TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of r-pe, misogyny and bigotry.

I haven't spoken to my Dad since we had a brief text message exchange in January of this year, when I laid out my boundaries for having a relationship with me. Use my new name, Valerie, and pronouns she/her and treat me respectfully and a relationship is possible.

There was silence for 9 months, and then I got this email from him yesterday. There is no hate like Christian love.

Hope everyone is doing spoopily swell this spooktober :3

I'm in my mid 40s. I grew up in a small, conservative town. Trans wasn't recognized. Heck, I didn't even know anyone who was openly bi/gay, etc.

Since I was young, I felt like a girl. I acted masculine, and did all the "right things". Now, I am an an adult an "old one" and I'm sad.

If I was 20+ years younger, I'd explore transitioning and living full time as a woman. I maybe wouldn't "pass" but I'd be me.

Anyway, I'm just sad sometimes and wanted to tell someone. Thanks for listening.

Doing more to boost my confidence in my body has been doing wonders for me.

I can't wait to swap out all my boy mode clothes amc only have a fem-presenting wardrobe!

Still healing from my BA last week, but feeling b amazing!

Left: 6 months on HRT, freshly out and finding my feet.

Right: 12 months on HRT, 6 months living openly as myself, and apparently incapable of getting into the lift at work without taking a selfie. 🤣💅

It's been a year of enormous changes, plenty of tears, some really difficult moments, and more happiness than I ever thought possible.

For the first time in my life, I actually love what I see in the mirror. That's something I never thought I'd be able to say.

I'm 37, I started transitioning at 36, and I'm only just getting started.

To anyone wondering if it's too late to become yourself: it really, really isn't. ❤️

Sorry for the previous post, mods 😂

I was feeling my makeup tonight. Being silly rocking my rainbow thighs and arm warmers 😋 also here’s a picture of my void kitty being cute 😻

Sadly my hair is still short 😩

(⁠✿⁠ ⁠♡⁠‿⁠♡⁠)

Thoughts?

So I went to my therapist appointment dress in femme! Nothing over the top, just a flowy top with high waisted jeans. I was nervous as could be being out and not wearing “boy” clothes. The thing that gave me the biggest anxiety was seeing two men in the lobby and them seeing me. Anyone seeing me other than my therapist gives me anxiety, but men even more so. It got so bad that I was starting to regret doing that. Hopefully I can continue to gain the courage to embrace my authentic self without anxiety.

This is with 2 layers of orange color corrector, a layer of foundation, and concealer. Yet you can still clearly see the blue tint of the beard shadow. What can I do to fix this? Get red color corrector?

TODAY IS MY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Three years ago today, I stopped fighting a battle I had spent my entire life trying to win.

I have always known I was transgender.
I spent decades desperately trying to become the person the world expected me to be. I tried so hard to convince myself that I somehow had a choice in the matter.

3 years ago today, I surrendered.

And through surrender, I achieved the ultimate victory.

But freedom has come at an extraordinary cost.

I’ve endured devastating losses and relentless prejudice I would wish on no enemy.

This past year has tested me beyond anything I could have imagined and the challenges continue to mount with seemingly no end in sight.

Yet here I stand.

I’m working hard to raise my brilliant and absolutely hilarious daughter.
I confront adversity no person should EVER have had to endure.

I have been tested beyond measure. But I will not be defeated.

I am profoundly proud of the woman I’ve become.

Despite everything, I’ve discovered a happiness I once believed impossible. I finally recognize and genuinely love the woman in the mirror.

If everyone could see the smile of pure and unadulterated joy that creeps across my face when I catch my reflection, they would understand why finally allowing myself to transition saved my life.

As another Election Tuesday approaches, uncertainty looms over transgender Americans. I know firsthand what it means to have my dignity questioned and my existence treated as a political controversy.

Governments may change.
The world may grow more hostile.

But I will not surrender the freedom I fought a lifetime to claim.

I have survived too much to allow the uncertainty of tomorrow steal the happiness I’ve found today.

To those who have stood beside me, your love has strengthened my resolve more than you can imagine.

Three years ago, I finally stopped resisting the person I had always been, even as the struggle to live openly continues.

I know who I am and I’m extremely proud of her. I will not be diminished by those who refuse to recognize it.

Whatever lies ahead, I will meet it with the same determination that has carried me this far.

I didn’t transition to become someone else. I transitioned so I could finally stop being someone I wasn’t.

I am free.
I am not going anywhere.
I am Isabella.

Happy Third Bella Birthday to me

For quite a while, I(31) have been struggling to express myself in any way, shape or form due to feeling like I wasn't comfortable expressing myself even in my own house.

I've posted a few times in this sub and MtF expressing my struggles and frustrations.

Fast forward to this last weekend, i sat down with my girlfriend (25) of whom i've lived with for a little over a year and expressed the copious amounts of stress I was dealing with in terms of my gender identity. She was very sweet and reassuring in letting me know that I am allowed to express myself However I want when she's around and to never feel uncomfortable with how I feel. I was and am head over heels with this new information.

I've been able to come home from work and dress how I want without judgement.

My girlfriend has offered to not only help me put together better outfits with what I already have in terms of women's clothes, but she wants us to go thrifting, so we can go and get some more outfits for me to wear.

We're also going to get me some press-on nails (ecstatic about these) and some fake lashes, along with her doing my makeup.

I'm finally getting my chance to be me! 🩷

I am the light.

I am the healer.

I will rise.

No more hiding.

No more shame.

No more fear living under my skin.

This is me choosing myself,

I came out to my therapist today as a trans woman. About 2 months ago my egg cracked hard—I was crying, I felt it completely, I *knew* I was her.

Now after finally saying it out loud to someone in my life, I can't feel any of it. I'm numb. I know it logically but I can't access what I felt back then.

Did this happen to anyone else after coming out? How did you get back to knowing what you knew?

I'm also working towards telling my wife (together 18 years) and I need to understand this better before that conversation.

💕Mia