I've been seeing a therapist for a few weeks, and will be seeing another soon to try to begin hormone therapy.

I feel like it's time to come out about the problem to my family, but I'm scared.

I just came out to my girlfriend of 5 years; she broke up with me, which i guess I can understand.  My mom might try to understand, but I doubt she will.  I've had some pretty severe health problems in the past, and she thinks I can be a hypochondriac for attention.

My dad is who I'm really scared about.  I inadvertently came out to him when I was 15 (a therapist I was seeing at the time broke confidentiality,) and he threw me down a flight of stairs, breaking my knee and ribs.  He said I needed to stop my "->-bleeped-<-gy ->-bleeped-<-" and get with the program.
I'm in a position right now where I need my parents in my life, and telling them is a huge risk.  I really don't feel like I can live like this any longer though; I'm just so worried about what will happen. 

You have valid reasons for being scared.

Sorry, your father sounds like a Neanderthal.

From what you've said, I can't really see any reason to tell them anything.

If it were me, I'd be working to the day when I can get out of there.

Spacial, I really feel like it would be best if I tell them before I say, start growing breasts.  I'm seeing my referred psychiatrist Wednesday.  Regardless, I'm a university student dependent on my mom's insurance, so she'll see it on the billing statement (I called and they said they do cover HRT.) 

If you're recommending I wait a while to begin HRT, I really don't feel like that's an option either.  I've been depressed since puberty (and felt like something was wrong earlier than that,) and I just want to try to feel better.  I'm also at a point where it would be really good to start, I developed late and still don't have much facial/body hair.  If I wait a few years, it'll be a lot more difficult to deal with the bear-like winter coat (and bear-like muscles) that I'll likely inherit from my father. 

I try to avoid saying anything critical of anyone's parents. My own parents were pretty mean and I said so, many times. But even after all these years, and them having died a long time ago, I still feel a bit peeved when others might say anything against them.

But quite frankly, your father is a thug. There was no justification for throwing you downstairs. This was, by any measure, a serious assault. Even the most fervant supporter of parents beating their children would agree.

What your father said to you was completely unacceptable. There are some areas where parents must never go. Their children's sexuality is a complete no-go area for any parent.

I'm sorry to say, your father doesn't sound very stable. Until you can be away from any potential for his temper tantrums, then you may need to just wait.

But you must do what you think best.

I had to wait until I was out of my parenets house.  Sometimes it is safer to wait and get medical on your own or through work then to risk more injures.  I am close to 40 and still have no plans on telling my father and affraid my mother would tell him even though I have been living on my own for 18 years.  Some parents can not handle it at all.