The Transgender Thread

[sick among the pure]

I came out to my mom last night. I think she took it ok, she was tired and said we'd talk about it more today. All I really got out of her is that she doesn't understand but she loves me, which is much better than I thought, but I also didn't get to mentioning starting T, or wanting to get my boobs chopped off asap. I feel like the physical transition will be the worst part for her.

[Hula]

I came out to my mom last night. I think she took it ok, she was tired and said we'd talk about it more today. All I really got out of her is that she doesn't understand but she loves me, which is much better than I thought, but I also didn't get to mentioning starting T, or wanting to get my boobs chopped off asap. I feel like the physical transition will be the worst part for her.

One thing I figured out when I came out to my mum is that it's important to lay out (at some point—take it as slowly as you think you need to, for her sake) exactly what being trans will actually mean for you in the long run. I told my mum I'm trans, and from the stuff she spouted about hating ~labels~ and thinking it's damaging to ~conform to gender roles~ I got the impression she didn't understand that I actually want a male body. It's a lot easier to discuss gender with her now in general, so that's the good that came of opening up about it in the first place, but I know that if/when I decide to medically transition, I'll probably have to sit her down and talk to her about it again. In-depth, this time.

Moral of the story: it might feel like you've cleared the air, but just make sure you do tell her what transitioning will ultimately consist of so that she can't delude herself into thinking this issue is less life-changing than it actually is.

[sick among the pure]

One thing I figured out when I came out to my mum is that it's important to lay out (at some point—take it as slowly as you think you need to, for her sake) exactly what being trans will actually mean for you in the long run. I told my mum I'm trans, and from the stuff she spouted about hating ~labels~ and thinking it's damaging to ~conform to gender roles~ I got the impression she didn't understand that I actually want a male body. It's a lot easier to discuss gender with her now in general, so that's the good that came of opening up about it in the first place, but I know that if/when I decide to medically transition, I'll probably have to sit her down and talk to her about it again. In-depth, this time.

Moral of the story: it might feel like you've cleared the air, but just make sure you do tell her what transitioning will ultimately consist of so that she can't delude herself into thinking this issue is less life-changing than it actually is.

I plan on it, once we get a chance to continue the conversation. Just saying that since we hadn't gotten to that yet, so I'm not out of the woods.