Switching Switching jobs (or schools or towns) is probably the best opportunity one gets to make any sort of big change, especially something like name and pronouns. I’ll admit it was relatively easy, though not quite straightforward. A few people at my new job had already met me a year prior, and were introduced to me with my old name and old pronouns. On top … Continue reading Slip and Switch
Transition is a unique path each transgender person takes. Then Historically, it was assumed that there was a prescribed path to transition; that each person had to jump through certain hoops in a specified sequence, in order to first “qualify” as being truly transgender, and then actually be “allowed” to transition. Each step was strictly laid out, and any deviations – whether external or internal … Continue reading The Road Less Traveled By
Remaining stealth is important to many bloggers for a variety of reasons, and I frequently refer to my inclination for semi-anonymity. But lately it has become increasingly difficult to keep all of my identities in check, neatly compartmentalized and perpendicularly aligned, as my lives intersect in many ways. Whenever I have to give out my “real” name to someone – by “real” I usually mean … Continue reading Orange Red, Red Orange: Intersecting Identities
Last summer I sent an email to the Transgender Law Center and asked for referrals to a trans-friendly immigration lawyer in San Francisco. The lawyer I met with was very perceptive, super LGBT friendly. (It is always very affirming to walk into a place and not be afraid of being completely honest, and moreover be respected for who you are.) Mexico I was born in … Continue reading Legal Gender Change, the International Version
What I find fascinating is that, when presented with missing information, given a lack of evidence, or even evidence to the contrary, people desperately cling to their initial assumptions. And nothing is more unshakeable than the gender assumption. Rarely have people corrected themselves (at least in front of me) from making what they deemd was an “erroneous” gender assumption. And when they do, it is … Continue reading Illusions
If you’re smart, you’ll notice that the title of the post says 4.5 months, even though it has been 5 months since I started T. Shortly after the last update – which marked my 3 month milestone – I stopped T for 2 weeks. Freak Out I was on vacation at the beach, where there was no point in putting on cream. Which also means … Continue reading Testosterone: 4.5 Months
A Story “Does your school have a band you can play in?” asked my unsuspecting drum teacher. I’ve been taking drum lessons for nearly a year now (though I’ve been drumming for much longer). “I don’t go to school.” My specialty is to give cryptic yet truthful answers. It drives most people nuts. “Are you going to be on school break soon?” he asked another … Continue reading Assumptions
Non-Binary Transition Presentation Success! Aside from not being able to plug in my computer for the colorful presentation I had prepared – which also meant my notes were a bit thrown off – it went rather smoothly I think. Overall turnout exceeded my expectations; I estimate there were 60-100 people (it’s really hard to tell, but the crowd was sizable, and not the empty room … Continue reading Philadelphia Trans Health Conference 2012, Post-Op
First Exactly three years, I started my first real job. Right at the very same time I started binding. The problem was that this job was in New York, and I lived in Philadelphia, which is a two hour commute on the bus. Each way. Binding is a real pain when you’re sitting on the bus for 2 hours, but I would do it because … Continue reading Transitioning At Work
My company moved offices about a month ago. At the old office, we had an open space, which was getting very crowded. Then we got acquired by a huge corporation, and our lease ran out. Off to cozy up to the corporate headquarters, where I get my very own cube and officially join the ranks of the corporate drones. At the old office, I was … Continue reading The Bathroom Issue
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