I sprained my leg yesterday while walking to K-Mart, I didn't see the hole in the grass and fall, it hurt alot. There where two women near-by and they called an the hospital and an Abumlance came, we'll the interesting thing was I was with my Boyfriend, and I was in "Male" clothing so I looked like a guy or so I thought. The woman said on the phone that a young woman fell and need to go to the hospital over the phone, when they arrived they thought I was a girl. When we got to the Hospital the staff that was helping me thought I was a girl, all the way up to the period question. They asked when was my last period so I had to come clean about my trans status. It caught them off-guard. They treated me none the less, and I went home. But just the fact that I was dressed like a GUY, and not alone did two women think I was a girl, but hospital stuff!? Talk about a BIG self-esteem boost. Anyone else every experience something like that?

That's awesome. I'm really happy for you.
So... when was your last period, miss?  *GETS PUNCHED* OOF!

I've had experiences like that. When I was with my counselor for the first time, she looked in the waiting room and left because she didn't see a girl. My name is listed as a female name. She came back and said my name and I responded, "yeah," and she said, "oh, YOU'RE Sara." Later she told me that when she first saw me she was sure I was a boy. She's worked with transgender patients before.

Other than that, I pretty much always pass in public... People see me as just another guy on the street.

Speaking of periods and hospitals: I was in a couple weeks ago having my hysto and they asked that of me, so I told her, and was celebrating the fact it was my last one.  The nurse laughed and said that one time she asked that of a woman and she said Feb. 20, 1981.  The nurse said she laughed, because she was born in Feb. 1981!

I hope I forget I ever had the blasted thing, other than getting 2 kids out of the whole mess (blessings, they!)


Jay

P.S. Congrats on passing even in boy mode!!

I had something similiar happen to me and my partner and wife. We went to a therapist to try and figure out what to so with our 35 year old daughter. I won't go into particulars but we were talking to the therapist and we had told her we were married and for 36 years. She looked at us and said how can that be? It is not legal and it wasn't legal 36 years ago for two lesbians to be married. I'm not ashamed of who I am and told her. She said oh. Very surprised and then we went on with the session. It all worked out great, our daughter is on her own now and married  and we have a very handsome grandson.

One of the strangest incidents of being "gendered" happened a few years ago.

Now I am 5' 9" and a bit large (for the average girl) and had been stealth for well over 30 years.

One day I was doing some welding in the workshop and would NEVER go out in public like that - baggy overalls with welding rods sticking out of the pockets, work boots, baseball cap on backwards under a welding hood (totally hiding my hair), massive great welding gloves, no makeup, probably some smudges on my face. As I was welding, I heard a car pull in the yard and stepped out in full paraphernalia to see what was going on. A man stepped out of the car with a map in his hand and said "Excuse me ma'am..." and proceeded to ask for directions. How in the he11 did he figure I was a ma'am when I was dressed like Joe farmer, didn't say a word, and didn't even move? Beats me!

Of course there was the day my doctor's requisition for a PSA test caused a furor in the lab! They were sure it was a mistake - a PSA test for a woman? - and they were SO embarrassed to ask if I knew what it was and why my doctor would order one!

We wont even go into how many times I have been asked the period question, or how many children I have had, etc..

Sometimes it works out to be so weird, how people really see us.  And these stories are great moral boosters.

Janet

Quote from: Janet Lynn on September 10, 2008, 09:35:13 PM
Sometimes it works out to be so weird, how people really see us.  And these stories are great moral boosters.

Janet

Exactly.  I'm so waiting for the day I get read as male.

Jay

Quote from: Carolyn on September 10, 2008, 06:37:09 PM
They asked when was my last period so I had to come clean about my trans status.

Quote from: Northern Jane on September 10, 2008, 07:59:57 PM
We wont even go into how many times I have been asked the period question, or how many children I have had, etc..

That sucks about your ankle Carolyn, I hope your ok dear!

In the future, in a situation like that I might just say I've been having my period as normal.  I was in a situation like that twice already, and both times told the nurses "I don't menstruate, I'm transgendered" and they look at me like 'ok...moving on.'  It's really embarrasing 

Jenn

Quote from: sneakersjay on September 10, 2008, 10:25:36 PM

Quote from: Janet Lynn on September 10, 2008, 09:35:13 PM
Sometimes it works out to be so weird, how people really see us.  And these stories are great moral boosters.

Janet

Exactly.  I'm so waiting for the day I get read as male.

