I know I may sound like an idiot, but im not sure about a few things.

Its been a couple of years since I figured everything out, I've done research &have tried educating myself. But I still have a lot of questions.

I started transitioning about a year ago.
I barely started binding this year.
I've been going by my name for about a year, but still only new ppl I meet &a select few buddies call me it.

I was wondering how one would typically go about transitioning.
Legal matters.
The steps to take.

I know the first few...
Change in how you present: hair, clothes, etc.
Choose a name to go by.
Bind & pack for a more male appearance.

Then what?
I feel like I know nothing compared to how well informed most, if not all, the guys on here are.

Hmm well i'd say i don't know much im pretty much just going with the flow. Like you i've started binding, im going down the NHS route so they will tell me sorta what i should be doing. I would expect next after convincing them that im 100% i would present fully male (already doing it on some occasions). Id tell people including work, change my name and then go on hormones. Next is surgery, obviously this is all going to take time and i have to convince the NHS people that this is what i want but thats the plan i have in my head.

Hope that helps a little

Thanks Thomas,

What does it mean to present full time?

You've started the process. 

Then, most get a gender therapist (not always necessary, but I found it hugely helpful, just by being able to talk about stuff with someone knowledgeable, who could ask me lots of questions and who listened to my answers.)  The therapist will usually write a letter stating you are trans and ready for hormones (most endos require this, not all).  So then you go to the endocrinologist and start T.  Mind you there are many trans guys who opt not to take T for various reasons; a gender therapist can help sort out whether that is right for you).

Somewhere in that process most choose to change their name legally.  Doing that requires that you find out how to do that in your area.  Most involve going to probate court, filling out forms, paying a fee, posting a notice in the paper, and finally appearing before a judge.  Your state/country will vary.

After that you change your name legally everywhere, get new ID.

Then, if you're interested in top surgery, you find a surgeon and get that done.  After a year or two if you're interested in lower surgery, you find a surgeon and get that done.

That's it in a nutshell.  People do things in different orders, some elect to do some things and not others, depending on your gender ID (male? androgyne? genderqueer? etc).


Jay

Quote from: ccc on May 31, 2010, 04:40:53 PM
Thanks Thomas,

What does it mean to present full time?

Your welcome, it means to be a man full time - change your name, make sure everyone you want to tell and your job etc no. Like for me im a guy as much as possible but at the moment i have to present female at work, to be full time i'd have to go in as my guy self and wear my binder etc and get them to call me Tom

Quote from: sneakersjay on May 31, 2010, 04:49:20 PM
You've started the process. 

Then, most get a gender therapist.

Yay, lol.

Thanks Jay this helped me a lot.

How would I find a gender therapist?
Isn't having/seeing one necessary to get letters for T &surgery?
Im at a 70% sure decision that I don't want to take T.
I do want top surgery though, 95% sure.
I most definitely want to change my name legally.
Can I do that at any time?

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Post Merge: May 31, 2010, 05:21:00 PM

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Quote from: Thomas on May 31, 2010, 04:52:49 PM
Your welcome, it means to be a man full time - change your name, make sure everyone you want to tell and your job etc no.

Why do you HAVE to present as female at work?
If you don't mine me asking.

So, Im pretty sure I present full time then.

Quote from: ccc on May 31, 2010, 05:18:21 PM

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Post Merge: May 31, 2010, 05:21:00 PM

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Why do you HAVE to present as female at work?
If you don't mine me asking.

So, Im pretty sure I present full time then.

No i don't mind, i dont HAVE to i suppose but in a way i feel i do. Theres a few reasons one being i am in the public eye all the time with my job and most of the customers know i am a girl (my uniform does nothing to hide my curves). The area is also rough, homosexuality isn't really accepted there let alone transexuality. As well as that many of the people who know me at work are very good friends to me but they assume i am a typical female who wants a boyfriend and likes shoes. I've never told them that they just assume and i've also never agreed. A few get that im boyish but they just think im a tomboy. I haven't changed my name yet either because my mum doesnt know...there's a lot of stuff but some of it is down to nerves as well.

Ohh I see.
Im kind of glad I don't have a job right now.
My parents don't know either, but I don't present as female at any time. But that's what they want, for me to grow out my hair long &wear feminine clothing &all that.

