Jack, United Kingdom (he/him)

“Remember not to share someone’s trans status unless they explicitly tell you - it could put them in danger."

Was there a definitive moment you realized you were trans? How old were you?

I first realised I was trans when I was 9 although I thought I was non-binary. Just a few months ago at age 13, I accepted that I’m a binary trans guy. I can’t believe I missed some of the most obvious signs.

How soon after did you start to make changes? What were these changes?

I have been referring to myself with they/them pronouns for a few years now although I switched to he/him when I joined Reddit (which has some great trans subreddits for support). However, due to recent bans on puberty blockers and unsupportive parents, I have been unable to access any medical treatment to aid my transition. My social transition has also unfortunately been extremely limited as my school requires parental consent for any official name change.

Have these changes started to make you feel more comfortable in your life and body?

Although small, joining online communities for trans people in the UK and trans men in general has helped me realise that I’m not alone and there is hope.

What would you tell your younger self? Would you do anything differently?

Honestly I don’t think there’s much I could’ve done differently but I wish my parents were more supportive.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

One of the things that really changed my transition for the worse was that after coming out to only a few friends, one of them outed me as non-binary to everyone at my (all-girls) school. I have always been considered a “nerd” but this made people treat me worse and some people started mocking my name. On top of this, I have since realised that I don’t identify as non-binary so I worry if/when I try to come out as a trans man, I’ll face further difficulty. Remember not to share someone’s trans status unless they explicitly tell you - it could put them in danger.

Have the gender-affirming steps you’ve taken impacted your overall happiness and sense of well-being?

Yes.