Queer-gendered individuals struggle with not feeling at home in their own bodies every day. Transitioning is one of the best ways to solve that, according to Teagan Orse, a nonbinary student at DU.
Over 1.4 million adults identify as transgender, according to Williamsinstitute.
“The first anti-crossdressing law… was introduced in Colorado in Denver in 1886,” According to David Duffield, the author of Power Embodied. He goes on to discuss that the trans-rights movement truly began in Colorado after the second world war.
The first archived evidence of transitioning in Colorado is from 1967, found in the Transgenderarchive.
Trans and queer-gendered individuals have faced backlash throughout history simply for existing. On top of that, they face many body image issues. Today, many of them are seeing and experiencing the benefits of transitioning.
People are beginning to feel more comfortable making gender part of their identity, even if it’s not the one they are assigned at birth. However, a person’s physical body not matching their mental identity can cause many problems, states Asher Niedosmialek, a gender fluid trans man from Colorado.
“I wanted to put on a front so people would stop bullying me,” stated Samantha Dear, a trans woman, later revealing that she doesn’t mind the judgement as much since beginning her transition. “There’s some that don’t understand, some that are super understanding, and some that are in between… The people that don’t understand are kind of set in their ways,” Dear continued.
Despite some people not being as supportive as others, most queer-gendered individuals agree on one thing- the transition is worth the judgement.
“I’m doing this for me,” stated Gage Stauffer, a gender fluid individual from rural Colorado. “I’m mad at myself for not being born different and not doing something about it.”
Gender dysphoria is “distress or impairment related to a strong desire to be of another gender,” according to Psychaitry.org. This is a problem many trans people struggle with. It causes a strong hate for an individual’s body and traits.
Niedosmialek recalls “wanting these things [masculine traits] that [they] couldn’t have because of estrogen.”
Dear states that she doesn’t feel comfortable in her masculine body. “Everything is wrong, and I want to change it as soon as possible,” Dear says, in relation to her body.
On the opposite side of dysphoria, trans people also face gender euphoria, which is “the experience of feeling great about you, your body, and your gender,” according to TransHub.
“It’s the fuzziest, warmest feeling” states Dear.
“When I shaved my head for the first time, I looked very masculine, and I cried,” shares Orse.
This experience stems from the individual feeling like the correct gender. This can stem from dressing a certain way, having the correct pronouns used, aspects of transitioning, and more.
Many trans individuals report knowing that they were trans from a very young age. They report feeling like a different gender, no gender, or each gender before they understand what that feeling means.
“I just didn’t have the language to say ‘this is who I am’” states Niedosmialek.
“I have, at no point in my life, understood the concept of gender,” states Orse.
The one thing all these individuals are looking forward to is the transition. Whether it be just hormones, a breast reduction, or a full body transition, each of them agree it will better their lives significantly.
Stauffer states that transitioning will help them feel more confident. He says having softer features induced by hormones could make him feel more comfortable, inducing this euphoria.
When asked what could make the transition process easier, Niedosmialek suggested asking a person’s pronouns if you aren’t sure. Dear agreed, suggesting using they/them if you don’t know.
Stauffer suggested people be more understanding, even if you don’t understand. He claims if people were more understanding, he would have felt more comfortable coming out and transitioning earlier in life.
Even if it may seem strange to others, “trans joy is special,” stated Niedosmialek.
“Weird is good,” Dear concurred.
MFJS Reporter Spring 2022 