The Trans Experience

We're well into June and Pride month and the topic of discussion for today in the LGBTQIA+ is none other than the "T" itself, transgender. Transgender as defined by google, "is someone whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth." As a feeling itself is where the definition of trans begins to blur and lose form. In the trans community itself there is a broader spectrum still of categories and descriptors that dictate what a person hopes to achieve or is undergoing. Mine for example MtF (Male to Female) is but one of many such as: FtM (Female to Male), TransMasc (Trans Masculine), TransFemme (Trans Feminine), more ambiguous ones like Gender Neutral where someone identifies as neither male nor female and even Gender Fluid wherein a person can identify as male, female, neither or both at the same time depending on how they feel. Those of us that fit into these and many more identities often seek a number of different methods to ultimately reach our goals we have set for our respective gender(s). One of the more common ways of doing so is by undergoing HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), a process that introduces hormones of the desired gender into the trans persons body to help them to start appearing more to what they want. Some also seek out gender affirming surgeries like breast reduction and augmentation, phalloplasty or vaginoplasty. Each of these is a lengthy series of consultations and appointments that can lead to a more satisfied sense of self. Actions of reaching one's desired gender identity can also be as simple as changing your outfit, pronouns (he/him, she/her, they/them, xe/xem and so on) or name to better match your end outcome. While this may sound overwhelming at the end of the day trans people are no different than anyone else you may meet, just humans with different experiences.