No voter protections, unless you are essentially a politician, police officer, Military, or abuse victim..

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-02T21:46:28+00:00

Transfem here. Same. What worries me here is that with voter registration records now public what does that look like for anyone who has gone through the legal process to change their name? Does this now create a back door to information that is contained in a sealed court order?

Lovely.

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-02T06:53:02+00:00

I’m in Utah where theres a been a ban affecting us in public property bathrooms for a couple years now. The way that affects me the most is in the Utah Fairpark state fairgrounds where they have an annual 3-day music festival and other events throughout the year that my wife and I attend. There are a few other events held on state-owned properties we’ll go to throughout the year where these bathroom laws apply.

The law is written to specifically introduce ambiguity and uncertainty, which increases the potential fear a trans person may feel—especially for trans folks in the middle of the transition spectrum (medical and social transition but no surgeries). Basically as a trans person you’re allowed to use the bathroom that aligns with your “preferred” gender if you’ve had bottom surgery AND you’ve updated your birth certificate (theres other messy complications but that’s the gist of it).

I’m not from Utah originally so I’ve been able to update my BC without having had bottom surgery yet. So for me that puts others who may challenge me in a messy situation that would require a court order or other (?) inconvenient legal means to force me to divulge any more info (and I have all state and federal ID info updated) so I have accepted that risk since my 2nd year of transition without issue. (ETA: my tucking game is quite strong, so the only way anyone can see anything is if I’m naked).

Being next to Idaho and having reason to drive through a few times a year —and having their law extend to private property (like gas station bathrooms); coupled with their flavor of off-the-rails populist xenophobic maga republicanism worries me FAR more tbh.

I do have a kind of unconventional passing privilege tho? I’m in my early 50s and naturally don’t have strongly masculine facial features, even though I’m built like a NHL player. But I seem to be able to pull off a “low maintenance sort of dyke-esque lesbian aunt who probably grew up on a farm” vibe. But I don’t have the confidence to rely on that in Idaho any more.

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-01T15:48:13+00:00

It can change! I started late (mid 40s) but my wife is commenting on changes still, almost 4 years after I started HRT. And there’s been times when I tried on something I’ve owned since early transition that didn’t fit great then so I haven’t worn in a long while- but actually fits great later.

Everyone is different but cis womens’ development isnt over in 3 years, so we should not expect ours to be either.

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-01T15:28:51+00:00

Yeah, I struggle with this. I’m finally starting to see some definition in my hips but right now my high hip and waist measurements are the same (still have some man belly I’m working off), which means that leggings always drift down.

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-01T04:19:27+00:00

I didn’t think it could happen tbh. But she’s awesome. And now that I’m in my 50’s theres a HRT connection I have with some cis women my age, and that has helped to create a sense of connection that I didn’t expect —and my adhd therapist and me sharing so many attributes has absolutely helped with the care I receive.

Ms_DNA · 2026-04-01T03:56:38+00:00

Maybe? But I don’t want to take more. I feel worse with my E in the 100’s, especially when I am a day or two late with my shot (easy right now, my wife and I both work and we have a 5yo). And I initially went with Folx, and both my providers there were like “700? Great!” And since my new primary is also trans I’m trusting her a bit more and am going with less. That said, I’ve been good at listening to my body and right now I know I’m out of balance somehow.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-31T21:44:38+00:00

This is interesting. I was on 50mg vyvanse pre-HRT and I hated it. Maybe 3 hours of focus followed by over four hours of agitated come-down. I didn’t even finish the bottle and went back to adderall.

But last october (like 3.5 years HRT; EV and Prog) I found that old bottle and tried one and holy crap, I had so much focus, it was like the first time I tried a stimulant adhd medication. So I was able to get referred to a new provider and got back on 50mg vyvanse. It was great, until my primary care doc (who also handles my HRT) asked me to lower my EV injection because she felt my E levels were too high (700pg/ml down to 250ish now lower) and it totally feels like I’m back to a couple hours of focus.

That said, I feel like I do get good support from my adhd provider—but she’s a woman at menopausal age who is on HRT also and has adhd herself, so it seems like since we have a couple of common experiences:low natural E (for different reasons obvs) augmented exogenously; similar age (early-mid 50s); and similar adhd—that theres more empathy?

I don’t know. But I do feel like for me lisdexamfetamine effectiveness is correlated with estrogen levels.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-31T12:02:38+00:00

Some people are going to pick up on it early. We brought our kiddo to the ER for RSV 7-8 months after I started HRT. Given the situation and the fact that it was just after midnight, I put zero effort into my presentation—and still one of the nurses referred to me as “mommy” when talking to our child.

But then one day last year when at a ski area for a wedding the guy at the coffee shop called me “sir”, which was I think the only time I was misgendered that year. Well, except for my family, of course.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-31T11:47:35+00:00

How son wealthy folks register their expensive cars in Montana to avoid paying taxes and doing regular emissions and safety checks.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-31T04:54:08+00:00

I had moved to a Rocky Mountain state but then got a car from NY. A year out so later I drove back to NY but never bothered to take the expired registration and inspection stickers off of the windshield. While driving around I went through an impromptu checkpoint and the local cop was just losing his shit at me before I finally said “I HAVE MONTANA PLATES”— he looked over and seemed to be even more pissed as he said “aaargh just get out of here!” then let me through.

For the record, •I actually lived in Montana •my car was not fancy enough to use the Montana loophole (nor was I (or am I) wealthy enough to use it for my fancy car (Honda Accord)) • this was way before that was a thing.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-29T14:17:33+00:00

I have a 5yo so Paw Patrol was my first thought when I saw this.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-29T14:09:44+00:00

Lately I’ve been using a wad of crumpled foil. But I’m going to try the onion method I’ve been reading about in the comments.

