Looking good! I'm glad you've found your happiness. Now make sure you hold on to it and live the life you've wanted for so long!

This was really a very interesting post to read. I'm sure it wasn't easy but it sounds like you're finding a great place for you to feel... well.. I guess I'd describe it as "even"? As random duder #6433912 on the internet I'm very happy for you. Congratulations, best of luck going forward, and much thanks for sharing.

Hey thats awesome and was interesting to read. I mean ill fully admit i dont understand the whole transgender thing, but you obviously do, and you're doing what makes you happy as should everyone. So good for you! Just cus i dont understand it doesn't mean i can't support ya, so cheers!

Word. If you love the person for who they are in the present then their past shouldn't be an issue IMO.

Yall are fuckin nuts. She's pretty!

Congratulations on that very important milestone. You definitely look to be transitioning rather well. I'm glad this is working out for you as I've read some of your comments in the past and some of it sounded like you weren't doing so hot. Glad to see things have improved since then.

I know we don't see eye to eye on many occasions, but seriously, good for you.

So feel free to ignore this question if it bothers you in any way, but what's your policy on telling people you're in a relationship with that you're transgender? Obviously you are under no obligation to tell every single person you meet, but as far as a romantic relationships go, it could potentially cause some serious issues and potentially even put your person in danger if the person reacts poorly.

I'm happy that you are happy. Yayyyyy. That's really what matters most in our lives. Surround yourself with loving, empathetic people who can appreciate you for you. Ignore the vitriol of ass holes. People like that do what they do because they are not confident in their own lives. If they were, then your life should have absolutely no bearing on theirs and they could move on easily (like you should if you were to encounter such an ass hole)

Hey! It's cool to see that it's working out for you :)

Hormonemachines, son.

And congrats! Given all the turmoil you've openly documented regarding your transition, it's great to see it's all paying off.

Congratulations, OP. As oft-ridiculed as it is, the love of one's self can require a tremendous amount of courage. I'm glad you're on that road.

I can't speak for @hatking, and am certainly no relationship counselor, but in my opinion the healthiest way to enter such a relationship could only involve full acceptance of that person's past, if only so you'd do a better job of understanding the difficulties they've faced, and how best to reinforce the correctness of their choices.

A very heart-warming and interesting story. I don't want to sound too clinical or detached with this statement, but I've always found the whole transition process to be completely fascinating--on both a biological and psychological level. I'm glad you are comfortable enough to share something this person with people on a gaming forum of all places!

And kudos to our community for being entirely cool about it and nothing but supportive. I could easily see a thread like this going into the shitter just about anywhere else online...

As someone who's been in a PM with you since your hormone therapy started, it makes me so fucking happy to see how much your life has changed for the better. You definitely had your share of trials and it's about damn time you were rewarded for it.

I think it's something that should be disclosed before the relationship begins, honestly. Don't date someone if they aren't cool with it. Minimize risks.

Thank you u////u It's definitely a weird road to be on, but I'm glad I'm on it.

<3 ilu babe

Wow, this is a massive change and I'm really happy that it's one that's already making you feel so much better. Blooming love science for being able to do something like this and help someone to be happy.

Hey guys video games.

No seriously though congrats.

@artelinarose:

Softer skin, huh? I never knew that was also a thing. That's dope.

Congrats on making it this far, through the many trials and tribulations that you've had to overcome. And I wish you the very best of luck for the future!

x

This thread and these comments bring a tear to my eye and make me overwhelmed with pride and joy of being a part of such a awesome community as the Giant Bomb community ^_^

Best of wishes @artelinaroseand good luck

Lookin good!

It takes a lot of courage to do this and I'm very proud of you.

Wow, that really is a phenomenal transition. You look fantastic. Of course, how you look is the least important thing - the fact that you feel good about yourself is what really matters.

Thumbs up.

Hormone therapy sounds like all the joys of menopause in your 20s.

Keep it up!

I work with a guy/girl who is transgender.

The hardest thing for me is reminding myself to refer to her as a her, I knew her before she was a her, so I still catch myself calling her "dude" and stuff... we have been close friends since we met so I call my male friends "dude" and stuff... so I forget sometimes.

But anyway, she has been on and off the hormone treatments for years, it's been a struggle because she wants to be female but her parents and family didn't even know about it for a while and when they did find out they were of course completely against it, so she would stop taking them and stuff. But for over a year, I believe, she has been taking them.

You can totally see a difference in her face and stuff, it's crazy.

Anyway, I just came in here to say, do what makes you feel happy. Don't listen to haters or negative stuff. And if you believe in a God (some people do not), God isn't going to love you any less.

One question however and you don't have to answer, I was just curious... are you planning on getting the sex change operation?

Woooooooooo :D

So wait a minute. If you have a girlfriend and you became a girl, is she a lesbian? I'm so confused..............................

Also if you get married who would wear the bride's dress? Or do you both wear a bride's dress? Still very confused............................

You are actually pretty cute, what the fuck?! Whatever, it's good to hear your life is better now and I hope it will be even better later.

Congratulations on this whole process! It must have taken guts.

At some point it just doesn't make a lot of sense to put binary labels on people's sexuality, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's probably a basic answer to your (somewhat insensitive) question. I feel like it's none of my business to ask how her girlfriend interiorizes their relationship.

@snail: I'm just curious how it works? This is all new to me.

I continue to be happy for you Lina.

@marcsman: The first is an external label that - like most labels and pigeonholes - doesn't always fit every situation, so... she is Susan (or Beth, or Jill...)

