For those of us over 60, how many of us would have transitioned if born in the 80s?

[Rachel292]

I don't think I would have transitioned but I would have come out and been myself much sooner. I'm 60 now and do wish society had been more tolerant when I was growing up. I spent way too many years deep in the closet and feeling guilty because I wasn't what society expected of a man.

I'm 58 , and i'm more or less the same.
However this is very timely, as my mum basically asked me the same question on the phone today.
Answer = "It was in the past and i didn't even think about it then. As for now, i'm reasonably content with a male side and a femme side".
But to be honest, the femme side is getting more prominent.
In the past I had dreams and fantasies. Dressed occasionally and very ashamed of CDing. But that was then, it's different now.
And going back to the original question, I would definitly have been more open and no longer hidden away, and I really don't know, what I would have done. I still don't know if i'm CD or on my way to TS, time will tell.

[Aprilrain]

What does the 80s have to do with anything, I was born in the 70s and I transitioned. I know plenty of women born before me that have also transitioned. If you're not TS you're not TS and transition will do nothing for you except ruin your life. Transition is nothing to aspire to it's not the "ultimate" in crossdressing, in fact it has nothing to do with CDing. I've met more than a few women who have transitioned who never CDed a day in their lives.

[cdinmd206]

Hell no would I would want to transition. If I had to put up with as much crap as today's females I would probably go insane or take a few people out of the gene pool. Maybe even both.
I enjoy being able to wear silky under things and dress in frilly blouses and short skirts when the desire strikes me but no way could I go through that much work every day. I have always admired well dressed females, but after seeing what it takes to do that I will stick with my occasional illusion of being a lady for a bit.

[sterusjon]

I am in my mid sixties so allow me to chime in. Tinkerbell-GG is exactly right. This is a question that will filter the CDs from the TSes. If you are strictly CDer then nothing, nor any timing make any difference. For those of us who are are on the TS end of this spectrum, The issue is much more complicated. From my perspective, becoming a woman would be a serious consideration, no matter when I was born. While I was young, the '50's, 60's and early 70's, I would have seriously considered it if I had the access to the info that became available since and at that age been able to discern what my situation actually was. Wisdom comes with age.

My situation is one where I am GID, but not so severely that I have been suicidal, often, or dysfunctional, usually. My wife of nearly 46 years, God bless her, and I have come to an accommodation in the past few years that allows me to experience what I need to get along with myself and her. If, however, the hypothetical were true and I found myself, unattached, informed and understanding of my true self, I would jump at the chance to transition as a relative youngster. As things really are now, I am content with where I am right now.

Stephanie

[Sallee]

I qualify as fara as age but the question of what I would have done differently is a tough one. When I first started experimenting and going out ot clubs (60's and 70s)it may have been easier at least to meet others but I still don't think I would have gone for a total transition. That is a very big step and I think, at least for me, that would have brought happiness to my life. Actually I think it would have made life a lot more difficult. I do believe for some a transition is the right step but please please please give it a lot of thought as to how much just looking different is going to make your life better. I think many TSs today jump into soon and end up worse off than before.
This is just my opinion and I don't mean to disparage any one from looking into HRT or SRS just give it a lot of thought and see a good therapist.

[MssHyde]

I wouldn't have missed muscle cars for the world.. with leaded high octane gas.. how ever the internet back then would have changed my life.. this country boy felt alone in life wanting to be country girl..
(even a city girl)

[Ressie]

This is a question that will filter the CDs from the TSes.

I had wished that I was a girl when I was 17, but I didn't quite feel trapped in the wrong body. I agree this question is for TS that somehow felt they couldn't come out when growing up in the '60s, but the OP with GID seems to be closer to being TS than the average CD.

Growing up in the '90s or early 2000 would be a much different atmosphere. We certainly didn't hear much about SRS back in the day compared to now days. (remember one had to go to Sweden or some place?) There were occasional articles in magazines and newspapers about CDs or TS, but not many of us could count on family for support. For me, there was tremendous fear of my older brother. Maybe if would have been the oldest sibling I would have been more open about my feelings. But none of us can do it over again anyway so does any of this matter?

[Candice Mae]

You have to ask yourself has acceptance really increased enough to make a difference? Or has technology made you aware of people that are accepting that you would not have known about in the 1960s due to not being able to google TG/TS acceptance? People are still people and feel the need to voice their opinion whether it be politically/socially correct or not.

Families still disown TS, TS are harassed, beaten, and killed for being who they are, post 1980 is not a fairy tale would for TS. The danger of loosing your life as you know it is still as real as it was in past.

Also some people today tend to be tolerant of TG/TS people just so they are not labeled as a hater, just because they are tolerant does not mean they are accepting.

[Sharon B.]

I might have done some things different then what they are now, I know my parents and family would never accepted me. Back then I thought I was the only one that like dressing as a woman. Like many I thought once you got married it would quit but it didn't if anything it probably got worse. Even after my divorce for the last twenty years plus I have had less body hair on my body. I would have taken better care of my figure, when I don't dress I seem to drink more beer. If I dress more often I usually drink wine, For the last couple of months I haven't dressed as often as I would like and I have been putting the beer away.

