I also have issues seeing it as bravery - I don't know what else should I be doing? When a really difficult option is your ONLY option, is it still brave to take it?

The Story was why I was able to say to myself, over and over "I would love to be a woman, I would love to be trans, but I can't, because The Story says I'm not". And it was the single most important thing that kept me from figuring everything out all the way until I was 36 years old.

I remember it speaking to me, but that was all. Way later, in my early 20s, I realized that I wanted to be a woman, but THAT was when The Story came to interfere, because it gave me a very easy way how deny any feelings I might have felt and push them back into the back of my head.

Thank you, this means a lot.

It's amazing that they're finally focusing more studies on prog! I think that another asterisk may be that the study excluded (for a valid reason) people who are on cypro, which is a large part of EU.

I like how the test also conveys the important message of "if you want/wish to be trans, you almost certainly are trans". I knew I wished I were trans for years, I just missed the memo about what it means :D

I've upgraded from 6a to 9a just a week ago (power button on 6a just...fell off). I love the touch sensitivity, but I miss the thinner, rounder design. I know I'll get used to it, but the 9a just feels like an iPhone-style brick. But everything else is reallt an upgrade

Also, finally properly singing for the first time in transition is so emotional, incredible mix of euphoria and tiny bits of dysphoria. Did not expect this to hit SO hard.

But tbh I think that many cis ppl just don't see "trans" as an option when they're looking at someone. In my experience with passing this early on, it's either "weird guy, probably gay" or "yeah that's a tall girl"

Depends on how early though. When I get misgendered, it's a pretty clear clock sign :D
But yeah, I know, 7 months HRT, laser still in process, transition is a waiting game :)

That sub was where I found the link to SGW when I needed it the most. As someone without bottom dysphoria at that time, if I ran into transmed bullshit that day, I'd just run back into the closet.

You're absolutely right that this is horrible AND hurting vulnerable eggs :(

In retrospect, I can see how these comics helped me to explore but at the same time they left me stuck in the "it's just a fetish" hellhole.
It would be amazing to hear you take on it all.

Thank you for finding this post. This is 100% how my mom has been since the day I came out to her. And I really struggled to put it in words.

If I'm desperate because whatever I put on makes me feel looking more like a *man* than usual - that's dysphoria. And by mistaking it for the former, you can unintentionally hurt your trans friend instead of helping them.

...but it serves that purpose only if it's a reaction to me not being able to figure out if I should wear a black top or a maroon one today. Then I'm probably lightly annoyed exactly the same way a cis girl would be while staring into the overflowing wardrobe.

I read this comic 11 months ago and...<looks down>...checks out.

But what you write about the pressure of male socialization is absolutely 100% correct. I'm now at the stage where I can compare spaces where I'm out (and the pressure is finally gone) with spaces where I'm not (and the pressure is huge and at this point, nauseating). It's so real.