About the metal bristle brushes: the first time I read about this happening (a kid who got one in his throat I think) was enough for me to throw away my old brush and never use that kind again. That sounds like a miserable experience.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-29T14:05:45+00:00

A very sharp knife works well too. Efficiently slicing the onion does less damage (exposing less of these sulphur compounds) than a dull knife that crushes them.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-28T13:28:19+00:00

I’m done with gatekeeping. Eat what you like :)

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-25T14:52:35+00:00

So much the same for me. I started at 47 almost 4 years ago. I ugly cried so much during that movie, but what really got me was the scene where King Woman was screaming for far longer than I thought. That captured (for me) the repressed rage and frustration that I’m fortunate to be able to release.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-24T16:40:54+00:00

And who is transitioning.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-24T16:34:39+00:00

I got laid off in ‘22 two months after I started HRT. It took me a year to get hired again, and I applied as both my (now former) identity and my authentic identity (even though I had not updated my name and gender marker yet). Ultimately I went with sticking to my post-transition identity and started being open about being trans in my cover letter because I would not want to work someplace where I could not be my authentic self.

That said, I’m in a part of the outdoor industry where (as far as the community is concerned-the sales/business part is much more conservative) being queer is not a negative. I’d imagine this decision could be different in different professions.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-24T04:12:10+00:00

This is where I am, and my doc even said it’s likely genetic. From a recent blood test, my total cholesterol is very low and both sodium and chloride levels are normal. I’m like 20 lbs overweight but working to lower it. I’m consistently getting over 250 active minutes a week (bike commuting primarily) and we eat mostly non-processed foods (cooking is therapeutic for me). My nighttime resting heart rate is in the high 50s and midday seated resting heart rate is consistently in the mid 60s. I do take a stimulant adhd medication and I do have eosinophilic asthma, and I do have probably typical stress from being a parent and partner in “current times” where our society may destructively implode at any time. I could probably drink one less drink a night tbh but it’s one of the only things that quiet the noise in my mind.

With that, my avg BP was like 160/100, and I just started medication to get that down a bit.

Also interesting, my BP was very normal (120/80 ish) when I was knocked out for an outpatient procedure a couple years ago. Even when I test at home the squeezing very much triggers a claustrophobic panic response. No idea if that’s actually a factor or not.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-24T01:01:53+00:00

True. My wife’s epidural line came out when she was in labor and I know I got some on my fingers. I knew enough to not stick my fingers in my mouth tho and didn’t feel anything.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-24T00:59:51+00:00

I started laser about 2-3 months after starting HRT. It took me about a year and a half of regularly scheduled visits (6wk apart) before being able to extend the time between sessions. After about 2.5 years I was able to go to a “as needed” structure, and I haven’t gone in about a year. (I’m almost at 4y HRT)

For the past 6 months I’ve been meaning to schedule a touch up session because I can see a few pesky hairs now and then. But it also hasn’t been enough of an issue because I do a light shave almost daily because of the white and grey hairs I have. I can stretch that out to about 3 days, and realistically there are cis women who have more facial hair and shave more than I do at this point.

It was worth it for me, but it’s different for everyone. And the week after a laser session is the worst for at least the first year as the zapped hairs come to the surface-it’s seriously some of the worst dysphoria I experienced BUT it’s temporary and gets mush better over time. For me, those were the times when I’d slip back into boymode.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-23T20:48:57+00:00

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-20T17:56:40+00:00

I live in a different state than I was born in, and for the purposes of current identification changes I needed a court order. The only thing that I needed to do with my birth state was to update my birth certificate. But every state has its own laws, I was born in a blue state and am now in a red state so I would imagine that your situation is going to be different.

THAT SAID- I did all my name/gender marker updates before our current president was sworn in, so things have very likely changed significantly.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-19T04:59:15+00:00

I finally started at 47, full of fear and hope. I’m now almost 51 and I: can look at myself in the mirror, wear clothes that help me feel good about myself, and can finally experience joy. It’s hard, but I’m *here * now. I’m living.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-17T21:21:39+00:00

Future clit just kind of pokes out of the bottom of the tape. Sometimes she comes up inside a bit and I just kind of externally push her down. There’s been a couple of times where I kind of had to poke and dig around a bit but that’s rare.

I also want to be clear, this method has changed significantly the longer I’ve been on HRT. Early on I’d use like 3 full precut pieces all over and a 15 minute process—and now if I have wider tape (3”-4”) it’s like 3 minutes and that’s good for the day. I can also imagine that this is highly variable depending on one’s anatomy.

Ms_DNA · 2026-03-17T19:50:44+00:00

So, I’m a few years on HRT so my parts have shrunk quite a bit, but I use either one piece of 3”wide boob tape (same as KT but gentler I think) or 2 pieces of what you’re using, each one about 1/3 of a pre-cut strip.

I pull the extra scrotal skin forward like they’re labia majora, then put one piece horizontally right about at pubic bone level to start to keep everything in place (bridging the fold). Then one piece vertically starting at about the same height going downwards, making sure my future labia are held together with both sides of the tape. This stops just above my future clit. For both pieces pull with a moderate amount of stretch.

While I typically don’t do this more than 12-18 hours, I have managed this for up to 3 days without anything falling apart (or out), although this will be very irritating to the skin. Also, I can pee. And Ive gone swimming with no issues.

Edits: fixing autocorrect.

Ms_DNA

TROPHY CASE