Hey guys

Unfortunately I am not going to be able to afford my name change until September, which is right after school starts. Thus far I have been very fortunate to have understanding professors, which have called me by my preferred name and used male pronouns. I'm nearly 9 months on T, and I have been presenting as male at school and everyone knows me as such. Now that I am a Senior, my classes are more specialized, and smaller. They consist of about 10-20 students, and I know pretty much all of the Seniors in my division of study at school because of this.

This semester I have a very difficult professor. I have never met him PERSONALLY, but I have seen how he behaves around students, and he's a bit of a total douchebag. He's not helpful and he treats students as if they're inferior to him in every way imaginable.

I am worried to come out to him, and let him know the situation because he seems like the type that would completely disregard my feelings and demand me legally change my name before he refers to me by said name, and if he does refer to me by said name, who is to say that he will use the proper pronouns? I cannot afford to be outed in my school.

I live in a college town, and the school is the largest part OF the town. Me being outed will completely cause my transition to regress(at least to me).

This man is someone that I have never deemed as a trustworthy individual, and I was just wondering if there were rules that stated that professors HAD to accommodate LGBT students. If there isn't some sort of rule, then I definitely think this guy would disrespect me in front of my peers. He apparently has a knack for calling out his students in class due to emails they send if he deems them as "stupid questions".

If anyone could let me know, I would really appreciate it

I emailed my adviser this morning and asked if there was something that I could take as a replacement, because a buddy of mine got to, and we have the same adviser. In fact, the replacement sounds much more enthralling anyways. Animal Physiology seems null when compared to Marine Biology; especially when I have already taken A&P previously.

If he doesn't allow me to replace it though, is there something I can do if this man chooses to not respect my wishes?

Is this a state university? Does your state (or the state the school is in) have nondiscrimination of LBGT persons? They will have to accommodate if so. OTOH, there are people who are just difficult. A student dean might be helpful or the head of the dept?

---Jay Jay

It's in TN, there are no laws for trans people

There are LGBT clubs in the school though... idk if that helps. There's always parties for them and stuff.. I just don't go.

BUT on a happy note, my adviser just told me that I could substitute a course for it. He even joked about it and stated "OH, you're trying to get out of Animal Phys, eh? I have NEVER heard ANYONE wanting to do that before!  "

Marine biology is so awesome! If I could just start over again, it's what I would do. I would have to not live in the desert though.
Sounds like a great option to me.

--Jay Jay