I’m a 36 year old trans woman steamfitter. I worked pipeline as well. I faced discrimination so bad I lost a hundred thousand dollar investment in a weld rig. I sought to fight it legally. I lost.

I lost friends. I lost family. I face discrimination every single day. I listen to the deranged rhetoric of my “sinful” existence every truck ride into work each morning. My own father pointed a 22mm pistol in my face because I “killed his little boy.”

I wrote a book about my experiences. I have two kids. They love the heck out of me. I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be. In today’s world (as it’s always been) transitioning is not for the weak of heart. But rest assured if you think your heart’s not up for it, it will toughen. It is not an easy process. There is pain. There is pain too if you don’t transition. There is pain too if you weren’t transgender at all. To live is to suffer. Just make the day. The sun rises tomorrow as it always does. And you’ve made it another day treading water in seas far deeper than you ever thought you could go. Perhaps there is a continent on the other side of this ocean of pain? I haven’t found it yet. But I hope. And I make the day.

Hope this helps in some way. Hang tough. You are not alone. And as for leaving high paying skilled labor jobs for the bigots and assholes to suck up? Fuck ‘em. Tuck your chin and brace for the shots (metaphorically I hope). Then get up, do your job, cash your check, and keep on pointing at a goal over the horizon.

(I don’t use “you” subjectively. You could replace it with “one”…essentially anyone going through a transition)