I'm not very good at introductions, but let's try anyway, shall we?

I finally realised I was a guy early last year after doing a lot of soul searching, though I've felt like a guy for years before that, I just didn't know for sure. Forums like these and all those informative sites out there have been immensely helpful in figuring myself out. I have been doing some reading here to get a general feel of the place, and I finally decided to register. Seems to be a lot of nice and helpful people here.

About me... I just turned eighteen. My family is supportive, which makes me very lucky I guess. There are far too many parents who would throw someone like me out on the streets... I know I feel a need to have a male body, but I can't currently transition for medical reasons. Unlike a lot of trans guys I was quite girly as a kid and liked dresses and playing with dolls, which would make a lot of therapist think I can't bee a "real transsexual", since of course men "have" to be masculine. I don't think being feminine or masculine determines your gender at all, personally. There are non-trans men who are and were very "girly", and I don't see why that couldn't be true for someone who is FtM as well.

Anyway... howdy.

Hello there, a pleasant welcome to you

Hi Ciarquin,

Welcome to our little family. Over 1800 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion. Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers.  Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now.  And it is always nice to have another brother.

Janet

Hello there and welcome to Susan's!

Thanks so much for introducing yourself.  Please take a few moments to get familiar with all the boards of the site, review the site rules before posting, and take advantage of our many resources such as the wiki, chat, and the links listed at the main page.  We look forward to your future posts and participation.  Enjoy your stay

tink

Hi, Clarquin, welocme to Susan's!!

Nice to have you join our little circle here. Yeah, I think I understand what you are saying, they've said the same thing, perhaps even more vehemently about lesbians who transitioned. Butcha know? Sometimes ya just gotta be who you are and let the chips fall.

I'll be looking forward to seeing more of you around the site.

Nichole

Thanks for the welcomes, everyone

Quote from: Nichole on August 20, 2008, 10:37:17 PM
Sometimes ya just gotta be who you are and let the chips fall.

Nichole

Totally agree with you on that.

Howdy, Ciarquin. Great name. How is it pronounced?

Welcome. Got a name? I mean, you know. The name you want to change to.

Quote from: Ciarquin on August 20, 2008, 04:47:00 PMAbout me... I just turned eighteen. My family is supportive, which makes me very lucky I guess. There are far too many parents who would throw someone like me out on the streets... I know I feel a need to have a male body, but I can't currently transition for medical reasons. Unlike a lot of trans guys I was quite girly as a kid and liked dresses and playing with dolls, which would make a lot of therapist think I can't bee a "real transsexual", since of course men "have" to be masculine. I don't think being feminine or masculine determines your gender at all, personally. There are non-trans men who are and were very "girly", and I don't see why that couldn't be true for someone who is FtM as well.

Anyway... howdy.

Don't worry about your childhood. Mine was the same way.

I'm 18 as well. Turned 18 in March. Also came out in March. Since then, I've been trying to get transition started. It's really irritating. They think that because I came out in March, I've only identified as male for that long. I started cross dressing at least September of last year, if not before then. And I had the feelings since I was very young. Your childhood does not necessarily effect whether or not you're trans; everyone's experience is different. I was very ashamed of what I am for a long time. I thought I was a freak.

Quote from: Arch on August 20, 2008, 11:07:29 PM
Howdy, Ciarquin. Great name. How is it pronounced?

I pronounce it See-ahr-kwin. I just "invented" it earlier when I was trying to pick a user name. (I always have problems with that.) It's actually kind of cool, now that I think about it.

Quote from: Elwood on August 20, 2008, 11:08:47 PM
Welcome. Got a name? I mean, you know. The name you want to change to.

Well, I don't really want to mention my first name in such a public space since it's not very common.

Quote from: Elwood on August 20, 2008, 11:08:47 PM
Don't worry about your childhood. Mine was the same way.

Oh, I'm not worried about it. I was when I was younger, since I thought it meant I couldn't really be a guy if I wasn't typically male as a kid. Or perhaps I was just worried that other people would think that, which they certainly do... Definitely don't believe that any more.

Quote from: Elwood on August 20, 2008, 11:08:47 PM
I'm 18 as well. Turned 18 in March. Also came out in March. Since then, I've been trying to get transition started. It's really irritating. They think that because I came out in March, I've only identified as male for that long. I started cross dressing at least September of last year, if not before then. And I had the feelings since I was very young. Your childhood does not necessarily effect whether or not you're trans; everyone's experience is different. I was very ashamed of what I am for a long time. I thought I was a freak.

Well, I've never actually been ashamed of being the way I am, never hated myself for it. I didn't exactly like myself, either, but that wasn't only because of being transsexual. Being a guy always felt natural to me, somehow, even though I knew that given my body I was supposed to be a girl. It was like "Well, of course you're a guy. What else would you be?"

I didn't come out properly until last September (I think I told my mom I felt like a guy and wanted to transition when I was thirteen or so) though I already knew I was trans years before that. I guess I felt I needed to really know for sure before coming out for real.

I've been dressing men's clothing since I was 14 or so, I think, though it's just casual t-shirts and shirts. Nothing unusual for a female-bodied person to wear. It's difficult to make it clear that you're presenting as male when so many girls & women wear men's clothes and have short hair. Even a short haircut wouldn't really help much, my face is too feminine for that, I think. I had short hair before but still looked really girly.

Hi Ciarquin

a hug and warm welcome to you hunny

Welcome Ciarquin.

Dennis