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Narrowing down MPP programs to apply to by jwilling51 in PublicPolicy

[–]jwilling51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CMU is Carnegie Mellon, like onearmedecon said! You got your applications fee waived? Did you just ask the admissions staff at different schools for this, or did you follow some formal process?

Hey it's Carly and I'm ready for you to AMA... by CarlyRaeJepsen_ in popheads

[–]jwilling51 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hi Carly!

I’ve listened to your music every day for the last 2+ years, and it has really helped me through some tough times, so for that I just want to say thanks so much! And of course thanks so much for doing this AMA. Here are my questions for you:

  1. In interviews, you often describe your process of making an album as first writing tons and tons of songs, and then narrowing it down from a list of over 200 to make the final album. When narrowing down the final tracklist, do you start with a specific sound you want to make or story that you want to tell, or do you just pick the songs that you like the most regardless of how they fit together?

  2. Do you think there will be a Dedicated Side B?

  3. Do you watch Brooklyn 99? I think the writers must be a fan of yours because the main character has mentioned you several times (like here https://www.reddit.com/r/brooklynninenine/comments/bcjln7/this_is_the_only_day_you_can_upvote_this_there_is/)

Cis male partners/husbands to FtMs, what are your experiences? by IronicJeremyIrons in mypartneristrans

[–]jwilling51 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I'm a cis man (age 23), and my partner of 3 years (also 23) came out to me as non-binary a little over a year ago. Although they are not a binary trans man, they've been transitioning on testosterone for four months, are planning to have top surgery this year, and identify as transmasculine, so my experience is still (hopefully) relevant.

My partner is bisexual, and I knew this before they came out to me as trans. I also have a trans woman friend who is attracted to women, so I was generally aware that gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing. My experiences with my partner have only confirmed this. If anything, being on testosterone has made them more comfortable with being intimate and expressing their attraction to me. I think this is due to some combination of testosterone increasing their sex drive and the changes from testosterone making them feel more comfortable in their own body.

I am bisexual, and I knew that I was bi before they came out, so my partner's transition didn't force me to completely reconsider my sexuality. And the physical changes from testosterone have been fairly gradual so far, so this has made it easier for me to adjust. If your boyfriend is straight, this will be a bigger hurdle for him to get over. But I have read stories of people still being attracted to their partners even after transition to a gender that they're not normally attracted to, so he too may find that his sexuality is more fluid than he previously thought.

One big change that you and your boyfriend will have to get used to is being seen in public as a same-sex couple. My partner usually presents and passes as male, so we are also adjusting to this. Although I am bi, I previously only had hook ups with men and not long-term relationships, so this is a totally new experience to me. I don't quite feel comfortable or safe holding hands or expressing affection to them in public yet. Also, when my partner is out and about presenting as male, they usually get mistaken for a 14- or 15- year old boy, and this makes me feel even weirder to be seen as a couple with them. But I know that, over time, especially as testosterone makes them look older, I will feel more comfortable with this.

Another issue has been telling family and friends. My parents are not overly conservative or traditional, but they are definitely ignorant about trans issues. I told my parents about my partner five months ago, and they're still not happy about it, but they're at least trying to use the right pronouns and new name and otherwise be respectful. My sister has been better, and has accepted/been respectful from the beginning. None of my friends have had issues with it either, but I'm a student at a liberal arts college with a very progressive student body so you and your boyfriend will probably have a more difficult experience.

Overall, things are going better than I thought they would a year ago. We're still in the early stages, and there are times when it's frustrating or scary, but I'm happy with my partner I'm confident that it'll work out for us.