Ok So I am new to this forum

[Ashlie Marie]

Hey everyone.

Well I have taken a plunge this week, and becusae of it all I feel I have some questions that fit here now. I have been dressing in public off and on now for 2 years this summer. Grew my hair out to long curls about 4 years ago and I have been getting acrylic nails for years. However over the last few months I have been slowly getting more comfortable with myself and my life, my wife and I are expecting our little girl this june. so that will be interesting. Well this week I started Laser, and I came out to my Manager and HR telling that I feel more comfortable as Ashlie, and I would like to transition to working as her fulltime. Well I am up in NH and even though my compnay is number 3 of the diversity list and we have 8 transgender employee's right not on various floors I am first to start dressing and transition while working. Well after doing lots of reasech with them all week, I was aproved today to do a internal name change for indenty like email voicemail security badge things like that. changing my real name legaly would break my mom's heart so it is not on the books for right now, however I sit here now trying to figure something out. being a transgenderist, that has not been to a theripist, (in the works though I want to get estrogen gel) I am fully set with keeping my gentals for life. I am set in that so no SRS for me. Well since everyone here is so awesome. Do I sound like I this figured out and Welcome to my new life, or does anyone thing I am still all confused and I jumped the gun at work? ok thanks everyone

hugs,
Ashlie

[robyn1114]

Hello Ashlie,
Only you can tell if you figured it out or if your still confused. There's nothing wrong with wanting to transition but not go all the way with SRS. Everyone's different and what makes you happy is all that really matters.
My only concerns would be the reaction from a therapist when you tell them you don't want SRS, they may be less likely to give you a referral for HRT.

[kellycan27]

i am not so sure about that. There are a bunch of tg people that are on HRT and do not wish to have SRS, for a variety of reasons. Not wanting SRS should not be a reason to keep you off HRT, and I don't think it is a factor that your therapist will put much weight on... if any.

[GypsyKaren]

It's your life and I would hope you've thought this all out, just be aware that you're mom is going to notice the changes from the estrogen a lot more and faster than a new name on your drivers license from a name change.

Karen :g2:

[gagirl1]

Ashlie, that's awesome that you are moving forward with your life. i definitely don't want to rain on your parade, and i'm sure you knew about this before myself, but i thought i'd post these couple of links about a recent bill in NH regarding transgender rights. the first is a news articles, the second is the bill itself. thought it might be helpful, if you don't already know. sounds like things are going well for you, and i hope they continue to be that way. just want you to be prepared. anyways, here are the links:

http://www.wmur.com/news/19023149/detail.html

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HB0415.html

[Karen564]

Do I sound like I this figured out and Welcome to my new life, or does anyone thing I am still all confused and I jumped the gun at work? ok thanks everyone


Hi Ashlie,
I guess as long as you feel some conviction at this point that this is how you want to live your life, then so be it.

But I would of highly suggested that you sought a TG therapist 1st before comming out at work, just to sort it all out and give you a better understanding what your doing.
It's not that they'll tell you what to do with your life, but they will give you advise on many matters and give you some things to think about from another viewpoint if they have concerns for your own or families well being, just so you can make a clear conscious decision on the path you do take will be a good one in the end.