of living is 1/4 that of equivalent major cities ....Lindon, NY, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris.

You just have to like warm weather.

Thank you Maksim, Sailormars1994 and Warlockmaker. Canada is a great place indeed and had always dreamed of living there sometime or another but their immigration policies are tricky. With my Dutch passport I can stay there for 6 months at a time but wouldn't allow me to work.

London, has a long waiting period which I don't have the patients for anymore. Not transitioning is driving me insane and to the brink of depression. As for Bangkok - great city but I have no clue about the culture and medication i.e. doctors, clinics, insurance, etc. These places re surely not making onto my list.

I plan on moving to Pattaya in Thailand. I have many friends that are transgender there and they have some of the most experienced doctors that deal with transition. It is accepted by the local culture. Some say they do have a hard time getting jobs but as a foreigner you will need a green card anyway. I plan on going on a Retirement Visa.

With my passport I can only stay 90 days there. I need something more long term as what I want and need is to start on my hormones. Later down the road, I'll consider Asia for my SRS as soon as I'm allowed to do it.