Noah, United Kingdom (Wales) (he/him)

“I know a lot of opinions on underage transition would change if the people who held it met a person like me."

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

I was 13 when I realised when I became fully aware of female development and it was mentally excruciating.

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

I started transition at 14 with blockers, 15 with testosterone and went stealth at 16.

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

I’ve never felt better in my own body and it finally feels like it belongs to me. It feels much more natural to wake up as a man, go outside as a man and live my life as a man.

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

There isn’t much I can tell myself or do differently, I don’t regret my childhood or my transition timeline. I always wish I did my research earlier and gotten treatment earlier, but I think that’s what majority of trans people think. It’s never too late or too early.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I feel like as a young transitioner, I have much more privilege in the community than anybody else and I’m extremely grateful. I’m aware majority of them go stealth, just as I did, and a different perspective into transitioning goes untold. I want people to hear my perspective. I know a lot of opinions on underage transition would change if the people who held it met a person like me. Sometimes I think about how fast life comes at you, when I was crying constantly at 13 to be male and now I’m 17 and people don’t have a clue I’m transgender.

Diolch yn fawr :)

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

Yes.