Jay

But... I thought you transitioned? Or did you start fairly recently?

Quote from: Elwood on September 10, 2008, 11:34:04 PM

Quote from: sneakersjay on September 10, 2008, 10:25:36 PM

Quote from: Janet Lynn on September 10, 2008, 09:35:13 PM
Sometimes it works out to be so weird, how people really see us.  And these stories are great moral boosters.

Janet

Exactly.  I'm so waiting for the day I get read as male.

Jay

But... I thought you transitioned? Or did you start fairly recently?

Been on T for six weeks only and just had a hysto.  Maybe you're confusing me with Dennis?  We're the old guys, LOL.

Jay

Quote from: fae_reborn on September 10, 2008, 10:38:11 PMtold the nurses "I don't menstruate, I'm transgendered" and they look at me like 'ok...moving on.'  It's really embarrasing 

That's the thing, I'm not ashamed of who I am... but really can we please just skip over the awkward reactions from people? I get tired of that.

Quote from: Hypatia on September 14, 2008, 05:28:07 AM

Quote from: fae_reborn on September 10, 2008, 10:38:11 PMtold the nurses "I don't menstruate, I'm transgendered" and they look at me like 'ok...moving on.'  It's really embarrasing 

That's the thing, I'm not ashamed of who I am... but really can we please just skip over the awkward reactions from people? I get tired of that.

I totally agree, I'm not ashamed of myself either.  It's their awkward reaction.  Which is why I'm just going to pick a few days out of the month for my period, and whenever asked that my response will be "a few weeks (or days) ago, everything's normal."  Technically it's true, everything is normal because I can't get pregnant anyway! 

Jenn

I guess this is really two subjects...

As for period questions, I cycle, even though I don't bleed, so I just say, yeah, a week ago, or whatever. Yes, bitchy and weepy as per normal lol. Ok ok, I dont add that.

As for being read as the correct gender or however you'd put it....several years ago, I was still not cnfident enough to go out unless I did major make-up, etc. So, it got annoying, if I just needed something from 7-11. Well, one day I ran out of dog food and just didn't feel like going to all that bother just to go get some Alpo. So I put on an old baseball warm-up jacket that was balloon-y enough that it hid my breasts. And off I trotted to the store, bare-faced and wearing jeans and this baseball jacket. Well, the guy behind the counter still called me Ma'am. Woohoo!!!! That was a turning point for me.

Stealth

PS--I've never worn that jacket again except to do yard work in the fall.

Once I transitioned and started passing well, I made a point of never going out of the house unless I looked my best. Like stealthgrrl said, to be able to be read as the correct gender.

A few Saturdays ago, the doorbell rang. Some dude was selling something door to door. When I answered the door, I was wearing a loose old cotton shift, no makeup, no bra, hair not done. Dude called me "Ma'am." I said, sorry, I'm not interested, have a nice day, bye.

Then closed the door and went YES!!! So maybe I have it more together than I've been giving myself credit for.

[/quote]
I totally agree, I'm not ashamed of myself either.  It's their awkward reaction.  Which is why I'm just going to pick a few days out of the month for my period, and whenever asked that my response will be "a few weeks (or days) ago, everything's normal."  Technically it's true, everything is normal because I can't get pregnant anyway! 
[/quote]

That is a good Idea, I'm stealing it just so you know!

Hi Carolyn, sorry to hear about your ankle, but it appears the experience on your way to the hospital sure made up for it. Yes once you start getting confirmations even while you are wearing androgynous or men's clothes I beleive you have begun to pass well enough to be recognised and addressed as your true target gender and one has arrived at the doorstep to their goal. I was gawd awful skinny, sickly skinny actually when I began my transitioning into full time and as a result didn't realy pass all that well. Two years later on HRT and protein drinks I put on the weight and I passed quite well. Actually the regime of protein supplement drinks in combination with the HRT worked too well. I had to cut down on the protein supplement and take to exercising, I was getting to fat at the tummy.

Cindy     

Quote from: Carolyn on September 15, 2008, 11:52:18 PM

Quote from: fae_reborn on September 14, 2008, 10:42:57 AM
I totally agree, I'm not ashamed of myself either.  It's their awkward reaction.  Which is why I'm just going to pick a few days out of the month for my period, and whenever asked that my response will be "a few weeks (or days) ago, everything's normal."  Technically it's true, everything is normal because I can't get pregnant anyway! 

That is a good Idea, I'm stealing it just so you know!

No problem Carolyn

Jenn