Jay, Canada (they/them)

“Trans healthcare saves lives. (…) I am now happily married and live my life feeling comfortable and free."

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

I realized suddenly at 18 years old after becoming deeply depressed for "no reason". I had left religion at that point and begun figuring out who I was as a person for the first time and I everything came flooding in.

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

I started making changes at 19 years old by buying a binder and coming out to close friends and family.

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

I would tell my younger self that I am not unlovable, and that it is worth pursuing what will make myself happy for once instead of trying to keep everyone else happy.

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

I was suicidal for years with what was considered Treatment Resistant Depression, I was on 3 different anti depressants at once at one time and tried pretty much every obscure one and still was horribly depressed. My suicidal ideation went away once I got my phalloplasty done. I didn't know that it was my bottom dysphoria that was affecting me so deeply until it made me get better. Trans healthcare saves lives. I would have been dead years ago without all of my medical transition steps. I am now happily married and live my life feeling comfortable and free.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

—

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

Yes.