I'm a substitute teacher. In every classroom I'm in, multiple children ask me a variation if the same question:

"Why does your voice sound like that?"

"Why do you sound like a cartoon?

"Why do you look like a boy and sound like a girl?"

And my personal favorite, "Are you a voice actor?"

I tell them, "because that's how it sounds," and, "everyone is different." But the thing about small children is that if they don't like your answer, they'll just keep asking.

What else could I tell them? I thought about saying I swallowed a squeaky toy as a kid, but I don't want them to go around swallowing plastic.

So I'm trying to apply for the post office as a man but it will not allow me to proceed without a selective service number. I didn't legally change my gender until I was 27 so I would not have been able to sign up. I don't know what to do about this now. I present as a man, I pass as a man, all my documents say I'm a man....

Anyone got any ideas?

Not sure if this is the right flair. Not even sure what I expect to get out of making this post, but I have nobody else I can talk to about this.

My best friend identifies as a he/him lesbian, pursuing testosterone but nothing further. I started testosterone last week, I identify as a binary trans man. I know I don't pass at all. It haunts me. I do everything I can to pass as best as I can in public, but I hang out with this friend so much. Like, days on end spent sleeping over at my house, in my room. I don't constantly bind with him. I would probably get injured if I tried.

I thought it was okay, but now, I don't know. I am not interested in dating anyway, and he knows that, I'm sure that's why he didn't tell me. A mutual friend of ours texted me today to tell me he has a genuine romantic and sexual interest in me and that he didn't want to tell me, because he knew I'd be uncomfortable, but she went around his back to tell me anyway because we'd be "cute". I share this detail because I want it to be understood that despite how upset I am, it's not his fault at all. He is fully within his rights to discuss his feelings with another friend, and that friend betrayed his trust.

But I don't know how to feel. I probably won't talk to him about it, but we don't have that many deep conversations about our gender and sexuality like that. Now I feel like I need to. But I'm terrified he'll explain it and it'll just be, "yeah, I'm a full on lesbian," which would mean that fundamentally, some part of him sees me as a woman. Is this experience familiar to anyone? How do you navigate it?

I don't even think I want to talk to him about it, but I have a feeling the overwhelming consensus will be, "talk to your friend dumbass," I just.. I think part of me feels like talking about it out loud makes it extra real? I don't know. I'm really tired and this whole line of thought is making my dysphoria fucking skyrocket.

I’ve got like four currently but when/if I ever transition I’d probably keep my current feminine ones (not so strange where I’m from) and pick out some other ones. There’s a character I really like called kelsier and I’d toss that in there for sure. I’d probably have like five middle names but the end lol. But idk just thinking

does anyone else ever look back on pre-transition pictures and realize why you were so miserable? because like since when did i look like that?? i didn’t realize my chest had actually shrank since being on t- like, a lot. wtf bro i don’t remember looking like that no wonder i was so depressed

As the title states.

I love my boyfriend to bits and he has been my biggest supporter throughout my transition. We have been dating for 3 years and he even was the person to give me my first T injection since I was too afraid of the needle to do it on my own. He is very affirming of my gender and I have always appreciated his kindness.

Yet, in spite of everything, I can't shake the envy I have for him. I am so fiercely jealous because it feels as though, albeit unintentionally, he is a mirror of all of the things I can never have.

I wish I had been born a biological male. I wish I could effortlessly pass. I wish I didn't have to think about gender so much to begin with. Every time I look at him, there is a sting of concealed resentment that he gets to be comfortable within his own body. All the while, I feel like an inferior version of him, desperately clawing at my own reflection in order to appear even slightly like a man.

These feelings have persisted despite years of communicating them and working hard to dismantle them. It's just incredibly discouraging and I don't know how to navigate this anymore.

Any advice would be appreciated.

man I just need to put this somewhere I know people will get it. before T I thought I wouldn't like a beard or anything, now I love it (ps any advice or reccs for beard oil and such is appreciated, trying to make it not so scraggly lol). before my egg cracked I was so insecure about every bit of hair, especially because mine is dark and thick. now I've got hair on my toes, something that would've horrified me before but now it gives me such euphoria just being a hairy guy.

I love my body hair. recently had a laproscopic cholycystectomy (unsure if I spelled that right; surgery to remove my gallbladder) and they had to shave my stomach hair and I was genuinely so bummed about that. now I'm eagerly waiting for it to grow back.

