Ken, United States (he/she)

“Don’t back down just to be what you think other people want you to be."

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

I came out as agender when I was eleven years old, and I have identified as nearly every possible gender since then. I now firmly identify as a transsexual and bigender (man + woman). I have other trans family, so I realized through this.

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

I started socially transitioning in various ways when I was fairly young, and started T when I was nineteen.

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

In some ways, yes, in others, not quite. My transition pattern has been complicated as an intersex person, and I experienced some unanticipated feminizing changes when I took testosterone due to aromatization.

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

Don’t back down just to be what you think other people want you to be.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Man and woman are not mutually exclusive categories. Being a trans man doesn’t have to mean leaving everything you used to be behind, and you can choose to be a woman in new ways that make you happy as a man, too. <3

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

Yes.