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ADVENTURES OF A 

Trans Oceanographer

"transitioning" as a non binary person

1/21/2019

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This post is meant for non binary people who are trying to figure out how to transition when the goal is not to pass as male or female. I really hate giving an exact date that I started T because I feel like it contributes to a toxic competitiveness of what you "should" look like after x months on T. I'll give a general amount of time here for reference, but please keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to be trans. I do not mean to imply that what I have done is "right" or better than what anyone else does.

Testosterone:
At the time of this post, I am 8 months on low dose testosterone. I call it "low dose" because at this dose, my levels are far below the lowest end of normal for cis men. However, in absolute amounts, my dosage is not that low. I would caution anyone interested in low dose T that, even in low doses, your body can change quickly on T. My voice dropped after about 2 months. I started growing facial hair after about 3 months. I have also gotten much more muscular, my jaw has widened, my breasts have shrunk, my acne has gotten worse, I smell like a man, and I am much hungrier and hornier than pre T. I still occasionally get my period. I haven't had any issues with mood swings, aggression, anger, etc.

Surgeries:
I have not had any and I don't plan to. I pass as male shirtless and I frequently bike and swim shirtless. 

Clothes:
I wear whatever I feel like on a given day, which covers a wide range of styles from crop tops to men's button downs to rompers to oil stained jeans. Sometimes I wear jewelry and light make up, sometimes I don't.

Hairstyle:
I get my hair cut by a woman at a local barbershop. I usually get a low fade with longer hair on top. Finding a good barber is my number one tip if you want to look more masculine without dealing with the medical industry.

Shaving:
I don't shave my body. I do shave my face.

Pronouns:
In academia, I use "he". With my tutoring clients and my biological family, I use "she". Socially and especially in queer spaces, I really don't care and many people use "they" for me. I enjoy the mix of pronouns but it gets hard when people from different parts of my life meet each other. 

ID's:
My ID's are in my birth name with a female gender marker, with the exception of my birth certificate which says "X" (Thanks Oregon!!!). I don't have any desire to change my legal name. I also don't really want to change my gender marker but I will probably change my passport to make it easier to travel and go to sea. I did renew my passport after 2 months on T, with an updated picture, and I've gotten far less shit from TSA than when my passport picture looked very feminine.

Body modifications:
I have 4 tattoos, gauges in my ear lobes, a belly button piercing, and 6 other piercings. Piercings and tattoos have been almost as important in making me feel comfortable in my body as T has. 

Working out:
I run 5-6 times a week, bike and swim maybe once a week, and do push ups and pull ups every day. 

Passing:
I almost always pass as male, regardless of my clothing. I find this strange - that I can be in a dress and heals and still get called sir - but it doesn't particularly bother me. My voice is very low and I think that most people cannot fathom a woman with a voice as deep as mine. 
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    K Theresa is a PhD student in physical oceanography. He is also trans. 

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