Just looked at the pics and Yeek is right, they did do an amazing job. And I'd agree with him as well that you looked pretty before the change as well, but as long as you feel happier now, that is the most important thing.
ask a transman anything
- Thread starter markangeloc
- Start date
Just looked at the pics and Yeek is right, they did do an amazing job. And I'd agree with him as well that you looked pretty before the change as well, but as long as you feel happier now, that is the most important thing.
Trajan12
Deity
Where are the before pictures, I can't seem to find them.
Ansar
Détente avec l'été
markangeloc
Warlord
Hi Mark, best of luck for your mission. Reading through the thread, you certainly seem to be the right man for the task.
Here's a strange question from a strange guy: While I noticed that transphobia is receding (at least here in my country), I also see a strange new transphilia phenomenon. I don't really know how to describe it ... it's as if transsexuality has become, well, fashionable in some groups of society. One clear indication is the adult area of a movie store ... the amount of transsexuality movies has exploded from barely anything to a full aisle. I also know at least one person who made it his mission to at least once have sex with a transman and transwoman. To me, it sounded a bit like "trophy hunting", as if he wanted to complete a collection.
Question: Do you think there's a danger in this development (if you see it too), an objectification of transsexual people? It's certainly more positive than hatemongering, but still irks me ...
Then again, perhaps I just know some very strange people (which I probably do). Still, I'm interested in your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks man, I hope that I do it justice. The incline in trans film, especially the porn industry has increased. I think due in part by the curiosity and being something different. I guess the typical stuff is getting boring, so trans is new. What you are seeing though, are not really transsexual people, but transvesitites, cross dressers, who take the hormones to try to capitilize in an industry that can make them money. A respectable transsexual person will not engage in such practices. I dont like to speak for everyone, and God knows why people do what they do. The need for money can make you climb mountains. I am no one to judge. But I guess it is better than hatemongering. But I also hate to see people learn about transsexuals through porn. There are better avenues of education.
A trophy huh. I guess it takes all sorts to make this world. We use to be known back in ancient times as great lovers, people would come to us for advice since we are known as two spirited, magic incarnate, shamina and healers. So who know, what can happen in modern times. I just want the world to understand our pain, and why we do what we do. I cant be the trans police, and hope my transsexual brothers and sister behave and do right by all.
I do see an increase in gender variance, so too the research. Its due to the increase in hormones in our environment.
Mark Angelo
markangeloc
Warlord
That is a nice picture, Yeeek.
Btw, I like your speech (YouTube video).
Thanks..
Man it is really strange seeing those pictures, its almost like, wow that was me? Almost as if I were sleep walking for years and finally woke up.
Mark Angelo
markangeloc
Warlord
Yes I do. I couldnt begin to tell you. I was not that girl, that was what the world wanted to see. Mark was imprisoned in that body for 39 years. I am glad I am free.
Mark Angelo
salty mud
Deity
Hi Mark.
How much was the total operation? Was the end result worth the cost? What would you have done if the operation was far to expensive?
How much was the total operation? Was the end result worth the cost? What would you have done if the operation was far to expensive?
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
Mark,
have you been lurking these forums before you decided to reveal your transsexuality? If so, for how long and do you feel that the missconceptions some had (edit:me too by the way, not putting myself above others, the link to your site was quite revealing
) were an important motivation to do so?
Cheers,
Ziggy.
have you been lurking these forums before you decided to reveal your transsexuality? If so, for how long and do you feel that the missconceptions some had (edit:me too by the way, not putting myself above others, the link to your site was quite revealing
) were an important motivation to do so?Cheers,
Ziggy.
markangeloc
Warlord
Hey Salty,
in post #42 I went over all the cost and different procedured in detail. The end result was definetly woth it. I would do it again ten folds. Well, there are many transsexuals that cannot afford the surgeries, and this is why I am doing the advocacy and education, to help them. So the people stop making fun of them, discriminating against them, and hurting them. Not everyone is as fortunate as I. If I could not have done the surgeries and fixed my condiiton, I don't know where I would be today. Life was getting harder to bare. I feel that the depression would have led me into a very dark path. I think this is what motivates me to speak out. No one should have to live prisoner in their own bodies without commiting a crime. We did not ask to be born this way.
Mark Angelo
markangeloc
Warlord
Mark,
have you been lurking these forums before you decided to reveal your transsexuality? If so, for how long and do you feel that the missconceptions some had (edit:me too by the way, not putting myself above others, the link to your site was quite revealing
Cheers,
Ziggy.
Hello Ziggy,
I had just tune into your forum 2 days ago, when it appeared in one of the web sites that posts forums or articles regarding transsexuals. Since I am constantly doing research, I google and stuff, to get information. By the way, I have never hid my transsexuality. I am okay with who I am, and will answer anyones question and ease anyones mind. Definetly misconceptions through the world regarding transsexuality has been a driving force to my advocacy. I am always glad to shed some light.
Mark Angelo
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
I guess if anyone knows the value of being ok with who you are, it's you. I couldn't imagine having to face the "who am I?" question in the way you must have. I'm glad you decided to share your unique perspective and that everything worked out allright for you.
Cheers,
Ziggy.
Sophie 378
Avvie by ybbor
Do you mean c'est la vie? Sorry for grammar-nazi-ing, I just had absolutely no idea what that meant until I read it phonetically.
Is your poem available as text anywhere? I prefer to read things rather than watch videos, and I'd like to read your poem!
markangeloc
Warlord
Do you mean c'est la vie? Sorry for grammar-nazi-ing, I just had absolutely no idea what that meant until I read it phonetically.
Is your poem available as text anywhere? I prefer to read things rather than watch videos, and I'd like to read your poem!
