A Day in the Life of A Transgender Man
A short but true story
I. He pulls his binder over his head as hard as he can manage; it cooperates eventually. He pulls on his shirt and stares at the mirror entirely too long, wondering if his chest looks flat enough.
II. He strategically places his packer and hopes it doesn’t look like he has a boner. He triple-checks his underwear to make sure it won’t fall out. However, the haunting thought still lives in the back of his mind. He yanks his pants on and analyzes his growing collection of shoes before picking the perfect pair to match his shirt.
III. He waits until the last minute to put his cologne on so it’ll last as long as possible. Finally, he takes a deep breath and steps out into the world. Anxiety weighs on his chest like a sack of potatoes. He forces himself to hold his head up as he walks, even though all he wants to do is become invisible.
Hello, ma’am.
He offers the stranger a smile; it feels like he took a punch to the gut.
One of the most crucial things in most transgender peoples’ mind is whether or not they pass under society’s microscope.
They put themselves through so much pain with activities like binding and tucking. Not binding properly can lead to a long list of dangerous health issues like broken ribs, punctured lungs, and purple sides. Some transgender men are so desperate they use ace bandages and duct tape to bind, which is extremely painful.
Transgender women not passing in public can be fatal . Entirely too many transgender women are killed each year and never get the justice they deserve.
I don’t understand why other people feel like they have the authority to dictate how other people live.
People choosing to undergo the necessary procedures to live in their truth have literally no impact on anyone else. Somehow people manage to twist someone transitioning into a topic centered around them.
It’s so hard to use different pronouns.
I’ve always known you as this name, and now you want me to call you something else?
Why can’t you just be happy how God made you?
There are too many comments to list in this one post.
Their eyes fill with shock as if to say, “How dare you ask me to change my behavior?” They throw bibles and hateful words. Family members refuse to acknowledge them. Friends act like they never knew them in the first place.
Transgender kids are kicked out of their homes like a bag of garbage, if they’re not sent to evil-filled conversion camps or abused. Some therapists are unwilling to help transgender people gain access to the hormones or surgeries they need. Some doctors are unwilling to touch them.
The aftermath these horrific encounters leave behind is catastrophic. Chronic depression, anxiety, low self image and self esteem, and trust issues are only the tip of the iceberg.
I’d like to take a moment to say I’m proud of each and every one of you daring to live your life as you see fit in the face of ignorance and hatred.
Some men and women are simply born while others have to fight to exist. Others have to state that they have a right to simply take up space.
Scars and injection sites are nothing compared to the happiness and inner peace it brings.
I’m proud of you every time you take a step out into the cold world. I stand with you, not only when you finally get your letter to start hormone therapy but also when you have to fight to be treated like a human being. You are not alone.
-BFoundAPen
I hope you enjoyed this piece, and I hope you have a great day!
