post or pre opt transexuales only!?

Question

when you began your sex change and changed the anme you were given at birth,how hard was it?
did/do you still respond whne you hear the name you had from birth?
do/did you ever forget to turn your head when you heard your new name?

any other info on this name thing would be great. I don't think its the hardest part of a sex change, but it has to be hard to change your name even if you disliked it.

Answer 1

My partner is trans. When he changed his name it was pretty easy, actually. It varies state to state, but in Vermont, he showed up at the court house, filed some papers, and got an appointment. That took about 5 minutes. He went back for his appointment about a month later, paid $50, swore that he wasn't changing his name to avoid debt, and that was that. About 10 minutes. In some states you have to publish your intent to change your name in the paper and stuff though... it gets complicated depending on where you are.

He doesn't respond to the name he went by with his friends (which was basically his old initials). He does respond to his childhood name because his father hasn't quite caught on with all the changes yet.

He's had his name changed legally for over a year now, so he doesn't forget to turn his head anymore, but he used to! There was one night when he was working at the bar and the owner was walking behind him calling his name, and he didn't turn and didn't turn, and finally he shouted his girl name and he flipped around. Everything takes some getting used to.

Answer 2

This really can be applied to anyone who has changed their name or even began to use their middle name later in life.

I was called Angel from the time I was a baby, but as I grew into an adult, I hated people treating me like a child, so I began to use my full given name...there are those who resisted and insisted on using my childhood name (mostly because they couldn't simply respect me on an equal level...like my step mother) and there are those who happily complied (like my mother). But to fully answer your question, yes, you still turn your head.

Answer 3

When the transgendered individual is at that point where a name change legally done or just assumed, ( as it is usually done early in transition) they are very ready to be accepted in their new gender role. Answering to the name they have chosen is very reassuring to them that they have been recognized in that new gender. Sure it is difficult , but it is usually more difficult for friends and family of transgendered people to remember their loved one is now some one else, as far as in name. Use of pronouns is also another stumbling block for people who know trans friends. No transgendered person either MtF or FtM wants to be refer ed to in the pronoun of the gender they are changing from,..it becomes hurtful, embarrassing and unacceptable to them as they want only to be recognized in their new gender.