Every so often, I like to step back a bit and discuss some of the bare basics of being trans. It is easy to go deep into the issues of the day, especially as we face political threats, anti-trans forces pushing back on trans identities, and so many other horrible things, and forget to spend some time discussing the fundamentals. With that in mind, I want to get about as foundational as one can and talk about how a person might come to the realization they are transgender in the first place.
First, my own story. I had a good sense of things from a very early age. At around 3 years old, I found myself wanting girls' shoes over boys' shoes. By the time I was 8, I had heard that people could transition and feared it was something I was a little too curious about. By age 12, I was pretty sure I was transgender.
It would still be a few years before I'd take any action on this. Resources were slim, and it took me nearly another decade before I had both the materials and support. I had, over that time, tried my best to fit into society as a man, and it felt like an utter falsehood. It wasn't me. If anything, it was a costume I had to wear and a game that I was forced to play.
So, I slowly dipped my toe in. I joined a local social group and met others. I started to explore online which, at the time, meant pioneering internet support groups and forums. I read everything I could get my hands on.
In my late 20s, I started my transition. It felt right — and it still does.
I'm not going to tell you that this trek has always been easy. On the contrary, it has often been a difficult path. I lost friends and family, suffered joblessness, and faced ridicule and scorn from all over.
I'd rather have not faced all the trials I experienced, but I also would never give up the person I am or "go back" to where I once was. As if going back would be an option in a world that travels, unceasingly, into the future.
While I can share my story, it is only one such tale. Everyone's path is different. I can tell you a few things to consider for yourself, but understand: none of these — not even all of these together — can definitively tell anyone that they are transgender. Only you can know that for yourself.
While I started to figure things out from a young age, not everyone does. Some do not have the resources to do so, or push their feelings deep, deep down. I spent some time bottling up my own feelings, but I have known others who were able to repress that much harder.
Questions to consider
I would suggest, first and foremost, that you examine why you may even question this about yourself. Where does your curiosity come from, and what is making you ponder this possibility in the first place?
Most, but not all, transgender people experience gender dysphoria. I certainly did. Do you feel that you fit in within your expected gender roles, and does doing so cause you discomfort or pain? Does it feel like a lie, or cause you dread? How would you react if someone accidentally referred to you in a different gender?
For myself, as a child, I often found myself praying that I might wake up the next day in a different gender. I would sometimes dress in clothing I had filched while at home alone. I would also attempt to fit in with other girls at school when I could. Maybe you had similar experiences — but again, you don't necessarily have had to.
Furthermore, while puberty is a confusing and awkward time for nearly everyone, it was soul crushing for me. After years of hoping, even expecting, my body to finally feminize, it went in entirely the wrong direction. It was a time full of sadness and anger, as I felt betrayed like never before by my own physical form.
So, what to do about all this?
If you do have an inkling that you may be transgender, find resources. The internet is a wealth of information and, while some sites are good, you have to pay attention to those that are transphobic or otherwise potentially harmful. Read enough of them and you will likely be able to separate the two. It's the same with books. There's more than you could likely ever read. While I would highly recommend "Trans Bodies, Trans Selves"
as two great resources, there are many, many others.
What's more, find support. There are plenty of support groups online and there are therapists who can help you talk through things. It can be invaluable to discuss your feelings and decide what, if anything, you wish to do.
If I could give one big piece of advice, it's this: do not be afraid to explore, in as safe a manner as you can. Do not feel you need to be locked into one way of being trans, or that you have to do anything specific to be "really trans." You have a virtual panoply of options to explore: countless gender possibilities and even more ways one might wish to express them. You can change directions at any time, and try something else if you wish.
No matter what, understand this: your feelings are valid. The world is yours.
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