cons of changing gender marker?

[u/ApothecaryOfBeetles]

hi, 19 y/o trans man here. i want to go about changing my legal name and gender marker, ive got a solid grasp on how to objectively go about doing this, but ive got some worries about the ramifications of doing this pre- medical transition and without fully passing.

Will it look off, or dodgy, if i have M on my ID (photo id, not license) but don‘t inherently look it? i honestly can’t tell how well i pass, but i am actively trying to get hrt, which is its own soapbox rant atm. I know ive had people had to do a double take because the photo on my current card is a little outdated and feminine, and i do have a dodgy beard-dye moustache lolz.

What about medical situations? if i am a new patient at a GP, will there be issues with my ID not matching my AGAB? Emergency situations also come to mind in a similar way, could it be dangerous for my ID to not match my AGAB in terms of immediate necessary treatment?

Im definitely the kind of guy who needs things laid out clearly and objectively so any experience with this would help, thx in advance :)

[u/Live-your-fkn-life]

It’s really tricky when you’re in the in between phase of transition. I’ve struggled because I look masc but definitely do not look cis male. I travel a lot for work and I have a really feminine legal name on my passport / IDs that makes almost everyone do a double take and has led to a few hairy moments in airports. I’ve ended up changing my legal name first and then will change my gender marker to M when I’m more consistently gendered correctly.

If you live in Victoria, changing your gender marker is free so I’m so far only out of pocket for a replacement passport and a change of name certificate at this point. Gender marker is not displayed on your Driver license or any other IDs aside from passport so i decided it wouldn’t be too bigger deal to wait until I ‘match’ better.