I was ambivalent about this post but I've had a shit ton of asks for it so...
Here is a generic timeline of my transition. These are photos I've gathered from various profiles plus the two pre-transition are snapshots of photos my mom had. I don't have dates except that the last two are from within the last 2 months and the two before are from within the last 2 years.
I post this, not with courage but with angst. Few people have seen my pre-transition pics and for a lot of them it can be shocking - I've even had some start calling me male pronouns. It's terrifying to think that one image can invalidate your entire self to someone. People don't realize how damaging that can be to your self-esteem. Being misgendered alone is hard but being purposely misgendered by someone you thought cared about you is worse.
To pretend I wasn't born male is stupid, I can't pretend (as hard as I may try) that it didn't happen and that I "didn't have a life before" my transition. I'm choosing now to embrace it instead of run from it.
I also won't pretend I was always pretty (and even now the term is subjective). It took years of practice with hair, makeup, presentation and body language to get to where I am - to where I'm comfortable.
All I can say is that I was who I was, I am who I am, and I'm happy.
So maybe this can serve as inspiration for someone out there. Don't let the small-minded idiots get you down and if they do, you sure as hell don't let them keep you down. If I had, I wouldn't be the charming, flirtatious, beautiful, and humble person I am now.
Much love,
- Kae
