A reader writes: “I am a 48-year-old transgendered woman. I had a sex change operation at age 25. I am unable to get a job, go to school, or rent an apartment. There are laws against discrimination against transsexuals in this state, but they do not enforce the laws. “I used to have a career [...]
Archive for the ‘Observations’ Category
Ask Matt: Anti-Trans Discrimination Ruins Dreams
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Observations, tagged being trans, community, discrimination, employment, transition, transphobia on February 9, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Trans People: Are We ‘Just Like You’?
Posted in Commentary, Observations, tagged assimilation, being trans, discrimination, gender expectations on January 26, 2012 | 23 Comments »
The “just like you” argument is about as old as time, dirt, and me. It probably emerged with the first person to be marginalized by a group in power, and there was likely enough of a difference between this person and that group that the group was able to justify shutting him or her out. [...]
Ask Matt: The Breast of Both Worlds
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Information, Observations, tagged bodies, masculinity, sex, sexual orientation, surgery, transition on January 16, 2012 | 11 Comments »
A reader writes: “I’m a gay trans man about four months on T, and I’m making plans to schedule top surgery soon. Although my overall gender identity is pretty much binarily male, my sexual identity seems more dual-gender, in that when I’m feeling aroused, nipple stimulation and visualizing myself with a mixture of both male [...]
Ask Matt: So Are You Single?
Posted in Ask Matt, Commentary, Information, Observations, tagged community, identity, relationships, transition, transsexual on January 5, 2012 | 36 Comments »
A reader writes: “So are you single?” Yes. Short question, short answer. But if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I can’t just give a short answer to anything. I think being single is an important thing to talk about, because relationships, while a primary concern of many people in general, are [...]
Tranifesto’s Most Popular Posts of 2011
Posted in Information, Observations, tagged Chaz Bono, gender identity, identity, LGBT, masculinity, relationships, testosterone on January 2, 2012 | 5 Comments »
WordPress just sent me a “Your 2011 Year in Blogging” report that provides a year-end summary of the most viewed and most commented on posts for the year. Although I can always see my stats, it’s nice to have all that information in an organized little bundle. So to welcome in 2012, I’m going to [...]
2012 Resolutions: What Are You Doing Right?
Posted in Advice, Observations, tagged being trans, community, holidays on December 29, 2011 | 12 Comments »
Another new year is upon us, and I will admit that I’m the type to make New Year’s resolutions. I’m also the type to break them before January is out the door. I honestly can’t think of any resolutions that I’ve made that I’ve been able to keep long-term. Eat less? Well, less than the [...]
Ask Matt: A Concerned Grandmother, a Transgender Grandchild
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Observations, tagged coming out, family, gender expression, gender identity, trans women, transition on December 15, 2011 | 7 Comments »
A reader writes: “I am the grandmother of a young man (age 18) who is undergoing sexual confusion (his words) and is now discussing becoming a female. I am totally supportive of whatever decision he makes but don’t know how best to show him my support. I just want to understand what he is going [...]
Staying Happy During the Holidays
Posted in Advice, Information, Observations, tagged being trans, community, family, holidays on December 8, 2011 | 15 Comments »
The holidays are once again upon us, and no matter which one you celebrate at this time of year, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, the forced cheerfulness of Christmas songs, glittery decorations, light displays, and other holiday hoopla can add to the seasonal blues of those who feel alone. This can be [...]
‘Mom, I Just Can’t Take the Crying’
Posted in Commentary, Observations, tagged femininity, gender expression, gender roles, hormones, masculinity, testosterone, trans men, transition on December 1, 2011 | 20 Comments »
When my nephew was about four or five, his best friend was a little girl of the same age. My sister and the girl’s mother were friends, so the two kids grew up together. My nephew was and is a sensitive child in many ways. He has always shared his toys, stopped to help other [...]


Ask Matt: Do Both Trans Men and Trans Women Prefer Female Partners?
Posted in Ask Matt, Commentary, Observations, tagged gender expectations, LGBT, relationships, sexual orientation on January 30, 2012 | 26 Comments »
A reader writes: “I’m a trans woman. Recently I have wondered why there seems to be a much greater percentage of trans women who seek relationships with women than trans men who seek relationships with other men. “Stephen Ira’s (Warren Beatty and Annette Bening’s son) story of having a boyfriend started me thinking. He is [...]
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