I am sorry yes, thats what I meant. My poem is available on the following link
http://www.opednews.com/articles/life_a_mark_ang_061221_we_believe.htm
But I would also watch the video, it gives the poem life. I perform it.
Thanks
Mark Angelo
Back in 2001 "suddenly" a male colleague of mine anounced of being transsexual and about a year later she had the final surgery, becoming a woman. So I've had some experience with it in real life. It's still strange.
My question: In my country there is talk of giving transsexual children a sex-change operation before puberty. Since you search the internet I'm certain you have heard of it. What's your opinion on this? Is it too early or is it a good direction to move to sex-change operations at younger ages?
My question: In my country there is talk of giving transsexual children a sex-change operation before puberty. Since you search the internet I'm certain you have heard of it. What's your opinion on this? Is it too early or is it a good direction to move to sex-change operations at younger ages?
markangeloc
Warlord
Although it appears strange to you and many people, it is real and happens to many of us born with this condition. Trust me, we do not ask for this, or wish this upon anyone.
I belong to a advocacy group here in the states called trans youth family advocates http://www.imatyfa.org/Imatyfa/Imatyfa.html
There is a video you can watch regarding how it feels like as a young person to be a transsexual or as they like to be refer to as transgender.
I believe it saves the person years of therapy, hurt, and repair from the wrong hormones entering there body. So if you can block the hormones, with hormone blockers, and add the correct hormones instead. It makes for a smoother transition. Also if you have the surgery, earlier, it also creates better results. I think the child, along with the parents must be certain. But this is why there are professionals that will help them with the journey.
So yes to answer your question. I wish I would have had it done when I was younger and saved me a world of hurt.
Mark Angelo
angeleyes
mood indigo
My question: are the experts nowadays capable to say: this is a man in a woman's body, or: this is a woman in a man's body, only by their own physical research, or do they need a psychological investigation of the child? I mean have they to trust completely on the child's experiences to decide to operate or not?
Ansar
Détente avec l'été
Since what age did you know something was wrong with your body?
At what age exactly do you think transsexuals start noticing that they are in the wrong body?
What is different in when you are feeling in the wrong body and feeling the attraction of the same sex?
At what age exactly do you think transsexuals start noticing that they are in the wrong body?
What is different in when you are feeling in the wrong body and feeling the attraction of the same sex?
markangeloc
Warlord
There are guide lines and regulations. This condition has been around since the begining of time. But its been since the 1930's that the guide lines where put in place to know its not a phase. The experts are called gender specialist who deal with gender variant children. They are Psychologist that are specializing in this arena. According to the Merck Manual a child knows his or her gender identity as early as 18-24 months of age. They are able to voice if they are a boy or a girl. Remember, we are not talking sexual preference, that comes on much later in life. But your identity is hardwired in the brain, and voices as early as 2 to 3 years of age.
It is a fine line and much needed guidance of the parents and professionals to make sure there is no mistake being made. No one is going to operate on the child. Simply allowing the child to be themselves, stay neutral, without forcing the child either way. Once the child continues to voice or express the discomfort of their physical sex, then during puberty, hormonal blockers are introduce, almost as if to buy time. No harm no foul, if the child changes their mind, they go off the blockers.
Puberty resumes. If the child, now a young adolesent, continues to express being in the wrong body, the right hormone is introduced. Then around 16 years of age surgery can begin. It is something that has been in practice for a while just not talked about. Many parents keep it a secret. Children are actually going to school in their new gender identity, the teachers and others are being educated to prevent miscommunication or any events from taking place.
markangeloc
Warlord
How can I explain this. Let see I knew the world saw me different from what I saw myself as early as 3 years old. I was being me, but the world (my parents) wanted me to act and feel like a girl. I felt like a boy. Everything about me was masculine. From my play, to my posture and manurism. I did not identify as a female, I identified as a male. I was a boy trapped in a girls body.
There are several turning points in people life that can create the knowledge of being in the wrong body. First, around 3 years old. Second, puberty, when hormones start to kick in. Remember this is a hormone interaction thing. Finally, around late adult hood, where there is also hormonal changes. Hormones affect our thinking, our receptors in the brain and endocrine system. So that is a loaded question it depends on the individual.
The difference between gender identity and sexual preference are as follows:
To feel that your body is out of place, because your brain dictates you are a man, but you have female parts, is a feeling of being trapped in the wrong body. You identify as one gender, while your physical sex demonstrates another. I ask you this, what do you feel like, a man or a woman? There is a feeling of gender. One can feel like one or the other, maybe both or neither. But there is a distinct feeling or recognition of this. Now you feel as one or the other, your body also demonstrates or confirms that feeling by having genitals that match that feeling.
Who you are attracted to or want to have emotional or sexual relations with, has absolutely nothing to do with how you identify as an individual.
Forinstance, a woman can identify as a lesbian, but that doesnt mean she wants to be a man. Or a woman, who is highly masculine, and enjoys masculine activies, but does not want to have a sex change, is not transsexual. She is a female who is androgynous and enjoys male things, as well as relations with men.
Another scenario, a feminine man, who does not want to be a woman, but enjoys sex with both. This man is a feminine bisexual man.
The combination are endless, and that is because the gender/sex spectrum is rather wide.
I am sorry and I hope I didnt confuse you more than you were. There are no black or whites to this, but many shades of grey. The bottom line people need to be whom they are, and the world needs to stop wanting to place everyone in a neat and tiny box.
Mark Angelo
Ansar
Détente avec l'été
The answer didnt confuse me at all. It was actually enlightening.
*sausage because I think its againt the rules to say the correct word.
When you asked that I actually thought, I have a sausage*!markangeloc said:
*sausage because I think its againt the rules to say the correct word.