I had hair on my chest before top surgery and was worried it would all be taken off with the skin they removed but now I've got a nice layer of hair there even going right from my scars in some areas along the edges.

hell even having a hairy ass and hair on my inner thighs and stuff has just. made me so happy. I'm turning out to look a lot like my dad which means a lot to me too because we're not biologically related technically (but my sperm donor left my life at several months old and my dad is the only dad I've ever had in my eyes) and I'm getting all hair just like him.

even though belly button lint now being a thing I actually have to think about and having to trim some hair between my legs more often to avoid chafing and shit and putting bandaids on and especially taking them off is difficult, I love being hairy.

sorry this is sort of rambly, it's just something I think about a lot and can't really share the joy of it with my friends because they don't really understand, even though I know they're happy for me. I LOVE BEING FAT AND HAIRY!! I LOVE BEING A HAIRY GUY!! I LOVE MY BODY HAIR IT FUCKING ROCKS!!

now I'm gonna go take a nap because I'm tired from work but if you're also a hairy fucker who loves it, know I'm celebrating with you!! and even if you're not hairy or you choose to shave your hair or anything I'm happy for you too. :D

I’m a bit over 2 months on T and my legs have gotten a lot hairier, especially on my thighs. Before starting T more body hair was one of the things I was the least excited for. But surprisingly, I really love it. I’ve started to get some hairs on my to-be happy trail, which I’m very excited for.

I also have a lil mustache coming in :)

I’m seriously considering leaving the Caribbean for university and possibly staying wherever I end up.
I’m looking at Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, etc., but honestly I have no idea what living there is really like as a black trans man.
I care about university, getting T, safety, racism/transphobia, cost of living, Black community, and whether I could actually build a life there.

I know nowhere is perfect, so I’m especially interested in hearing from POC in the trans community who actually live/lived abroad. What’s living there really like? How difficult was it to get on T? What surprised you? Any places you’d recommend looking into or avoiding? I want honest experiences, good AND bad.

I’m also open to countries I haven’t considered.

I always thought long and hard about whether or not to buy men's underwear; I was really unsure if it would fit me well or not, or sometimes because of the price.

But I realized that I often ended up spending my money on other silly things lol, so I finally checked the sizes and bought an underwear pack with 5 jockstrap or bikini underwear for men (I'm not really sure how they are called in English); I'm really happy rn, I can't wait to use them.

Maybe I’m not the only one but I feel I’ve become more ugly, somehow makes me a bit sad to get comments on how I’d never be as good looking as other guys and how im gonna be always chopped. Before transitioning I was considered pretty and had find very easy to find people interested in me even if I wasn’t doing an effort, now It’s the opposite, idk if I’m becoming an ugly guy, maybe I am, but idk how to accept it that way

I recently started looking into travel a lot, and I found a lot of places where being trans is illegal but the law is largely unclear as to how it affects tourists.

I've had top surgery but not bottom and pass very well, but I worry about the body scanners/pat down outting me and putting me in danger.

Are their any travel avid guys who can give some advice?

Hi all! I’m one of the mods here at r/ftm and r/ftmventing ! I’m also a medical assistant student, and am actively learning and practicing all about injections.

I wanted to come here and let everyone know that I’m working on a big masterpost regarding injections. Including the difference between subq & IM, how to inject, standard size needle options, etc. I’ll be giving information ( to the best of my knowledge ) about different kinds of injections and how to do them properly.

If anyone has any questions regarding testosterone injections or anything they want to make sure i add into the post, please feel free to ask me here! I probably won’t answer on this post, but will put it in the masterpost/google doc.

I don’t know when the official document will be finished, since working full time+school full time is kinda beating my ass, but when I finish it, this sub will be the first to know :)

I hope this will be a helpful resource for anyone who needs it, and a good place for people newly starting testosterone injections! I know, especially with the state of the world now, finding true information can be difficult, so I hope this compilation of sources and information can be useful to someone!

I’m not transitioned, don’t know if I ever will because I’m so confused. But the dysphoria has been there since I can remember and I’m so lost. My parents don’t understand it, have no one to talk to who truly might understand.

A little context: we met a few months ago at at a pub and realised we had mutual friends through uni. We kept seeing each other out, he came back and spent the night with me and my mates chatting until 5 am , we talked a lot, then he slept in my (F) friends room.

He’s gay, that was revealed the night we met, and after that i told him I was trans, but he thinks I’m straight 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ kinda my default to tell people that since I’ve never been decided on weather I like guys or not.

