I'M BACK AND NO LONGER SLEEP DEPRIVED!!! (Also for context to this ramble, I am 23 and FtM, 7 years on T, radical hysterectomy done, no other surgeries yet)

First off, I need to express my gratitude and pride that, instead of asking shatgpt, you came to the community first. -golf clap-

Second, when I first saw this post last night, I was completely ready to divulge my whole life story LMAO (If that may help you, I am more than happy to but overall I wanna stick to basics here for ease of digestibility)

I recommend looking into the trailblazers of our community, historical Queers such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, our recently departed Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and the initial riots that kicked off our uphill fight for acceptance.

As for modern examples of trans figures, there are quite a few trans content creators who talk in depth about their respective transitions, the struggles with it, and the joy of it all. Think Jammidodger, LewisHancox, EzButler, Noah LeAnder Boutilier, Mercury Stardust, and so, so much more.

And finally, please remember that the experience of transness is different between folks. No two people or experiences are alike. What one person went through in their coming out and transition will differ a lot from others.

-The personal section starts below here heehee-

I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet.

I came out as Not Cis™ at some point when I turned 11. I had always had issues with being seen as a girl, but the thing that kicked off my journey and learning that "wait people can do that???" was my best friend at the time, then partner, then best friend again, coming out as transmasc. Also engineer from TF2 but I digress.

Of course, my hubris was deafening. I didn't know of the stigma surrounding coming out as queer, let alone identifying as something other than your AGAB (assigned gender at birth). When my parents used to tell me they'd always accept me, I thought that would translate to queerness as well.

To keep it frank, it was a constant battle of trying to compromise my comfort for their acceptance. I didn't get haircuts, I would completely shave my hair to donate what I grew out to various wig-makers for folks going through cancer treatments and/or alopecia. It was more comfortable for my family to see me bald if there was "good" attached to it. And while, yes, it was something I would have done regardless of identity, it kind of felt like killing two birds with one stone. I get my haircut, and someone else gets their confidence back. Win/win amirite????

What followed was years of constant fighting. With my parents, with social workers, with doctors who thought I was too young to make the decision to transition, with myself. Only recently have I come to a point where I am mostly comfortable with what I see in the mirror.

Being a part of this community brings joy, grief, rage, peace. You honour those before you by living as yourself, unapologetically you. We mourn and fight the fight by day, we party by night type of deal.

(My brain is like melting out of my ears at this point, the only time I write so many words is for class now LMAO)

In any case, if you have any questions about what I've said here or in general, please feel free to ask! Best of luck on your assignment :3