What It's Like Being Transgender
I'm a Trans Guy, and These Are the Questions People Always Ask Me
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I got really offended the first time someone asked me this question because I thought they were trying to suggest that my existence and who I am was worth regretting, but that definitely wasn't the case. The reality is that this question is very complicated.
Physically transitioning is a lifelong experience with certain characteristics that can be irreversible. There are health risks associated with testosterone, complications that can arise from a hysterectomy or mastectomy, the mental and emotional roller coaster that comes with hormone replacement therapy: to transition is to put yourself through a lot.
Sometimes the permanence of my transition can be overwhelming, but I think about how much happier and more confident I am since I started my transition, and that puts my decisions into perspective. I've never worried that I've made the wrong decision and I've never regretted my transition, but there have been "oh sh*t" moments that come with going through a second puberty. Dealing with a cracking voice and acne in my mid-20s definitely wasn't fun — but do I regret transitioning? Absolutely not. When I took those first steps into the Los Angeles LGBT Centre and determined that I wanted to start testosterone in 2013, that was day one of starting something that I would keep up with for the rest of my life.
Speak up, speak out, and educate yourself. We don't expect anyone to fight our battles for us, but it's always appreciated when an ally corrects someone's ignorance or speaks up when they hear transphobic speech.
While I have no problem providing these examples from my own life or answering these questions, sometimes the best thing you can do is educate yourself. If you've got a question, there are a ton of resources online that can provide you with more info, and you've taken that first step to become a better ally all on your own.
And, most of all, just treat us like you would treat anyone else. We're people, too.