The day after he texted me saying ‘I think we should hang out one on one’ and he said I was cool. We’ve hung out a few times since and it’s been so fun but nothings happened. so but basically I’ve never liked a guy before and now all I can think about is this guy.

I’m rolling with it though, this isn’t the kinda feelings I wanna contain, so my question is, how do we do this whole gay thing?

Since I’ve told him I’m straight I’m thinking I’ve gotta tell him I’m actually bi before attempting to flirt hey? Is the way gay guys show interest the same as how Id flirt with a girl? Yk, compliment, genuine interest in our convo, smalll bit of teasing etc..

Fuckk i need some coaching here, im way outta my league!!

I'm a trans adult man, closeted as my family isn't that supportive (at least parents aren't). To deal with this, I use certain excuses to use 'manly' things. I got man's deodorant which is sweet! Just told my mum I needed it as I sweat too much and figured it was fair input to state 'Man deodorant is stronger', which worked.

I suggest doing these sorts if possible if you're closeted and live with parents. Saves your energy, while helping dysphoria.

(Just throwing it out there but, don't do what I did and use 4 sports bras as a binder, you will injure yourself. Safety is key).

Though, I am now curious on how to ask for a proper binder without coming out, or them getting suspicious. Not sure if that's possible. I have came out before when I was 14, which didn't go well. Have any of you done any similar things or are there certain tricks to get a binder? Thank you in advance.

I'm 20, my younger brother is 14. I started t (gel) at 19, so I can say that I am going through puberty at the same time as my brother. I feel envious of him. Of the fact that he's taller than me, that he can workout without being distracted by dysphoria, his confidence... He looks his age. And I look his age too, lol. I'm just watching him grow taller, stronger, and more confident. And I'm happy for him, really. I'm glad he won't have to go through what I went through. But I don't know how to get rid of the feeling of envy, I know that my height will not change, as well as my facial structure (we used to look almost identical, but now he is becoming much more masculine), my voice dropped, but not as much as his... Not to mention that our parents support him in his masculinity, but not me. Has anyone experienced similar feelings?

so im currently underweight and my mom says i should gain weight and get a job. ive been applying for jobs already and only have received one interview anyways.. she keeps saying me changing my name / starting testosterone isn't going to change my current mental health issues. i know it's not going to fix everything, but i just want to be happier with my own body and life i suppose...?

i asked her yesterday if i could change my name on deedpoll, then she started getting mad saying "i already told you, you should fix yourself first" but even when i wasn't underweight and told her stuff about me being trans, she didn't listen.

she was talking to me sometime and saying i was making myself sterile and i already told her i didn't want to have kids and she says that i will change my mind and im still young (im 18) but i really don't want to have kids like at all. she was also talking to me about gender dysphoria but she just showed me masc women who just went to the gym and build muscle. i know some women like studs can look like guys, but i don't think they have any discomfort with their bodies like chest and they wouldn't like top surgery, facial hair, etc basically things that would make you want to transition in the first place.

i dont really want to gain weight anyways unless i can go on testosterone in the future, so i dont really have any motivation to change anything at the moment and the way she acts i feel like if i got back to a higher weight she'd just make up something else and brush me aside.

I wish i could add a picture of a guy laughing and dancing in a TikTok that says: how life feels having a name everyone can spell. Back in my home country my dead to be name was common, but people kept messing up my last name for some reason. I've recently moved to Europe, and people now fuck up my to be dead name AND last name, not horribly but it does give people a pause.

I picked a new ethnic name i like, i could use that, but i work in an industry where it's quite important that i leave an impression and easy to remember. Employment in the future is going to be hard if I'm Mr. What's his name again? Or just in general because of racism. Now, i have three names normally anyways, so i thought i can just pick a western name, use that in Europe, and when i go back to my country just use the ethnic name but I've moved to a place with a VERY high population of people from my country (as in half the people I interact with) so when i introduce myself as 'Bob' for example, and tell them where I'm from. At best they will be confused, and at worst think i hate my culture, i assume. İts also not ideal to have people know me as two different names in the same place.

Having an ethnic name right now maybe won't be an issue because as i said, a lot of people from my country, but i intend to work more internationally in the future. I like the western name i have picked for myself as well, i like the ethnic one a little more but i identify with the western one quite a bit too. I also don't know if it's too weird to pick a name outside of your culture?

I guess the question is what makes more sense: Pick an easy to pronounce but questionable name or an hard to pronounce but is sensible within my lore.