Life Transgendered
By Lex Newman
5 Jun 2009
I am an androgynous/transgender person. This means that I associate with the gender that is the opposite or different from my biological sex, and that I often think of myself as genderless. I have felt this way for more years than I was fully aware, and I am only now really coming to terms with it.
I have always been a different sort of person, but it wasnt until I was about sixteen or seventeen that I realized that I didnt not identify with my biological gender. I began to dress in a manner not connotative to either gender, and I started to act a little bit more like my opposite gender. People accepted that, and so it was okay. But I am afraid that if I tell them that I am not just a person who acts a bit like the opposite gender, but that I am transgender, that they will not accept that.
No one knows exactly what causes gender dysphoria (the medical term for being transgender), but I know that it doesnt matter exactly what causes it. What matters is that people like me feel safe and accepted in society, and I hope we can work toward that. I hope that some day in the near future I can reveal myself and feel safe about it. I hope that I can transition fully into the life that I want to live.
9 responses
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Anthony Cronin said (6 Jun 2009):
This is the first ever series of pictures I have seen that capture the limbo and inner sorrow that effects lots of the TS/TG community. I have friends from this community and your work expresses so well many of their inner battles.
This is a beautiful and striking piece of work -
Anthony Cronin gave props (6 Jun 2009):
poetic and sensitive
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Megan Green said (6 Jun 2009):
Gorgeous images, heavy with emotion. Great work, and it takes a hell of a lot of courage to not only document your own struggle gender dysphoria, but to put it out there for all to see. My vote.
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Laura Pelkey gave props (8 Jun 2009):
Thank you so much for sharing this. I know that it couldn't have been easy but it helps to increase people's awareness and understanding of the transgendered community. Again, thank you.
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Michael Risenhoover (Deleted) gave props (12 Jun 2009):
Excellent work, and my vote!
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Jan Hoffman gave props (21 Jun 2009):
Softly said and beautifully seen; well done
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Freddy Sarabia gave props (11 Aug 2010):
Amazing!!!
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Bianca Stewart (Deleted) gave props (15 Nov 2010):
Lex, I applaud and admire your courage. Your story is beautiful and poignant. Thank you for sharing.
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Marco Martinez gave props (22 Feb 2011):
Powerful narrative. Stories like yours are meant to be shared, understood. I, too, admire what you have done.
