I'm starting T!

For anyone who may not have known, I'm Kean, Anna and Chad's kid. I went by a different name up until high school, so you may remember me by that other name if you haven't seen me since I was little. I don't post here much since this is more my parents' blog, but today I have some very exciting news to share!

 I am so happy to announce that as of today, May 10th, 2023, I have officially started transmasculine HRT (hormone replacement therapy, also called "testosterone" or just "T"). The specifics of HRT are perhaps a bit too involved for a public announcement post, but essentially it will allow me to go through a second, male puberty. On HRT, I will experience changes including a lower voice, more body/facial hair, and a more traditionally "masculine" body fat distribution, which will help me feel more comfortable in my body and while existing socially. This has been a long time coming — I started my transition nearly 5 years ago (!), and have spent the last few months in endless phone calls with doctors and health insurance companies. This has not been been a hasty decision — anything but, in fact — and while I've had my fair share of anxiety and frustration along the way, now that I've reached the figurative "end of the tunnel" I am simply overjoyed. I truly hope you can share in this excitement with me!

I won't lie — it's a scary time to be a transgender person in the U.S. right now, certainly more so than it was when I started my transition in 2018. I am very fortunate to be living in a place where I am relatively safe, and I am so grateful to my family & friends for all the support given to me over the years, but I can't help but fear for my fellow trans people. I would encourage anyone reading this to look into organizations fighting for trans rights (the ACLU and Transgender Law Center are good places to start) and to reach out to any trans people you know who may be in need of support right now. The odds against us are not insurmountable, but we need every ally we can get.