![change in gender role. Treatment with testosterone induces normal male secondary sexual characteristics within 6-12 months.
After much reflection, I have made the decision to take testosterone. I will thus become a female to male transsexual. This has been a difficult decision because I risk losing everything of importance to me: my reputation, my career, my friends and even my family.
Testosterone is a far from perfect solution; I’m still not going to be “normal” and social isolation will undoubtedly continue. But..treatment offers the possibility that, for the first time in my life, I might feel comfortable with myself and not have to fake who I am. I know I am making the right decision because whenever I think about [it], I am flooded with feelings of relief.
Although the idea of my changing sex will take some time for you to get used to, the reality is that I’m not going to change all that much. I’m still going to wear jeans and T-shirts and pretty much be the same person I always have been — it’s just that I am going to be a lot happier.
Many transsexuals change jobs...in order to retain anonymity, but anonymity is not an option for me — nor is it one I desire. I am tired of hiding who I am. More importantly I owe it to others who unknowingly endure this condition, as I did, to be visible.
Despite 7 years of medical training, which I undertook to understand what was wrong with me, until 2 months ago, I had](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cl2qcvl3rdmp4q3c6wqjep72/bafkreibtfnggxsqw3xsvcmrvr22o6fjsaczycdq2yq53nnt37sdfhufobu)
change in gender role. Treatment with testosterone induces normal male secondary sexual characteristics within 6-12 months.
After much reflection, I have made the decision to take testosterone. I will thus become a female to male transsexual. This has been a difficult decision because I risk losing everything of importance to me: my reputation, my career, my friends and even my family.
Testosterone is a far from perfect solution; I’m still not going to be “normal” and social isolation will undoubtedly continue. But..treatment offers the possibility that, for the first time in my life, I might feel comfortable with myself and not have to fake who I am. I know I am making the right decision because whenever I think about [it], I am flooded with feelings of relief.
Although the idea of my changing sex will take some time for you to get used to, the reality is that I’m not going to change all that much. I’m still going to wear jeans and T-shirts and pretty much be the same person I always have been — it’s just that I am going to be a lot happier.
Many transsexuals change jobs...in order to retain anonymity, but anonymity is not an option for me — nor is it one I desire. I am tired of hiding who I am. More importantly I owe it to others who unknowingly endure this condition, as I did, to be visible.
Despite 7 years of medical training, which I undertook to understand what was wrong with me, until 2 months ago, I had
![never heard of gender dysphoria (oddly, I somehow picked the right organ to study!). Had it not been for the transsexual who allowed himself to be the subject of the news piece I read, I would still not know about it.
[Transsexual] suicide rate is so high that some experts have called gender dysphoria a lethal disease. This is why I cannot hide.
In my heart I feel that I am a good scientist and teacher. I hope that, despite my trans sexuality, you will allow me to continue with the work that, as you all know, I love. I am happy to answer any questions.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Barres
And there it was: This shameful secret I had held inside of me for 40 years was out, and within a few months I had transitioned to Ben...
Never did I think of suicide again and I felt much happier being myself, no longer having to pretend to be a woman. It is hard to explain how much relief I felt and how much happier I became.
Whenever I see videos of parents talking openly and supportively with their (pretransition) transgender children, I weep. Much progress is left to be made, but I marvel at how far the world has come in recent years.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cl2qcvl3rdmp4q3c6wqjep72/bafkreib4qsl3dcvp3tkin6r43qf2rfpy2ms2gtjcqr2b6asxnry7ta4iry)
never heard of gender dysphoria (oddly, I somehow picked the right organ to study!). Had it not been for the transsexual who allowed himself to be the subject of the news piece I read, I would still not know about it.
[Transsexual] suicide rate is so high that some experts have called gender dysphoria a lethal disease. This is why I cannot hide.
In my heart I feel that I am a good scientist and teacher. I hope that, despite my trans sexuality, you will allow me to continue with the work that, as you all know, I love. I am happy to answer any questions.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Barres
And there it was: This shameful secret I had held inside of me for 40 years was out, and within a few months I had transitioned to Ben...
Never did I think of suicide again and I felt much happier being myself, no longer having to pretend to be a woman. It is hard to explain how much relief I felt and how much happier I became.
Whenever I see videos of parents talking openly and supportively with their (pretransition) transgender children, I weep. Much progress is left to be made, but I marvel at how far the world has come in recent years.
The other half of that excerpt.
In it we see the #GenderEuphoria Ben felt going forwards, along with his happiness at the path he chose, his belief in the need for trans people to be able to see each other & ourselves as we are, with joy.
#TransRights
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
#LGBTQ+
#Trans
🏳️⚧️
8/8
