@SleepyCatten

I'm older, and was raised sheltered in the Southern Baptist Convention.

I wish I knew that transition was possible and a normal thing. I had only heard a few outrageous stories about "sex change" operations. I had no idea that people like me actually existed and were living every day lives.

I realize this isn't going to break any eggs these days. 🤷‍♀️

@SleepyCatten I also wish I had known transition was an option. But even after that, I wish someone had told me that my transness wasn't internalized misogyny. I spent years agonizing and berating myself believing if I didn't hate women on some deep unknown secret hidden level then I'd want to be one, so I must somehow be broken and disgusting deep inside.

Turns out you can love women and also not be one 🤦‍♂️

@SleepyCatten
That transition was about more than bottom surgery, and in fact that it's not required.

That you don't have to be attracted to men in order to become a woman.

I wish someone had explained to me what dysphoria is, and how that was behind crippling self loathing and imposter syndrome I felt doing most things in life.

@SleepyCatten Here's a fairly simple one that could have made a world of difference:
Being lesbian is a thing.

A lot of confusion came from the fact that I felt like I should be a girl, but that I also liked girls but wasn't aware that being gay was a valid thing until I was older and already started suppressing my identity.

@SleepyCatten Just how okay non human/alter human/voidpunk/xenogender identities can be too.

It's hard to be honest with yourself if a major part of your gender identity gets constantly shunned by your own community.
And your transness as a whole is seen as a valid frustration release for trans people more binary than yourself.

I am so, SO, SOOO glad that has improved over the last years.

A heart goes out to all robot girls out there ,<3

@SleepyCatten

It’s not just you.

@SleepyCatten

You don't have to be absolutely sure what your gender identity is, to know you're not cis.

Some people are "born this way" and "just know" what their gender identity is, but it's also possible to choose what you are. You have the right to that choice.

@SleepyCatten

It is not strictly about figuring out I was not cis, but it is VERY much about early transition and problems related thereto:

Doctors generally should not be trusted. And not just the transphobic ones - in most places in the Western world, healthcare is set up to be gatekeepey and not to help trans people out.

You need to learn what to say and when, and not assume any given doctor is on your side until you have a good handle on them. Because, almost by the nature of their job, they are not.

@SleepyCatten Here are the two big ones that probably would have allowed me to hatch at least ten years earlier:

The feelings won’t go away if you repress them. In fact, as you get older, the dysphoria gets worse and you will eventually transition no matter how hard you try not to. So why not do it now and start living your life?

Some people only love you for the role you play (as a cishet person). They will abandon you when you come out. You will survive, and you deserve to be loved by people who love you as you are, not as the role they want you to play.

@SleepyCatten

some stuff that may be helpful:

nonbinary is more than just agender.

some people are both men and women.

you can consider yourself a mix of male and female, gay and straight, trans and cis, etc...

you don't have to use they/them.

it's ok if other people don't get it. you have a right to do what makes you happy. that's not up for debate.

#nonbinary #LGBT