I have some in common with toxicblue.

Every place for hundreds of miles is conservative. I also don't know even one person who would support me either during or after a transition. I also don't have the money for any kind of transition. Probably never will, either.

Aside from the above, I guess my fear is the opposite of toxicblue's. Imagine a basketball game where you're 2 points ahead but an opponent gets a 3-pointer through the net with 1 second left in the fourth quarter (or second half). I would fear investing so much energy, time, and money and being sad it isn't enough. I really want it all, but I can't body swap with a FtM, nor can I go back in time to be different or take over a body like an alien from another planet.

In some way I think of myself as a girl and yearn for it multiple times a day every single day for well over a decade. I don't have to choose to think about it; it happens by itself as well as when I choose it. A slight change to my birth name makes it a girl's name, albeit one I'm not that crazy about. But when I bought something girly through the big online auction site, the package was addressed using the female name instead of my birth/legal name. That was almost as thrilling as what was inside. I just love being referred to as a girl, even if it's an accident and I can't say that I liked it. Of course it happens much more online because I always sign up as a girl if I possibly can.

Quote from: stldrmgrl on November 08, 2011, 01:22:49 PM
Given the reason stated by Alyssa Case as to why her transition is taking place (quoted below), if I were an endocrinologist I would absolutely not prescribe hormones to her.  Nothing against religion or God, or even the fact that she wants to transition, but from a medical point of view pertaining to the prescription of hormones, in my opinion, it in no way implies any true symptoms of GID.

Why would you consider her reasoning behind wanting to transition not symptomatic of GID?

As an atheist myself, I thought that her reasoning was certainly out of the ordinary for my experience and that of others on this board. However, being an historian I'm intimately aware of the different ways in which people express their wants or desires. Language like this (i.e. 'I have a calling from god.') is actually fairly common in western society. Particularly within Evangelical circles in the United States, even Ms. Bachmann professes a calling as her reason to run for president. Similarly, in Muslim culture, people express their desires/wishes/greetings as 'Oh Allah' or god willing. (Interestingly, a corruption of this phrase survives in the Spanish language as ójala, or I want/wish that.)

Perhaps we were a little too quick to judge?

Quote from: Guantanamera on November 08, 2011, 07:06:06 PM
Why would you consider her reasoning behind wanting to transition not symptomatic of GID?

As an atheist myself, I thought that her reasoning was certainly out of the ordinary for my experience and that of others on this board. However, being an historian I'm intimately aware of the different ways in which people express their wants or desires. Language like this (i.e. 'I have a calling from god.') is actually fairly common in western society. Particularly within Evangelical circles in the United States, even Ms. Bachmann professes a calling as her reason to run for president. Similarly, in Muslim culture, people express their desires/wishes/greetings as 'Oh Allah' or god willing. (Interestingly, a corruption of this phrase survives in the Spanish language as ójala, or I want/wish that.)

Perhaps we were a little too quick to judge?

I am not judging.  Let's back up, however.  Before speaking about an endocrinologist, let's discuss the therapist.  A therapist is to make the professional diagnosis of GID in us.  Without a sufficient transition plan and justification for desiring hormones (God told me to do it, unfortunately, in a professional medical point of view, does not suffice), I don't see a therapist even issuing the letter of recommendation.  However, assuming a therapist would actually have released the letter of recommendation for hormones, an endocrinologist still has the decision on his/her own to either accept the recommendation or deny it.  Just as easily someone can say that God called them to transition, they can recant that statement.  The ramifications to the therapist and endocrinologist, if the transitioning person decides to place blame based upon the fact they no longer feel called to transition, could make its way to the legal system and/or cause licenses to be revoked but most certainly reputations ruined.  This is the same "rule" relating to SRS; as we must live for a period of at least one year full-time and be on hormones for the same, along with letter(s) of recommendation for SRS.  Surgeons refuse to operate on anyone who does not abide by this, as their reputation, license and life are at stake if someone changes their mind after serious changes have already been implemented.  It is nothing against religion or God, it is about being sure of who you are, and I'm not convinced based upon what I've read.  This is not to suggest Alyssa Case is not transgender and does not suffer from GID, as I don't know.  It is to state that from a clinical point of view, without further explanation to suggest her meaning of "God told me to" in fact is implying something different, I would most certainly deny the request for hormones as an endocrinologist.  As a therapist, if the aforementioned sentence is true, I'd discuss further to see if there isn't something more.