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To Family and Friends—
 "Mum
told dad and, astonishingly, he was the most
accepting of all. He adapted to my name-change
immediately. All he said was, 'are you sure you're
doing the right thing?
"But I always remember him
telling me when I was a child, 'when you grow up
you can do anything you want, nothing is
impossible.'" — Eric Australia 2003
"I
sat my parents down after consulting a Professor in
Newcastle and told them what and why. They were
relieved, shocked, happy (well… lots of
emotions). I came out to my friends and they were
supportive because I gave them a lot of info -
educated them." — Mitch Australia
2002
"My
twin hated it originally when I first came out, it
upset things. She told me she wrote a really angry
card about how I'm never contented and I always
have to keep changing and stuff, but she never gave
me that card. She gave me this really nice one
which is of Frank Sinatra, which I know is just
tacky and it's just a line from the song ["the
record shows I took the blows, and did it my
way"]." — Jack (NZ) 2004
"Telling
my partner of my TS was hard, I thought well if she
really knows me and has really listened to what I
have said in the past, she should have some idea.
After we spoke about it and she had some time to
think, she had to admit that some part of her
always knew. So to me there was already some level
of acceptance before I told her anyway. This made
things a bit easier." — Ashley Australia
2003
"At
first, my family was completely hostile. This has
changed to the present time, where they are
completely accepting.
Today, I think I am fairly
close with my family. We talk about issues that are
happening, and I am able to talk about issues that
cropped up in the past with them. Today, I feel
that I am part of many different families. I feel
like I am a part of very close friend’s
families, my own family and online communities such
as FTM Australia." — Alex Australia
2002
"My
family finds it difficult to deal with and still
use the wrong pronouns and my former name, which is
painful, but they are slowly coming around. I have
a lot to do with my family and in some ways we are
very close although they still have difficulties
with my transition.
I have a teenage brother
whom I adore and who is slowly coming to terms with
his sibling as he now calls me. I have an extremely
close relationship with my two great aunts who have
been a major support throughout my life." —
Mick Australia 2002
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To Medical Professionals—
"I’ve
actually had to educate many a health and mental
health “professional” about gender
issues. This is a double-edged sword at times
because on the one hand I hope it’s useful for
other transmen and people but when one is really
down, explaining one’s gender can be very
distressing and compounds the issues I’m
facing." — Mick Australia 2002
"The
initial doctor's visit was great! This GP was as
open minded as they come. After I explained to her
that I desired to transition, she very calmly asked
me "You are going from female to male, right?" She
explained that she had never worked through this
particular type of transition, that most of her
patients were MtFs. But she wasn't going to let my
case go without her in-depth involvement and she
has been true to her word ever since." —
Lincoln (NZ) 2003
To Employer/Workplace—
"Although
I had read about disclosure in the workplace, and
wished to handle it a little differently, I was
impressed with the supportive, thoughtful and
professional way AAPT dealt with disclosing my
transitioning. Human Resources, working closely
with my Team Manager Sharon, arranged for all Team
Managers in the Call Centre to have a meeting. Once
the TMs were informed, each team, over the period
of two weeks, were given a 'anti-discrimination
& harassment' refresher, then told about my
transsexualism, my change of name, masculine
pronouns, as well as eventual use of the men's
toilets." — Ben Australia 2004
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