"I think I'm trans: what now?"

*You're not unusual, and you're not alone.*

Transgenderism comes in as many forms as there are people, and gender identity and presentation need never be prescribed by external groups. However, many people find that knowing other gender-variant people is useful in exploring their own identity and cultural ideas.

Transsexuality is similar: while many transsexual people identify and live as the 'opposite' gender to that assigned at birth, and may seek medical treatment to change their physical sex, they (like all people) can identify as any gender.

Support from knowledgeable and experienced transgender people can be invaluable: the 'trans meets' section outlines some support groups, and Internet discussions can also be very useful. Livejournal (LJ) is a resource containing groups and individual blogs that can be used for asking questions, holding discussions and exchanging peer support with complete anonymity. Most conversations are locked to group members, and many groups require a short email to a moderator asking for inclusion. This means that group conversations may seem sparse at first glance. I recommend starting with the groups transgender, which is international, and the Transgender UK group.

In addition, here is a huge list of trans-related Livejournal communities and external resources.

These are some groups and resources on non-binary gender identities:
A good introduction from GenderQueer Revolution, who also have an active Yahoo discussion group, and some other message boards and discussions here.

''I think I'm transsexual: what now?"

*You're not unusual, and you're not alone.*

Read the above on 'trans' first - the rest of this section will focus on medical treatments for dysphoria, and it is vital to also consider infinite gender variety and peer support.

Dysphoric feelings can be devastating, and they can also be helped and alleviated.

If you're considering transitioning, your GP can refer you to a gender identity clinic for counselling and further treatment.

(If your GP is not interested in assisting here, find another one. A supportive and understanding GP is essential, and unfortunately there is not yet a rule in place requiring an unsupportive GP to refer a person requiring help to a more supportive GP.)

Transitioning can include social changes and legal changes. A person's legal sex can be changed without any physical intervention at all: simply confirmation from doctors that they have lived as their identified gender for a certain period of time and intend to continue doing so for the rest of their life.

Physical transitioning can include any, all, or none of, treatment with hormones, surgeries, speech therapy, hair removal and so on. It should be emphasised that a person's transitioning process is set based on their personal preferances: for example, a huge number of transsexual people choose not to undergo genital surgery.

T-Vox (an excellent internet resource written by and for transgender people) has more information on transitioning here.

This PDF is the UK's guidelines on treatment for GID, written for clinicians, and is very much worth reading.

The Department of Health also has a number of resources on medical care and transsexual people.

GPs can also refer people for general NHS-based counselling. Privately, Pink Therapy has a directory of over 300 counsellors, many of whom are specialists in gender identity.

The trans reps are also very happy to listen and chat: email us to arrange a time! trans@cusu-lbgt.com

Copyright L Demtchenko, 2010. If reproducing elsewhere, please include credit and a link back.