Hey all,

Me AGAIN.  Just wanted to share the news that I finally changed my name today!  It was such strange feeling at first but feels great now!  A step closer to finally being recognised as my true self
At the beginning I had to show my ID card as proof of identity and unfortunately my 'Sex marker' is on there.  The guy didnt believe me that it was my ID card and was asking me for other proof.  Finally convinced him otherwise...He was staring at it for 5mins or so and the first thing that came out of his mouth was 'You....female?'  'Are you sure this your ID card?'
It kind of sucks that my ID card has to be used quite a bit for proof of identity and the sex marker is right next to the pic so easily noticeable so that blows my cover big time.
Besides that, another milestone has been reached!  Feels great being able to share it with you all   Definitly a fantastic support team.
Cheers,
Joshua

Congratulations,Hon.

It is so great to be ones self.  Now on to the gender marker and any surgery you may be having.

HUGS
Janet

I'm curious- and I know each state/country is different- but what did you guys have to accomplish first (therapy, T, surgery) before being allowed a name change?

Congrats!

And Radar, most locations allow a name change for any reason except fraud, so no transition-related stuff necessary.


Jay

Josh, Congrats!

Where abouts are you from btw?

Jay

First of all, congrats man A happy day for you!

Quote from: Radar on June 03, 2009, 11:02:20 AM
I'm curious- and I know each state/country is different- but what did you guys have to accomplish first (therapy, T, surgery) before being allowed a name change?

I haven't done it yet, but...

In Australia, you can change your name for $135 or so, for any reason other than fraud. They do ask on the forms what your reason is (cannot be a one word answer), and your "new" name. They reserve the right to reject name changes, but it pretty much never happens unless you pick something offensive. Changing names for transitioning / GID reasons is a-ok - we're pretty laid back cool people  .

You cannot change your name again for 12 months unless you have "exceptional reason". No idea what one of those might be.

In NSW, your drivers licence (primary photo ID paper - accepted everywhere) does NOT have a gender marker of any kind, or a "title" (Mr / Ms / Mrs / etc). I don't know about passports or proof of age (18+) cards as I've never had either one.

Once you change your name, you can go the the RTA (equiv of the DMV) and have a new licence printed with new photo on the spot for $20. They do however, have a gender marker on file - but nobody sees it except the counter staff (interesting tidbit - my driving tester many years ago was MTF, just post SRS. Government jobs don't fire TS / TG people for transitioning on the job  ).

Birth certificate and ALL other government gender markers can be changed after SRS with 2 letters from doctors (saying it has been completed - top should be enough for FTM, but not 100% sure on that). All the original records are sealed, and you are issued with a new certificate under the new gender that makes NO mention whatsoever of the old file. In the computer systems, your new "identity" is recorded as a new birth - it's a total clean start, not linked to the old identity (they would have a provision for criminal records though, I'd assume).

No, I don't work for the government - I'm just well prepared for the future! Our government puts how-to documents on their department websites to help transitioning people deal with the paperwork.

Thanks guys

Jay - Im Australian but ive lived in Hong Kong for nearly 19years.  Came here when i was 18months old.  Like Jay said, you can change your name for any reason besides fraud so its pretty good.  One downside to HK though is that they dont allow you to go on hormones until after you have bottom surgery here....so backwards.  Real strange.

Quote from: JoshB on June 03, 2009, 03:58:03 PM
Thanks guys

Jay - Im Australian but ive lived in Hong Kong for nearly 19years.  Came here when i was 18months old.  Like Jay said, you can change your name for any reason besides fraud so its pretty good.  One downside to HK though is that they dont allow you to go on hormones until after you have bottom surgery here....so backwards.  Real strange.

How can they do bottom surgery before hormones?  It cannot be a meta that is for sure.  But do they not embed the clitoris into the phallus for phalloplasty?  How can they accomodate for the growth that would happen once the patient is on T?  It boggles my mind.

Nox, you got me...Its so messed up here.  Thats why so many transguys here in HK self-medicate and go overseas.  Your lucky to even get a docs appt within a year.  There was one MTF who, after having her srs, had to wait close to one year just to get her check-up to make sure everything was ok.  HK has even just, this year, brought in a discrimination law - its been 5yrs in the making.

QuoteOne downside to HK though is that they dont allow you to go on hormones until after you have bottom surgery here....so backwards.  Real strange.

Yes very strange.. and backward.

In this instant I am not suprised people self medicate.

I feel for you dude.

So how do you go about getting bottom surgery then? Are you having it? Is it private or public out there?

Just a little interested?

Jay

Luckily i found a private psychaitrist here in hk that use to work at a gender clinic then opened his own place.  He is such a great guy.  At first he said that it was best that i wait until i saw a psychologist which is in july.  But then went back to him after 3weeks or so and told him that i was ready to start and showed him my plan.  I already had a friend inject me once and i didnt want to stop.  He then basically let me start the following week, exactly 3weeks after the first .  I never told him about it.  Would have continued to self medicate if he didnt allow me to start.
For surgery, it would still be public here but im going to get it done overseas.  My doc will write me a letter.  The quality here wouldnt be that great as well seeing as their is only one guy who does it in HK and the docs here are known for their easyway-round and again it takes yrs to get an appt for surgery.  Some have had to wait for 2yrs for their surgery date.  Wouldnt look to them for quality at all.  Planning to go to Dr Brownstein for top.  HK would subsidise the bottom surgery but i would rather pay and get it done elsewhere. Quality!