Thanks for the link to that pamphlet. Its worth reading and has some good information in it!

This had me thinking. here in the state of md to get the F changed to M on the DL all you need is 3 letters, therapist, t doc and my own. the DMV ok's it and sends you back your paperwork,

when i asked about getting my birth certificate ammeded, they said that really didnt matter.

Im orig from NYS and i will try after i change my DL to get them to reissue me a new birth certificate.

Anyone else get it changed from f to m?

Dylan wants a passport, are you leaving the US? or for ID purposes?

Here in TX, in order to get your DL changed, it's really up to the judge. It's actually easier to get your b.c. changed in TX (I don't have a TX birth certificate).

The DL is completely up to the judge before whom you appear.

So far, I've been screamed at by the judge in front of the courtroom. I've been there twice. Both times, she requested something different.

I was born in Illinois. They are in the process of changing what they want. As of right now, they want bottom surgery. I'm not having bottom surgery unless something amazing happens in that arena...and I win the lottery.

With a social and a passport, I can at least get a job without sending off any red flags.

Because here's the thing. I NEED to use my social security number to get a job right? So, let's say, I have a DL that says male, and the company accepts that I'm male (and why wouldn't they?). Here's what's going to happen. They're going to send my info to SSA as male, right? But what's going to happen is the SSA is going to flag me as female, because my SS hasn't been changed yet. SSA is going to send a flag letter to the company, and I'm going to be asked some questions by Human Resources (or whomever's in charge). I'm going to be outed (and probably fired).

So, it's really not all that impressive if only my license is changed. I mean, it's nice for most things...but it's also really 'harmful' if I'm trying to get a job.

Now, I want my passport, because I won't be able to get my license changed for a while (knowing this particular judge, it probably won't be until I've had surgery and I have a full beard growing to my feet).

But if I have my passport, I'm thinking I can use that for SSA. They're more likely to take a passport than they are to take a DL.


Dylan

Wow Dylan im sorry you are having so many issues. i didnt want to legally change my name til the DMV sends my paperwork back. i just figured it will be easier. i think after i get my stuff in order with my DL, i will get my SS number changed.

Passport is a good idea.

have a great one man

I don't think it's all that many issues. I mean, I don't think they're any different than anyone else's issues when it comes to employment and SSA/DL/BC/documentation.

I know some states are easier about their DLs and that's a nice thing. But a DL alone isn't really going to help anyone in the employment arena.

It would be awesome if one (good) system were implemented everywhere.


Dylan

You would think by now, it would be.

I got stopped for speeding last month and the cop came back with m y ticket just looking at me funny.

hands me back my DL and says you really should get your picture updated. WE both just laughed.

well i hope things getter for everyone across the board.

There's an old song by James Brown called "That About Dood It"

Gave myself my first injection (took a stab at it, no pun intended) and it made it stick (no pun intended). And that about dood it.

I'm right proud of myself today.

That's bullshit that they want you to get bottom surgery. Bullshit! I can't believe how idiotic they are being, requiring that. I hope you can find a way around that Dylan. That is so unbelievably ridiculous.

I did talk to the doc today about injecting 1/2 cc every week.

He said that was fine, so thanks for your input guys.

hey dylan

i was born in IL, also. to get my name changed on the bc, all i needed was the court order that made the change legal. unless something has changed recently, all that's required to get the gender marker changed is top surgery. i know it's different in other states, but the information i have is that top surgery is all that's required for IL.

so far as the DL goes, i got a new one when i changed my name. i waited a few days, then took it back in and pointed out that it said F and not M. they were more than happy to "fix" that for me. a little chutzpah goes a long way. and i'm sure you've got more than enough. :)

good deal. i think you'll find that things stay smoother for you this way...none of that rollercoaster shit.

glad to hear things are going well.

