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I don’t know what it’s like to be on hormones. I DO know what it’s like to be given a hard time over something you want because someone else is afraid. And I’ve seen a close friend or two (one was my ex) go through a LOT thanks to others who disagreed with how they identify. Especially if the individual in question is an older teen or grown adult, let them be. They’re old enough to know. If you don’t agree with something, that’s okay. Yes, there are cases where something happens someone may regret or not be completely happy with even after.

But for the most part — and I’m trying to say this carefully — the older someone gets, especially if they’re not changing their mind or seem to lean into it… they’re likely to know.

As someone who knows what it’s like to struggle with their gender expression and / or sexual configuration, I can speak on this to an extent. Let me clarify: I was born female. I choose to live as a woman, though some friends call me different pronouns because everyone who knows me sees me differently. Some see me one way, others see me another. But I dress and act how I please. I generally don’t speak on this with those in my life… seldom, if anything. I have gone through a long and hard process of self-discovery over the years, and that is the conclusion I came to.

I have my reasons why I made my decision; I don’t want to share them in this post, since it’s probably not necessary.

I don’t completely hate or dis-like my body. There was a time I did. This is my experience. This is in NO WAY to dis-credit others. I’ve learned to appreciate it and love it. I’ve made about as much peace with it as I can. Does that mean I never have days where I still feel a little bothered?

No.

Not everybody ends up making peace or deciding they can go without hormones or surgeries, and it can very much impact them. They shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else’s preferences or comfort. People worry about things like this being dangerous — O.P. is right to say that lots of things can be considered “risky” or “ir-reversible.” Many of those things people still do, and somehow they’re given less fuss, depending on what it is. But, especially depending on age, for one, a person has a right to make their decision. They have a right to bodily autonomy. For my friends who don’t identify as the gender they were born with, keep rocking!

Don’t let anyone ever tell you what you can or can’t do, because it’s YOUR body and YOUR choice. You can’t control their fear over something they don’t like or understand.

"irreversible side effects of HRT" all of life is irreversible. i cannot go back a single second in time

Daily reminder… brought to you by one of my coffee cups. 🧡

Brandon Lee on the set of The Crow, 1993

I just changed out the backs on my pins. Hopefully they’ll stay on better, now.

Today is my brother’s birth-day. He’s nineteen.

Dark Prince

— by Betty Jiang

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Credit: @luna_the_pantera

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