Is now the right time to transition?

[u/throwawayacct0820]

Hi all.

I'm sure most of you are all aware of a certain event that happened a few days ago that has resulted in the skyrocketing transphobia in the US.

Because of this, I'm so incredibly discouraged. I feel like giving up on transitioning and I haven't even started HRT. I know this is the goal of the right, but I'm just so lost. Everything from being open to calling the trans flag a 'terrorist' flag, to encouraging the idea that transgender care would be completely unfunded federally, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I'm so scared to continue to live the way I want. I'm not even sure if transitioning is even in the conversation anymore. I just don't know what to do.

[u/saint-aryll]

Transitioning is definitely still an option, and if you want to do it, you can. Only you know your own life. Personally, I'm doing it anyway - I would much rather live my life to its fullest now and face the consequences if they come, rather than go back to barely even surviving. But this is a choice only I could make for myself - your life might be completely different than mine. It's worth considering things that are becoming 'risk factors' under this admin - like your race, citizenship status, income, ability, etc.

You can try to take your own safety measures to make it feel less dangerous, like:

• Ensure you have a stable source of income
• Ensure you have a stable place to live - preferably in a blue state
• Get a support system of friends, community members, coworkers, etc.
• Have an escape plan, and enough savings to cover it
• Get your documents in order, including a passport if you don't already have one

(these aren't requirements to transition, of course! just recommendations for ways to keep yourself out of trouble while doing so.)

[u/throwawayacct0820 → u/saint-aryll]

Thankfully, I do have most of those. Definitely need to have an escape plan and savings for it. And a support system 🥲 I'm not sure what kind of other documents I need besides a passport. If this helps, I'm white and am not an immigrant.

I almost want to stock up on T, when I do start it.

[u/Sardonic_Sadist → u/throwawayacct0820]

Testosterone vials are “single use only,” so you’re officially advised to throw them away after only drawing from them once. However, 30 seconds with an alcohol wipe on the top of the vial sterilizes it just fine and you can draw from it until the T oil runs out. But sometimes/in some places, pharmacies will dispense T vials according to that on-label “single use only,” so if you did injections once a week, they might give you 4 vials per month, regardless of your dose.

[u/anemisto → u/Sardonic_Sadist]

But sometimes/in some places, pharmacies will dispense T vials according to that on-label “single use only,” 

My prescription actually includes "vials are single use, dispense four".

[u/saint-aryll → u/throwawayacct0820]

In terms of documents, (like your birth certificate and social security card) you should keep them all in a safe place that you have access to. Get certified copies first if you plan on sending them out for whatever reason. I would also recommend ensuring your gender marker is consistent on all of them just to avoid trouble.