Yeah, IL used to be a top surgery state. They're in the process of changing things. According to a friend who's also born in IL and has been in the process of changing his birth certificate over the last four months, IL recently changed their policy with gender markers. He sent in his top surgery letter, and they came back with the statute and said he needs bottom surgery. Apparently, the law changed very recently. I was going to make a call (one day when I have time to sit on hold for a while).

Name change will be easy.

I've thought about doing the same thing with my DL, but Texas is funny. They keep all of your information in their computer, so when I go into DPS (which I have to a lot), all of my old info (name, etc) is still in there. The second to last time I was in there, they informed me that "someone else was using your social security number" (meaning, they couldn't understand why a person with a girl's name had my same social...meaning me and my birth name). It took them a minute to figure it out. So, I'm going to have to find some podunk DPS to go to...but what I'm afraid of is even in Podunk, it still comes through Austin.

But none of it has really even been an issue yet, so I figure I'll just wait until I need everything. It'll happen when it's the right time.


I Wonder If We Were Born Near Each Other,
Dylan...outside Chicago

P.S. here's a link that really talks about IL's other policy, but it makes mention (sort of/tactfully) of the lower surgery requirement

i was born in jerseyville....sw IL. only about 300 miles.


thanks for the linkage. nice to know it'll take, what...another 75K on top of 10K for top surgery, just to get a fuckin' birth certificate? lovely. somehow, i don't think i'll live long enough or make enough cash for that kinda action.

You know, I'm not even gonna worry about my birth certificate until I have to; I haven't even bothered to send in the name change for it. I was born in Texas and have no clue what kind of hoops I'll have to jump through to get the sex marker changed. So fuck it.....for now, anyway...

Just the other day I dropped off everything to get my current passport changed....sex marker included. I used the affidavit my GYN wrote when I went to get my license changed; it was a kick-ass document!! Thanks to Theo for sharing his template with me!

Anyway... My hope is that I will always be able to use my passport and not even have to worry about producing my birth certificate for anything from here on out. When we got married, all they required was my license.

I'm just not going to worry about it until I absolutely *have* to.

On a side note, the state of Nevada just recently adopted the form linked below for getting a gender marker change on your license. It makes the process simple and standard, and removes the "judgement call" onus from the DMV admin. Progress!

http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/dld136.pdf

Right????

The ACLU is on it though, so maybe it won't take too long.

IL changed their rules fairly recently. The law says, "Full reassignment surgery"...which is where the hang up is, because some people say 'full SRS' means top, bottom, and full hysto, and other people say something different. But hopefully states will soon follow the fed's example (passports). That would be nice.


Dylan...guess we're not neighbors

Texas birth certificates are actually very easy. Just a surgeon's or doctor's letter stating 'irreversible measures' (whatever that means). Top surgeon's letter will suffice though, for sure.


I Find It Ironic That Texas Is So Simple Compared To The 'Liberal' Yankee State Of Illinois,
Dylan

No shit??? I thought people were having to hire lawyers and stand on their heads and all that jazz.

Nice.

It's actually easier to have your bc changed in TX than it is to have your driver's license, because the rules are laid out in an actual statute whereas DL is completely up to a judge's discretion. Name changes can also be difficult here for same reason (judge's discretion).

Crazy,
Dylan

People have hired attorneys just for DL. The attorney fees are $800 for name and gender change. There was a bill brought up to the Texas house a few years ago that would have allowed transfolks to get both at same time, but it didn't pass.

This post is a bit "tongue in cheek." Looks like the taxes may be a bit lower in Tejas but they are going to get into your wallet and personal choices just using other strategies.

I have oftened wondered why a queer would live voluntarily in Texas. I suspect if it is your home, it is your home and you have attachments there. But as a Queer Tourist, hmmmmmmm, except for Austin, "No."

Ok, I've had two injections now and what happened was within a week of the first one I gained 3-5lbs. The side effects say that there can be water retention, but after going through hell to lose 95lbs, I'm not very happy with gaining even one ounce of it back.

