[Ali_C]

Have a great trip everyone. Lots of fun and frolicking xx

[Ali_C]

And we all need to be what we will be…..there is no changing what is inside us.
I love what you have written here Emma and think we should all follow in your foot steps. There is no point worrying about what other people think. Like you, I have never had a negative comment about the way I present, and I have been dressing for the last 7 years. At first it was difficult to go out, but the more you do it the easier it gets. It now feels wrong for me when I don’t dress.
Thank you for your thoughts and please let me know when you get the Facebook group up abundant running. I am very interested in that as mos5 of the groups are from OS, and a lot of the content does not apply.

[Ali_C]

I couldn’t agree more with this. What makes it easier for ins person to lift the seat than for someone else to put it down. The whole arguement is rediculous. Whoever left there graffiti on the sign definitely did not think it through.

[Ali_C]

Hi Sanrina, I doubt if a GP would prescribe hormones for you, they are more likely to refer you to an endocrinologist for treatment as they know what to expect from the HRT in transgender women. Even so, your GP may not reaper you unless you have send a phsycologist to find out if that is really what is required. This is the path which I took before starting on HRT. I saw a physcologist in Wollongong who after about 6 months gave me a letter saying that she believed I was transgender. I took the letter to my GP who then gave me the referral to the endo. The endo started me on HRT on my first visit. HRT should only be carried out under a doctor who knows what they are doing, self treatment is not an option.
To achieve the results you are after, I think HRT is really the only option.
If you would like the names of the phsycologist and endo who treat me just let me know.
Best of luck with your journey,
Ali

[Ali_C]

Hi everyone, I understand th fears and dreams that come as part of our life. I decided a few years ago that I wasn’t going to let lthem rule me anymore and now the same only place I don’t dress as Ali is at work. At work there is little point as I have to wear hi vis long shirts and trousers them and steel cap boots. I haven’t bothered at work as there seems to be little point. I have come out to some of my work colleagues and they have accepted it and been very supportive. To the rest of I guess I am the weirdo with the long hair in a ponytail, bright nail polish and ear rings. They probably wonder but not many of them ask. If they do, I tell them that I am transgender and the conversation usually ends. I don’t make excuses for it anymore, the way that I used to. At home, or anywhere else for that matter, I always dress as Ali. Some people the outfits are very feminine and some it’s hard to tell. I dress to suit the situation. My parents in law, don’t really accept it, but I want not hide it from them. I just tone down the dress to suit. As for everyone else in the small country town where I live, I have had nothing but support. The guys don’t talk much, which is typical anyway, and all the ladies are supportive and friendly. When i used to go to the local supermarkets, no one would talk to me, now I am stopped nearly every time for a chat. My local doctor is another example, she moved to the area earlier this year and has always been very interested in what was going on for me. My wife started seeing her a couple of months ago as well, and now when she goes to the doctor, I am always asked about. I am thankfully pretty healthy so I don’t go very often myself. My wife told me the other day that I should go to her just so she will stop asking about me.
My advice to anyone who reads this is to go for it. Put your fears away and be yourself. I think that’s why I am now accepted in a way that I never was before. In my previous existence I was very quiet and reserved, now I believe I am much more open. People can see this and they treat you accordingly. I have never had any of issues with acceptance, although I do admit that I won’t frequent places which are likely to an issue (pubs etc).

[Ali_C]

Thanks for posting this Brigette. It’s always nice to read a positive story like this one

[Ali_C]

I tend to do everything frocked up these days apart from going to work. Driving or anything else is no longer an issue, although I used to be petrified of being pulled over or anything else happening. Now, it doesn’t bother me, I’m not hurting anyone if they have an issue with the way I dress then its their problem, not mine. On another note I was pulled up on the way home from work a couple of weeks ago by the police for a breath test. As I had been at work, I was wearing a hi-vis shirt (definitely male) as I work in industry. The policeman asked if I had anything to drink that day and proceeded to give me the test. When the test was done, he said to me “good girl” and sent me on my way. I think the policeman may have been blind, but I couldn’t see a guide dog anywhere.
In my experience the police and emergency services people don’t care.

[Ali_C]

Seems to me like a lot of people saying the same thing in different ways. We are who we are and shouldn’t try to be anything else. When you have reached the point of feeling comfortable with who you are and the way you portray yourself, then, I think you have reached the “middle ground” or whatever else you want to call it. As long as you are happy with yourself,not hurting anyone else or doing anything illegal then what does it matter. Be who you are and be happy about it. This discussion to me, seems to be going around in circles.

[Ali_C]

I came out to family and all my cliose friends about 18 months ago. It was pretty scary at the time but all my fears were unfounded. My children have been very supportive, so much so, that when I went to my daughters 21st recently as a male, she made me go home and change into something more comfortable. My 3 children are all good with the changes. As long as I am happy they don’t care. My wife is also very supportive, without her help I would still be in the closet as well. I don’t have a lot of friends , they all know and it has made no difference. The only place where I am still in the closet is at work. I am not sure if I will ever come out to them, it really doesn’t matter either way now. As long as you are happy with yoursellf and where you are, the rest falls into place..

[Ali_C]

Hi Kristy,
Its nice to see a partner on here getting involved in the forums. Supportive partners, as mine is as well, have a big influence on the person they are with. On a personal level, I would still be hiding in the closet if it wasn’t for my wife. Keep up the good work. You might not realise it but your influence is probably very important to your partner.
Cheers Ali

[Ali_C]

Hi Christina,
I have to agree with everything you have said. As far as I can see the idea of this “journey” is to make us feel happy to be the person we are. For myself, I spent years believing I was a cross dresser and never felt happy with myself. It all changed after I started to take hormones. I always had dreams right through from early childhood of being female, I now have no need for SRS as I feel complete. SRS was always something I thought about, but I was always too caught up trying to be someone who I wasn’t (ie male) to ever check into it. I have never felt so comfortable with who I am. I think the “journey” should end when people reaxh this point. In some cases this may be a case of cross dressing and in others it will include SRS. The stereotypes of “female” and “male” really don’t apply to people who are transgendered and we shouldn’t try to comform with them. Everyone has their own path and should not allow themselves to fall or be coaxed into anything else.
It is a “wonderful world” we live in as Adrian said. Where would we all be without the acceptance that we are now getting. We still have a long way to go in this regard but it is a big improvement.

[Ali_C]

My experience with the gay and lesbian community has been exactly the same as with anyone else. Some accept and some don’t. The article seems to generalise that gays and lesbians will be more accepting than the rest of the population. Before I came out I thought that this would be true, afterwards I was surprised that they are no different to anyone else. You cant generalise on how a particular part of the community will react to meeting either a cross dresser or transgender person. It is entirely an individual reaction and cant be assumed. Mostly, I have found that the fears where all mine and have had very few negative responses, although in comparison,I have definitely had more negative from the LGBT community compared to the so called “normal” population.
Cheers Ali