I don't see being trans as a gift or curse, but certainly the environment many of us grew up in was a curse. When I first tried on my sister's tights, I thought there was something wrong with me and terrified someone would find out. Given that back then it was considered a mental illness, I might have been forced into some sort of "treatment". It took a long time for me to accept that I was trans. Of course at first, I hadn't even heard that word for many years. Now we have so many options available to us. For example, as I mentioned in another thread, I asked my doctor to refer me for hormones. There was no push back, no questions of why. She just said she'd arrange it. Until recently, that wouldn't have had that option. I'd have had to talk to a psychiatrist at an institution that seemed to be more interested in putting up barriers, rather than help a trans patient. Also, living in Canada, GCS is covered by our heath care. All I'd have to do is get 2 evaluations, from a doctor, social worker, practical nurse, etc.. No longer any need for a psychiatrist. So, it's the past that was a curse and the present situation that provides so much support for trans that's a "gift".