[flatlander_48]

This question assumes that you are transsexual and not CD. So answers from CDs will be "no".

I think that many facets of sexuality are very fuzzy. For many I suspect the delineation between being a crossdresser and a transexual has a lot of grey area. There are those who regard transition as a MUST. I think others may have some of the same thought processes, but not strong enough to be moved to transition. For them, crossdressing to an extent may be enough. Anyway, none of this is absolute.

For me, the 48 in my username is my birth year. While I would admit to a certain amount of appeal in living as a female (mentally and physically), it was never strong enough to warrant even doing counseling about it. I am content enough in being male (mostly) so it isn't an issue. I don't think the timing would have made much of an issue. The beginning of the 80's was about 20 years before I started dressing. Second child was born in '81, so changing my life at that point wouldn't have even been on the radar.

[Vickie_CDTV]

On the other hand, over the years I have met few TS who had SRS in their early 20s much less late teens. With age comes (to some extent, in most cases) comes more financial security, and SRS is out of reach for most TS of that age.

[janetcgtv]

If Christine Jorgensen had been fully accepted in the 50's I would have had SRS surgery instead of going deep underground.
When she came back from Denmark after her surgery she was deeply hurt by the press and lost her job. The prevailing joke was "There's something wrong in Denmark".

P.S. I was born in 1942.

[sometimes_miss]

If you had moved everything in my life oh, 40 years forward, I would have started transitioning at about 10. I was that convinced that I was a girl by then. As evidenced by what I have seen and read, gender 'specialists' would not address the rest of the things that might have identified me as male, and simply gone with what I said to them, and what they observed, and I probably would never have researched it all on my own; I hated living a boys life by then, and terribly wanted to become the girl I thought I was supposed to be so I could get on with my life. I'd have been through all the therapy and had srs by now. I think about this once in a while, and wonder how I would have made out had I wound up taking such a path in today's world.

[Aprilrain]

For all of you who say you would have transitioned, if only...... What is stopping you now?

[Desirae]

I think as much as people say on here that age doesn't matter, and, as long as you're not dead, it is never too late to transition, I still think it is a huge consideration for many, myself included. I would say that if I were born in the early 1990s, and knowing what I know today, I would certainly have given it sincere consideration.

[Sejd]

Surgical stuff is not for me, but I often wish I had known what it meant to be Trans when I was much younger.

[Aprilrain]

So I shouldn't have transitioned because I was born in the 70s? I was married and I have kids.

[Claire Cook]

Had I known in the 50's what I know now about transgendered children, and looking back at my school days, I think ... yes, I would rather have been a girl. But aside from Christine Jorgensen, who at the time was regarded as definitely off the curve, I had no idea about TG or TS. Except that I wanted boobs ... and deep down envied and wanted to be with girls, as a girl.

That was long ago, and any thoughts of transitioning are just that. Now I can enjoy my male and female balance.

[tracigirl_tv]

Nah! Complications, issues, pressures....It's a blessing to be able to visit the land of CDing when in the mood and enjoy it for what it's worth.

Good question though Thanks for posting it.

Traci

[juliew]

My bride of many many years loves me as Julie and as not Julie. Why in the world would I change.

[Anneliese]

As someone who just turned 60 who hasn't posted for awhile, I think the whole topic of transformation is WAY more acceptable to the population at large than it was back in the 50s/60s.

My married 30-year-old daughter regularly mentions LGBTQIA activities. Despite living on the other side of town, she has a key. While I was raising her myself, I went through a "phase". She was a teenager living at home. Did she know then? I was very stealthy, but who knows. If she walked into the house today, she'd likely smell perfume, and if she opened my door...it's "over".

In any case...would I transition? Not until I'd experienced being with another TS/TV etc. Not that THAT'S likely to happen. (I wish!)

If I decided...after trying dressing in public and liking it...I would likely change over...

My daughter might be totally stunned, but maybe not...

By the way, when she was in college there was a memorial for Matthew Shepherd on her campus, and she got up onstage and spoke.

Very proud...

[NancyJ]

Hmmmm? Let's not pretend that it is as simple as CD or TS. Instead, there is a continuum. I believe that, if born 30 years later with the same gender dysphoria, that I may not have transitioned, but I suspect that I would have been more accepting of myself, carried less shame, probably would not have married so young! and would have been open about "Nancy" and not married a woman who did not accept her. Nancy

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Jeninus, I don't think so, it's great having the best of both worlds.

[LeannS]

knowing what I do now and only wish I could have found out about ts/ cding. I would have done it 10 years ago but being older now I will just continue my dressing and enjoying my time doing it. Leann

[Mollyanne]

Oh Yeah, I'm now into my early 70's (sigh sigh sigh) and I absolutely would have transitioned!!!!! The only things holding me back then was------no internet, no money, thought I was the only one who wanted this, etc etc. Now I have the money and the time but I'm to old to fulfill my wish, and that item will NEVER be crossed of my bucket list.

Molly