Oh don't worry about that, my mums the same. She told me the other day she 'doesnt like my trainers because they are too boyish'. Im hinting at my mum at the moment, buying guys jeans and tees, not shaving my legs, telling her im a boy in my head etc. The other day i had a breakthrough when she said 'youll be having a sex change next'

Just keep going the way you are they will stop pestering after a while....hopefully

CCC, where are you?  I know there are websites that list gender therapists if you google, or if you can find other guys or girls in your area they can recommend someone (and also tell you who to avoid).

You can change your name legally at any time without a therapist.  To change your gender marker you will at least need top surgery and a letter; at minimum you can change your gender marker on your driver's license with just a therapist's letter (again, all this depends on your state/country as laws and procedures vary).  Some top surgeons do not require a letter, but that requirement may vary also.

Jay

We have some therapists in the resource pages here on Susan's. But you can find other therapists by googling. And if you live in or near a large city, get in touch with the LGBT center. My center has had a therapist for trans issues for over a decade--I think he does other stuff, too, though. Anyway, a center can be a good place to start.

Yes you will need a letter for top surgery. Most  doctors  do not require that you be on T for top surgery, but will require a letter from a therapist.
You should be able to change your name whenever you want. I would say a therapist and name change would be your next steps.
Myles

Quote from: Thomas on May 31, 2010, 05:53:35 PM
Just keep going the way you are they will stop pestering after a while....hopefully

Hopefully... I've been the way I am for a while now, they still try to change me.
:/




Jay,
Im in Cali.

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Post Merge: May 31, 2010, 08:08:24 PM

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Quote from: Arch on May 31, 2010, 06:54:49 PM
We have some therapists in the resource pages here on Susan's. But you can find other therapists by googling. And if you live in or near a large city, get in touch with the LGBT center.

I think the closest one to me is in LA. I should check it out.
Thanks!

Bind, pack, present as male.
Legally change name wherever in this process that you have money to do so.
See therapist...decide if you want to start T. Therapist also would have to fill otu gender change forms which can be googled for your area, and provide T letter.
Start T.
Decide what surgery you wish to have.
Therapist has to provide letter for surgery.


But that's all based on the individual. That's just how I'd ideally do it if I could. Really, what I've done so far is:

Pick name, live full time as male by binding/packing. used rogaine on the face for  facial hair. Did this for 3 years cause I couldn't do more.
Started T 19 days ago finally, w/o a letter from a therapist on informed consent.
Start seeing a therpist today to fill out my gender change papers and such.
Wish my name was changed already, but don't have the money to do that yet.
Surgery is soon as I get a job and can save for it. 

I will say that not everybody's transition is the same. Not all of us go the same route or go in the same order.

The way I like to break down transition is into three different types of transition: physical, social, and legal. I guess psychological is also a type of transition but...it's hard to understand and explain.

Socially there's living full time. Starts by wearing male clothes, binding, packing, male hair cut. That sort of thing.

Legally there's a name change, and gender marker change.

Physically there's hormones, top surgery, bottom surgery (there are other possible options but these are the 3 main ones).

Seeing a therapist and getting diagnosed with GID will help support your case for a legal name change. They can deny a legal name change for whatever reason but usually it's not a problem.

Not all surgeons require a letter for top surgery. Most do.

Quote from: zombiesarepeaceful on June 01, 2010, 11:45:01 AM
Pick name, live full time as male by binding/packing. used rogaine on the face for  facial hair. Did this for 3 years cause I couldn't do more.
Started T 19 days ago finally, w/o a letter from a therapist on informed consent.
Start seeing a therpist today to fill out my gender change papers and such.
Wish my name was changed already, but don't have the money to do that yet.
Surgery is soon as I get a job and can save for it.

So I think my next step is to find a therapist &a legal name change.

Does rogaine work?
Is there anything I can use to help me gain more masculine features?

Im going to try to get a fee waiver for the name change since I don't have a job either.

About how much does surgery cost?

Pretty much any supplement that is going to masculinize your features is going to give you changes the way testosterone would, just to a lesser degree.  That also means the facial masculinization or body fat redistribution would also be more subtle.  I really don't think anything is as potent as T at all.