Library Page

Stories

Are you aware of a compelling story or helpful site? Please email me with your suggestion!

This is the most well written autobiographical sketch by a woman who transitioned at a very young age, written about fifteen years after the fact in her thirties. Lucky in some respects, less so in others, I think it gives a marvelously balanced view of the joys and pitfalls of transitioning just out of high school.

Authentikate by Kate

Kate pours herself onto the pages of her online diary, giving you the pulse of a transition in progress. Hers is the most humanistic account of a life in blossom I've yet to encounter, and I cannot recommend it enough, especially for someone searching for the courage to transition, to find wholeness. Her ongoing success is made more meaningful -- and accessible to others -- by her documented struggles to overcome her own fears, doubts and depression.

The Road Less Traveled by Caitlin

Caitlin has a number of essays published at her site, all penned in the midst of her transition. A fine wit and persuasive author, hers is the honest opinion you'll love or hate, speaking it like she then saw the world, especially the slice of it pertaining to her own efforts at rebuilding her life and moving on.

Your Road Map by Andrea

Much of Andrea's site is devoted to the nuts and bolts of what I called the "mechanistic" dimension of transition, surgery information and such. Yet throughout this mammoth resource her personality peeks through and in so doing, helps give a personality to what might otherwise be dry subject matter. Beyond the mechanistic material, Andrea includes information and advice of self acceptance, shared wisdom from others, and very early transition commentary from the youngest of us. Her collection of information for transitioning very young, especially in one's teens, is absolutely incredible. Beyond her published efforts along the road map lines, in her spare time Andrea is a much needed consumer advocate in the evolving area of hair removal methods, doing her part to prevent people from being victimized by unscrupulous scam artists and disingenuous vendors.

Successful Women by Lynn

Lynn, who transitioned early in life in the late sixties, maintains a luminous page -- a small fraction of her excellent and informative site -- devoted to successful women who've overcome transsexualism and, in many cases, very much living out their "happily ever after." The irony of successful survivorship is most women (and men as well) have no public presence whatsoever. To quote Lynn herself, "The invisibility of these successes also supports notions that gender transitions often have rather sad outcomes, because only the 'failures' are visible. Lacking successful role models and confronted with socially stereotyped images from the likes of the Jerry Springer show, young transsexual girls are often terrified to tell anyone about their condition. Constantly reminded by activists of the occasional violence and discrimination that some transgendered people face, and unaware of the large numbers of successful women who do not suffer such difficulties, young transsexuals often gain the impression that gender correction can only lead to social rejection. As a result, many young transsexuals waste precious years before they seek help, and most of them then never find a way to fully correct their gender condition. If more of the successful women were visible, their stories could give hope and encourage young transsexuals to seek the wonderful help now available from modern medicine." Lynn's website in general, and Success Page in particular, are a must-see.

Melanie's Page by Melanie

A couple of years ago Melanie and I connected by phone, but I lost touch with her. I just got an email from her because she saw the site. I'm so happy her life is finally coming together!