FTM To Femme

[Natasha]

FTM To Femme

StoneWallNews.net
10/20/2008

"I have the word 'Paradox' tattooed onto my chest," reveals author and performer Sassafras Lowrey, who uses the gender-neutral pronouns ze and hir. The tattoo hints at the femme's complicated gender identity: "I came out as trans when I was 18 and lived as an FTM—including several years of being on testosterone."

"I knew that I wasn't a girl," Lowrey explains now. "And that I wanted to play
with gender. [But], I honestly thought the only option...involved adopting
masculinity. I came out into a community that was incredibly femme-phobic.
Femmes ...were considered to be less queer. I'd lost everything—family, home,
friends, community—to live an authentic life. Being culturally recognizable was
very important to me."