Hi everyone

http://www.beyondmasculinity.com/articles/macey.php

This article just made my day.  Just wanted to share it in case anyone here hasn't aready seen it.  There are some great dysphoria-busting bursts of optimism in here that really perked me up after reading something transphobic moments beforehand.

In other news I got my first appointment for Charing Cross...but it isn't until 25th February at 9am! Still at least I get to go to a convention straight afterwards, to take my mind off of it.  At least it is going to happen now though, that is a real relief. 

Awesome article indeed! And double awesome for you. =)

Congrats on the good news!  Yes, a real marker in the journey (I can relate as I have my first appt with Dr Curtis on Friday.  Yoiks!).

I'm not sure about that article, though.  I think he protests too much.  He doesn't sound that comfortable with himself under all of that.  But, yeah, there are some positive points for us trans->-bleeped-<-s in there.  And, ye gods, we need them!

That's fab news, Alessandro!

If you don't mind me asking - how long has it taken from your first visit to the GP to this point? I see my transition future stretching off into the infinite as everything seems to move so sloooowly!

Papillon - I don't know, that discomfort didn't come across to me.  I thought it was a pretty positive rant if such a thing exists.

Turtle - afraid it is a long wait.  I went to the GP in december 09, psych feb 2010, charing cross feb 2011   

Aleesandro, I just felt that his constant need to tell us how gorgeous he is, and then admit that he was freaked at having to tell his prospective partner that he is a transman just didn't mesh.

Anyway, back to the plot, that is a long wait, particularly for the appt at Charing Cross.  I guess it gives you time to prepare yourself.

I cheated and went down the private route, with my GP's blessing (and referral).  I saw my GP two weeks ago and have my first appt this Friday.  If anything, that is too quick!

I can't really afford to go private, I'm just a student. 

As to the article - yeah I suppose so, but I think it's impossible for us to feel 100% great about ourselves.  I certainly wouldn't be able to tell the guy in that situation.  It seems like a whole new world of problems open up after you finish transition.  I doubt it would be possible to find an account from a transguy who thinks he's the dogs balls and sings from the rafters about being trans and how wonderful it is to every guy he meets in a club.  That's just not real!

Yup, but it wasn't so much the reluctance to tell the guy at the club that bothered me (I can totally understand that), but the constant emphasis on how gorgeous he is.  That smacked of overcompensating to me, which implies that he really isn't comfortable with himself.  Therefore, on balance, I found that article a little depressing.  But perhaps that is just the mood I am in at the mo.