I'm a trans guy and can definitely say that transitioning has improved my life way too much for words. I had very bad depression and suicidal thoughts as a teen. I didn't really understand why. It was the mid 90's and there wasn't much in the way of information as there is today. All I knew is that I didn't fit in with the girl and fit in better with the boys, but most of the time boys didn't want anything to do with me, not even as just friends. I hated my body. Again I couldn't put words to how or why I hated it, but I knew it wasn't right. I thought at first that it was just because I was overweight and visually impaired. In the spring of 2000 I was researching for a college paper and a friend of mine at the time mentioned wanting a sex change. It struck a cord with me and I had to make that my research paper. I needed to know more about this, not just because it struck a cord but because I wanted to understand what my friend was talking about. I tend to research stuff to death before I do anything. lol As soon as I started to read accounts, like the ones in the video, I realized that I had much of the same, feelings and experiences as the people telling their stories only I had the added fun of being disabled on top of the gender dysphoria. I started my transition in 2001. For a long while I was in limbo because at the time insurance didn't cover transgender care and I was and still am on disability so I can barely cover rent and utilities let alone medical care not covered by insurance. I fell into a deep depression again, which tanked my health. I was only doing the bare minimum to survive, which most days felt pointless. Then I got lucky, which is weird to say but it's true... I was starting to have periods even though I was on testosterone. I always had bad period pains and heavy flow, but this was way more than usual and was getting worse. My mom had issues like that at, a similar age and had to get a hysterectomy and it looked like I needed one too. So in June of 2013 I had my hysterectomy. One thing gone that gave me so much dysphoria. It was a few more years before a good share of insurances started to cover trans care. It was difficult to wait in limbo again, but it was a tiny bit better since the hysto. In 2016 my prayers were answered and I was able to get top surgery. I finally was feeling hopeful for the future for the first time. I'm working on getting lower surgery. I'm having to lose weight and lower my A1C before my surgeon will say yes to it. I was working on those for my overall health anyway. TDLR: Transitioning saved my life and improved my health and mental wellbeing.
As a gay man I am grateful that that is all I hv ever had to handle. My heart goes out to my trans brothers and sisters for the burden and social stigma they hv to endure.They are people and need to be viewed as such.
If my hair hadn't started to fall out I might never have discovered I was trans or non binary(more non binary I think). I was pretty happy living the way I was but once my hair started to thin I started having issues. Never really been super male. Sports didn't interest me. Working out at the gym never a thing. Never had muscles. In fact I was the complete opposite. I have always been weak when I comes to strength. In fact I looked like I could be strong but in actuality couldn't even lift something as light as 20kgs. I struggle moving heavy things. If I buy a flat pack like a bookcase I have to drag it across the floor, can't lift it. I always been that way. But if I was to wake up in a female body tomorrow morning it wouldn't bother me. Nearly 5 months now on hormone blockers and HRT. Breasts are starting to come along, moobs becoming boobs slowly but surely. Skin is super soft and smooth now and some of my body hair is starting to thin and lighter(mostly my hands, arms and back though it is on the early side). I used to be super hairy. Pity the same isn't true for facial hair, dreading electrolysis or how I am going to afford it the years of treatment. Hate shaving.
I support the transgendered but can't support transwomen in women sports. That crosses boundaries of common sense where sports have never been competitions of ideologies, but physical capacities
