SOCIAL TRANSITIONINGSocial transitioning means letting others know your true gender and beginning to live your life that way. Not everyone chooses to transition, but those who do should know that it's a process that takes time, and everyone's timeframe and approach is different. But where to start? The resources on this page will help you manage your journey.
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Changing Your NameYou've chosen your preferred name, one that matches your identity. That's an exciting and validating step, but it will probably take the people who've known you for years a while to adjust to your new name. If someone slips up, keep reminding them.
You have the right to be addressed by your preferred name and gender in school. If you haven't legally changed your name yet, you might show up on your teachers' rosters as your birth name. Some schools ask your preferred name at registration, and some schools have a name change process, but it might be worthwhile to contact your teachers or the principal and let them know what you'd like to be called. Schools have different systems and ways of handling records -- page 20 of this booklet from the NEA offers advice for schools to take care of your name change. At the same time as you begin using your preferred name, you will probably begin using your preferred pronoun, whether it is in forms of "he," "she," or a non-binary pronoun such as "they." As with your name, you might have to remind people of your preferred pronoun. Legal Name ChangeWhen you're ready to legally change your name and get ID with your gender identity, there's definitely going to be a lot of paperwork. These links can help you sort through it all. If you face legal challenges along the way, there are resources here for that, too.
The National Center for Transgender Equality has great information about changing your gender on your Social Security records, and answers a lot of questions you might have about that process. The same site also offers information and links for all states to help you change your name and gender on your driver's license and other documents. For legal assistance, including legal assistance for changing your name, check out the Transgender Legal Defense Fund's Name Change Project, which offers free legal help in a handful of counties around the United States. |
Changing your AppearanceTransitioning socially might include making surface changes to your clothing style or hair to more accurately express your gender. There are also other non-medical approaches to changing the appearance of your body. For example, binding, or flattening the breast tissue, can create a more male-looking chest. Although binding is not a medical procedure, it is important to do it safely so you don't end up injured.
Hudson's FTM Resource Guide has tons of great information about safe binding methods. Likewise, tucking, or concealing the male genitalia so that it is not visible through clothing, also requires safe methods. The Transgender Teen Survival Guide has a lot of information for transgender teens, including transmasculine resources and transfeminine resources for changing your appearance. Finally, to learn more about changing your appearance safely, the Guardian has an article that gives some links to trans specific underwear lines for tucking and binding, plus more. |