First, thanks for reading this...I'm trying to develop a resource that I can give to people who are relatively new to hormones and/or are also new to my area (and maybe transitioning/ed for a while). I wanted to get as many people HERE as possible to let me know WHAT I should put in it. I was envisioning a 15-25 page packet with all kinds of resources like local surgeons, therapists, endo, electro, pharmacies friendly to ftm/mtf. I also want it to be kind of a brief walk-through of some of the things to expect with transition like "there are standards of care but not everyone follows them. Transition is a very self-directed thing." Etc, Etc. It needs to be extremely culturally sensitive and I want it to be very inclusive.

So, I'm asking you all, what would have helped YOU when you first started? It's a little hard because we all had SUSAN'S and I don't think you can replace that kind of interaction, but many of the people who get this paper won't probably have internet access or, if they do, it will be limited. Can you help me out and give me your thoughts please? I'd really appreciate it! You can send me a private message with details if you don't feel like posting publicly.

Thanks so much, Meghan

Employment is crucial when transitioning.  If somebody doesn't have a job, paying for transition isn't feasible unless they have a rich mommy & daddy that can pay for everything, but not everybody's that lucky.  Support groups & social services for low income people, agencies that provide job training/placement is important.


# Therapists/Counselors with Gender Counseling Experience
# Endocrinologists for HRT
# Surgeons for Top/Bottom/BA, Etc.
# Support Groups
# Social Services Resources (Food, Clothing, Shelter)
# Employment Help for TG

I selected the following

Electrologists/Laser Techs/Hair Removal Resources
Therapists/Counselors with Gender Counseling Experience
Endocrinologists for HRT
Surgeons for Top/Bottom/BA, Etc.
Social Services Resources (Food, Clothing, Shelter)
Employment Help for TG

Social Services and employment help are crucial, because so many of us are un/under employed, and homeless.


Janet

I am just starting (searching for a good therapist currently) but am not new to the concepts since I have been doing lots of reading for the last 4-5 years.  From my point of view:

If I was given a local "getting started" packet, I would want at the very least...

-Therapists/Counselors with Gender Counseling Experience, probably with info like their rates and maybe feedback or comments from someone who has seen that therapist (especially if there were bad experiences)
-Online resources with short descriptions
-Support groups
-Employment and social services are probably important too but I don't need them so I can't speak for that

What else I would add depends on the scope of the packet.  For example, certain things like an endocrinologist, pharmacy, and *maybe* hair removal may not be important until after talking to a therapist - and the therapist probably knows good local options anyway.

I'm choosing options 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

I think this is awesome of you putting together something like this. But I guess awesome people just do awesome things.

Perhaps a list of transgender care clinics would be nice. At least for major cities.

When I first started I found the local TS/TG support group's website invaluable. It lists numerous local and regional resources for just about all the things you have in the poll, divided into categories of pages such as medical, research, TS/TG friendly hotels and businesses, etc. Starting out many people have no idea where to find the things they need, so it's a really good idea and can be very useful.

Well I'm one of the ones that also picked "other."

Put in the standards of care and I don't know. . . Something involving insurance.

I selected all...

Jay

I would do my best to make it local, trans-specific, and well-researched. Social services would be out of the scope, because their not trans-specific, but trans-specific legal and employment services would be very relevant. So would endocrinologists, therapists, and support groups. A couple of web references might be okay as a kind of footnote, like, "for more information, see ----- ."

I don't think surgeons would be an important part, since it's not necessary or ideal to find local ones. But that might be an MtF-specific point of view -- perhaps top surgeons for trans men are more common, more local, and a more immediate need. I wouldn't pretend to know.

This is wonderful you are doing this.  I agree with the others that it needs to be specific to your area.

I selected:

Electrologists/Laser Techs/Hair Removal Resources – I really didn't know where to start on this.

Therapists/Counselors with Gender Counseling Experience – I didn't need this because I already had a counselor and have found her very helpful even though her gender experience is minimal.

Endocrinologists for HRT – This is probably helpful, but I just asked my family physician and he prescribed the meds and is monitoring the effects.

Surgeons for Top/Bottom/BA, Etc. – I selected this but wonder if it should be included.  Each of us should be well on the road before considering surgery.  (We all seem to want to go immediately from point A to point Z, forgetting that we have to go through points B, C, D, etc. on the way. )

Support Groups – I needed this to get me started.

Online resources (websites) – And I needed this, too.  That's how I found Susan's!

Expectations for HRT (maybe, I don't know) – This was very important to me.  I tend to be methodical.  There was no way that I was going to take powerful drugs without having a good idea what the effects would be.  (I did a lot of recreational drugs when I was younger, but I'm more cautious now. )  This could be as simple as a link to NHS or some other reliable source of information.

I haven't a clue why you would need to know a pharmacy to get your hormones.  Don't all pharmacies fill prescriptions?  Sure, I was a little nervous going to my usual pharmacy the first time, but c'mon.

Perhaps I live in TG eden, but as a long-term cross-dresser I found that many places that claimed to be CD-friendly (or trans-friendly) had outrageous prices and no better service than just going to a department store or the local shop down on Main Street.  I would be wary of TG-friendly legal services for the same reason.  I just went to the woman who did my will.  It's part of the coming-out process.  (Oops, pardon my assumptions.  I already had a lawyer.  Many people don't.  Sorry. )

I think that if you include employment and social service information it should be in a separate pack for those who need that information - many don't

But then, I can be clueless. 

- Kate

I selected everything because everyone has different circumstances.  I also selected other because I'm currently trying to find a GP that is trans-friendly.  I have an endo who is great and is monitoring my general health, but anything beyond that he's not really available for.  I am not yet full time, but I never present fully male either, so I would rather find a doctor who isn't going to freak out, or deny me care, or give me sub-standard care, or whatever when they find out/realize.

I selected:

- Therapists/Counselors with Gender Counseling Experience
- Support Groups
- Social Services Resources (Food, Clothing, Shelter)
- Employment Help for TG

For the purposes of localized assistance, I feel a focus should exist upon immediately establishing emotional and financial support.

meghan i would like to sugest some kind of guide line to help them figure out a general step by step type thing. For me it was hard to figure out where to even get started on transition. i realize that every persons transition is their own but just wading threw the information here and other places can at times seam overwhelming. maybe this is already out there somewhere and i dont know about it.
Alot of the introduction posts we see here are like were do i begin how do i even know if im trans or not...etc
jessica