Has anyone else had this happen?? If so did it mellow out after time?

Thanks.

I'm on my 3rd injection and I'm experiencing water retention as well. He said to drinks lots of water, cranberry juice. Plus I have an exercise program that I'm sticking to no matter what. I feel like shit, so you're not alone TD.

It'll level out, it's just disheartening—so we'll need patience.

Hey TD

You will gain a bit until you level out, but the weight will start to shift around and you will lose.

I hear most often that dr's will put transguys on high blood pressure meds, that will get rid of the water retention.

Hang in there, both of you (Jet).

Ya'll just started this leg of your journey.

I'm 3 years in and im still experiencing new things.

Keep us updated.


Sam

Yeah, you're going to retain a bit of water for a while. But after a few months it'll drop off. Be sure to drink wayyyy more water than you usually do. You may also get headaches. The water retention is your body doing what it's supposed to do. Again, drinking more water will help a lot.


It's Normal...Men Use Water Differently Than Women,
Dylan

The whys are too much for me to type from my phone, but it has to do with blood pressure and blood viscosity and such, and it's completely normal. Just drink lots of water.

and jus' to be sayin' tonight, I don't care about legal documents ie. passports, DL, birth certificates etc.

I'm just not concerned about that stuff. When the time comes, I'll consult with an attorney.

I'm more concerned about getting disowned/disinherited again which is coming down the pike, more than likely.

No matter what happens Parker, you will always have your family here.

Effects of T
 

Some past, some present:

1. Hey there, belly.

2. Scratch, scratch, itchy scalp - hair follicles under attack. Rescue courtesy of finasteride.

3. Yes, it is ALL you can think of.

4. Trouble swallowing, can't yell. Family glad of latter.

5. Yes, I CAN carry all of the luggage. (saves on trips to the car, at least)

6. So THAT's what back acne looks like.

7. Good god, extra hair THERE???? It gets caught. It pulls. nevermind

8. You call THIS a moustache? Um, ok, lol. <buzz, buzz>

9. It's a repellent, alright. (Maybe if I peed around my desk people would stop taking my pens.)

10. Nope, it's not a UTI - it's 'personal growth and development'.

11. Atlas shrugs. Park a car on my shoulders. Really.

good post.

Did you watch your dad shave when you were little and wish you could do the same thing? I did.

yep i did, and now i have a full face beard and hate to shave.

i get this stupid shyt in my head every once in awhile and i shave it off, by the next day i have a shadow by the next week im on my way. shakeshead. i have more hair on my face than on my head :P

Thanks theo ... i breezed through it and it actually seemed like a good resource. I don't need it for myself but more and more I'm like the token transgendered person that everyone knows so when somebody comes out to someone whether an adult, small child, or young adult people approach me. So it will be nice to have some tangible resource to give them also.

I finally got a call from my Endo doc's nurse yesterday, after 2 months of waiting. She (the nurse) relayed to me from my doc that my labs that I did a few weeks ago looked fine, and she (my doc) wants me to get another set of labs right away (which I went out and did yesterday after I got the call). Then I am supposed to have another phone appt with her in July. After that I get labs done again in September and have a face-to-face appt with my doc then. The thing that is maddening is that she didn't say anything about a dosage change. I am still on this low dose. So, I asked the nurse to ask my doc about that. Now it's a waiting game again to hear back. *sigh*

Lot of dry skin. Does anybody else experience this? If so, what moisturizer do you use?

its from the heat :P i will be in town this weekend. we should have lunch or something

In some parts. LOTS and LOTS of water seems to resolve some of this and no moisturizer.

Oddly enough, my forehead has becoming very oily.

Dry patches and oiley skin has subsided. A femme friend suggested making an exfolient (sp) paste from baking soda and water. It washed the dry skin off and then I put some aloe lotion on the area.
I have no dry/over oiley skin today.