AmyGaleRT
05-30-2017, 01:54 AM
On last Wednesday, I received the letters and forms from my HRT doctor that I will need to change my gender marker. This marks the point where I have medical corroboration identifying me as a woman.
On Thursday, I had my fingerprints taken electronically and sent to federal and state authorities for a background check, a necessary step for getting my name changed in Colorado. Since this involved spending significant money (about $100), and the results are only valid for 90 days, this really marks a "point of no return" in my transition.
That same day, I posted an official coming-out and transitioning announcement to both Facebook and Quora (a question-and-answer site where I have a prior Top Writer award, and which is one of my online "homes"). Responses on both sites were overwhelmingly positive, and, in fact, I received two separate private messages on Quora from site administrators, informing me that, if I wanted to change my name on Quora now, I would have no worries about officially running afoul of Quora's "Real Names" policy. I proceeded to make the change.
Friday, I sent out a "Dear Colleagues" letter to many of the people I work with at my company. Another outpouring of positive responses occurred, from my fellow software developers all the way up to the CEO himself, whose message brought tears to my eyes (although maybe that's the estrogen talking! :) ). It feels like the entire company is behind me as I make the transition.
If all goes well, by July 12, I will be a full-time woman legally and socially. It feels like it's all over but the formalities now.
- Amy
(Note that I have changed my signature block to reflect what will be my legal name. I consider "Tapie" to be my "maiden name," and have dropped it in favor of my original last name.)
On Thursday, I had my fingerprints taken electronically and sent to federal and state authorities for a background check, a necessary step for getting my name changed in Colorado. Since this involved spending significant money (about $100), and the results are only valid for 90 days, this really marks a "point of no return" in my transition.
That same day, I posted an official coming-out and transitioning announcement to both Facebook and Quora (a question-and-answer site where I have a prior Top Writer award, and which is one of my online "homes"). Responses on both sites were overwhelmingly positive, and, in fact, I received two separate private messages on Quora from site administrators, informing me that, if I wanted to change my name on Quora now, I would have no worries about officially running afoul of Quora's "Real Names" policy. I proceeded to make the change.
Friday, I sent out a "Dear Colleagues" letter to many of the people I work with at my company. Another outpouring of positive responses occurred, from my fellow software developers all the way up to the CEO himself, whose message brought tears to my eyes (although maybe that's the estrogen talking! :) ). It feels like the entire company is behind me as I make the transition.
If all goes well, by July 12, I will be a full-time woman legally and socially. It feels like it's all over but the formalities now.
- Amy
(Note that I have changed my signature block to reflect what will be my legal name. I consider "Tapie" to be my "maiden name," and have dropped it in favor of my original last name.)