The second has no meaning at all - only recently I went to a wedding where both the man and woman wore suits...

No one should let "tradition" (the current wedding dress style comes from Queen Victoria) bar them from doing what works for them...

This also applies perfectly for the mechanics of any relationship.

What can I say, but you look great! Glad you're finding a place where you seem to be comfortable and at peace with yourself, a journey that's not easy for anyone. Continued good luck and good journey!

Well I´ll be damned ... that some serious change there girl.

I´ll be the first to admit that Im not the most open minded , progressive dude on these forums , but honestly can say that Im glad for you and that things are working out as you wanted. :D

And yep you are pretty ^^

@marcsman: She's a woman like any other woman. It's the same as any other lesbian couple.

Glad to hear your transition is going so well. I wish you all the best on the rest of your journey.

You're looking really good. Totally convincing. Did you pick a female name?

I would like to respectfully ask what was the (for lack of better articulation) "breaking point"?

At what point did you decide you wanted this and actually go through with it? I'm just curious about the process from thinking about it to the actual transformation.

When it comes to dating are you "gay" if you date a female? Do you ideally want to be with a female, male, or a trans? I read you had a girlfriend, what's her thoughts on this? Is she technically a lesbian?

Sorry if any of my questions come off as ignorant. I honestly want to learn about this stuff, but information is scattered and I've never met a trans in person.

Well this is all pretty new to me. I should probably spend more time on these forums again. Hmm. But yeah, glad to hear you're adapting well to it. I've been following a lot of transgender people on Twitter in the past year to expand my horizons so to speak and it's been really interesting hearing about them. Nice to see people are more accepting about it lately too. Can't wait to hear more.

That was super swell to read. :> Thank you for sharing it with us. You seem to be in a really good place now and that's way rad.

Also man, going through this thread...

Congrats. I recall reading one of your threads before you were placed on hormones, and thinking how scary it must be to go through with something like that. To see that you stuck with it, and it has worked out for the best, is inspiring.

Her. What the hell, man?

"Totally convincing" is a bit of a backhanded compliment, isn't it? It seems like that comment stems from the thought process "You look good, for a boy."

I had my name changed to Lina Rose (redacted) at the end of February.

When I thought about doing it. It was a very sudden realization and it also came with the realization that a lot of shit I had been trying to do for the past few years was me unknowingly wanting to transition. As soon as the thought entered my head, it made a whole lot of sense for me to want to do it.

I'm a girl. So, yes, if I date a woman, it is a gay relationship. I'm panromantic so it doesn't much matter to me how who I'm with identifies. My girlfriend is a transgender female as well. We are lesbians. The biggest hurdle for most people, it seems, is breaking their perception away from the idea of a gender binary that is enforced by our culture. "But but you're a guy!" No, I'm not, and that's where your thinking is flawed.

"A trans" is kinda disrespectful because it dehumanizes me to just my identity.

WHY IS ME BEING CUTE A SURPRISE TO YOU DID YOU NOT READ THAT IM A PRINCESS IN THE TITLE

A) Why does my junk matter to you?

B) None of your business.

There are a list of insensitive questions that cis people seem to loooove asking transgender individuals, and this is one of them. Other ones include "What's your REAL name?" "What's it like downstairs?" "Oh, so you're a boy that wants to be a girl?" etc.

Cis people have a weird preoccupation with trans people's genitals, it seems. I don't get it.

That's basically it. I get menopause AND puberty at the same time. It's super awesome, lemme tell you.

I'm under the impression that all people have a weird preoccupation with all people's genitals. I know the first question that pops into my mind whenever I meet anyone is "I wonder what their junk looks like?"

Anyway, I'm glad things are going well. You look great, and even better it's nice to see you so pleased with the results.

There's your explanation. Sort of.

Good to see @pyromagnestir beat me to the most obvious joke I could make.

Hey so i don't usually browse internet forums, especially how toxic gaming forums can be but I got to say that this thread is pretty awesome so far and I commend you for being open about yourself and putting yourself out there in order to inform and educate people. It takes a lot of guts but it's important that people understand this stuff, the only way to battle ignorance is with education.

I have two friends who have gone through hormone therapy and it sounds just emotionally and physically draining so best of luck to you.

@artelinarose: Not everyone knows exactly which words you want them to use for every single little thing you want to distinguish between, and as such, I really don't think anyone is being insensitive. Insensitive implies an implication (that's a dumb sentence to write) and I really don't think anyone here is implying anything. People are taking an interest in something you feel open enough with to share with the internet, it's a good thing. Yay.

It's what I do.

It's possible to be unknowingly insensitive, but that still doesn't stop it from being insensitive; I think it's important to point out that such questions fall on the opposite side of appreciated when they are raised.

Thinking of doing another blog post which will just be a FAQ/non comprehensive guide to MTF transgender peoples.

Believe me, I'm keenly aware of why the question or very act of questioning can come across as insensitive - and most of the time it is - but at the same time the question is valid for someone to form a basis for sexual attraction, because just as gender identity isn't really a choice once you've broken that point with questioning it, sexual attraction is what is. That and yes, a cis person is not going to understand the bizarre dysphoria and complexities in having one's gender identity questioned, so they aren't going to be the greatest at dealing with it socially.

Though really, I didn't want my first point in this thread to be anything but a hug because I love seeing you happy. Plus the conversation has been mostly positive, if a tad ignorant.