Hi all, I'm pre-HRT (AMAB) and want to explore HRT. However I've been recently diagnosed with coeliac (age 30), and the doctors said I've got a higher risk of developing bone health issues. I know there's also an increased risk with elevated oestrogen/etc.
Until I fully recover from coeliac, I probably won't start with HRT, but I'd like to hear from your experience, especially if there are coeliac's too.
Thanks!
Hi community, I've got a bit spiralled by work/life/visa decisions, so I'm very sorry in advance if it becomes a long post.
For context, I moved to the UK for my PhD, presenting as my AAB, and my visa is now ending soon, so I'm having to think about what comes next professionally. I'm already compromising having the visa on my AAB passport, even though it's not my chosen name. The bigger consideration though for me is navigating transition professionally. I began transitioning socially during my studies, which means everyone here (professors, other students, colleagues I've met at conferences) has known me as "male".
As much as I resent it, I'm ambivalent about coming out. I've started growing my hair and got my facial hair lasered, so some changes have begun (which already gives me so much euphoria, that and less self-policing), but I'm still at an early stage and haven't started hormones or considered things like FFS yet (plus doing a PhD while taking hormones might not be the best time I think).
My studies are in economics, so transitioning socially at work feels particularly awkward because they can be so square, even people who might not be malicious about it (side note: I've heard them joke about how little sensitivity they have).
I actually got a one-year teaching position (which I actually enjoy), but the idea of teaching/presenting in front of a crowd while pre-hormones at present for me means I'm rather still present "male" at work. That said, this means it's the first time in my life I'm not making minimum wage, and hope to finance more treatments with this.
As such, I feel (annoyingly) much safer with the status quo for the while, even though I later need to repeat myself that that's not who I identify with. I've tried to see presenting male at work as a "costume", but I definitely don't want to wear it forever. I've been postponing this uncomfortable debate for ages, and I don't think double lives come for free — I've definitely started isolating myself more from work and colleagues. But being misgendered can happen in any workspace to be fair.
Ultimately, I feel like I'm at a crossroads between (a) choosing my gender identity and (b) retaining the job position and professional network I've built in the UK (walking away may mean losing my visa). I want to believe this is a false dichotomy, but there's something almost surreal about just changing my presentation at work one day, especially foreseeing I'd probably be misgendered a lot while pre-hormones. It's not like I haven't met good colleagues here, but I also get the impression that some people feel threatened by change, or might somehow read it as "you're not serious/reliable" (at least that's the vibe I sometimes get from econ).
I have considered private sector as a backup, though it's not what I'd mostly like (it would help if they're open about LGBTQ+). I guess I'd like to stay in the UK a while longer. I've grown fond of it here (despite recent anti-trans judicial developments), but I'm not sure how to continue with this seemingly "double life" I feel caught up in.
Has anyone here transitioned while already established in a career/workplace where everyone knew you as your AAB? Particularly if you were still pre-HRT when you came out at work, how did you navigate that in-between stage? And did it actually affect your professional relationships/career as much as you feared it would?
I welcome any thoughts/opinions. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. ❤️
Where do you guys get all these cool editted campaigns? And how can they played when running the program?