Dearest reader,
You are long overdue for a status update on me, my blog, and my life. For those who still read blogs (I’ve been told kids these days do not), this one has been underwhelming for the past year.
The big news is:
I moved to Boston and started a PhD program.
Most details have already been shared with my supporters on Patreon, and I’ve made most posts public so you can all catch up.
In short, I moved my spouse and my dog and my books and my puzzles across the country from San Francisco (where I had been for eight years – in the same apartment!). We’ve been here six weeks and, while still adjusting, are extremely happy with this change.
Eight years ago…
I officially discovered the world of trans health around the summer of 2010. I started this blog in February 2011 to document my top surgery. It quickly snowballed into a journal for the rest of my transition, and then into a life of conferences, research, projects, people, press, advocacy.
The site was rebranded to genderqueer.me and became a popular resource platform for nonbinary identities and transition. I met a lot of interesting, fun, different, nerdy, weird, and awesome people. I edited an anthology of nonbinary memoirs that is slated to come out next summer!
I still get a handful of questions via email, I still read a ton of articles (just don’t share much on social media anymore), and I’m still involved in trans health in the form of research, conferences, presentations, and consulting. But for the most part I’ve been trying to step away and focus on other parts of my life.
There are always dozens of blog post ideas in my drafts folder, in bullet-point lists, in unfinished conversations, in my head. There is still much to write about.
If someone is interested in putting in the time and energy and effort to continue this work, let’s talk. Because I would love for this platform to live up to its potential. I am happy to help manage it and make it glow.
This is not a goodbye, just a pause, for now.
Colorfully yours,
Micah
Highlights
Just because I haven’t written anything new lately doesn’t mean this site isn’t full of wonderfully useful gems. Here’s a few that might be worth revisiting.
Featured Voices – a series that highlights the diversity of nonbinary lived experiences. Since its launch in Jan 2016, over 50 posts from guest authors have been published! From long-time bloggers to first-time writers, deeply personal or broader social critiques, the submissions have spanned a swath of themes, ages, countries, genders, relationships, content, style, and experiences.
Patients & Providers – a series that connects providers to patients’ need for both competent and compassionate medical understanding of transgender health. Since its start in June 2017, it has been published with the help of my friend, trans health educator and patient advocate, Charlie.
Transition Resources – a list of informational articles I’ve written about various facets of nonbinary transition.
Nonbinary Transition Workshop – slides and a recording of the workshop I’ve given at trans conferences.
Nonbinary Youth Workshop – the (older) presentation on youth.
Workshops and Presentations – for now, just a few of the sessions I’ve presented at conferences. Hopefully more to come later.
My Patreon page – where you can support the work I’m still doing, despite saying I’m not doing any work.
genderqueer.me 
Congratulations on starting your PhD! Boston is a lovely place to live. (I’m also working on my PhD here!)
Thank you! It feels like everyone here is working on their PhD… 😛
Hi Micah, I am a breast cancer patient advocate and flat. You’re FTM top surgery is beautiful. I would love to put your surgeon’s name on a list of great surgeons taking women flat after mastectomy. Right now so many are being left in horrible states by surgeons just tolerating a patient’s choice to be breastless. RR
Thank you! My surgeon was Dr Steinwald. Not a lot of options back then – today there are lots of plastic surgeons giving (quality and compassionate) care for trans and cis patients alike.
Hey, don’t know if you still check up here or if this would be weird for you to hear, but I used your top surgery pics as reference for my own surgery. Around 9 months post-op now. Love the blog even if you haven’t updated. Peace out
This is amazing! I’m coming up on 10 years post-op, incredible to think my (very embarrassing) pics are still useful 😛
I just wanna let you know I found you through like, 2 hours of digging through articles and tangents – we’ve all been there before with our identity, I was looking into the mechanics of a certain surgery- I don’t normally read blogs- mostly because I don’t have the time to read anything anymore (I’m a book worm), but I’m definitely going to be making it a habit to keep up on your story here ^ ^
Is there a forum forum for older (65+)non-binary folks who have not come out and need to connect to the LGBTQ community to make friends? I have raised my family as a cisgender woman and now find myself living alone and terribly disconnected emotionally, depressed and unable to reveal my identity to my family. I would like to talk with others in similar situations for moral support.
Is there a forum for non-binary folk age 65+ who have not come out and need to connect to the LGBTQ community for moral support and friendship? My family knows me as a cisgender woman and I now find myself living alone without other non-binary folks to talk to.
Hi Linda! I’m so sorry you’re in a situation where you’re closeted around your family AND have to bear the weight of living alone. That sounds like a unique hell. If you ever need emotional support from another but much younger non-binary person, I can give you my email and we can go from there. ❤
I also found what looks like a good non-binary forum from the site Transgender Pulse. (It unfortunately isn’t specific to older people, but it is specific to non-binary people.) I haven’t been on Transgender Pulse, but it looks like it’s run by trans and non-binary people. This is it: https://www.transgenderpulse.com/forums/index.php?/forum/118-non-binary-and-gender-non-conforming-support-forum/
I also know that in some cases, there are support websites for 65+ transfeminine people, but a few of them may use older language that might make some people uncomfortable.
Do you also know if there are LGBTQIA+ centers in your community? Meeting people in-person might be a great way to start too! 🙂
P.S: As a very young non-binary person, it makes me extremely happy to know that there are older enbies out there. While you may be just coming to your identity, you give me hope that people like us can live a good long time. Thank you for being here. You’re treasured! ❤