mattstransitionupdates-blog

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Transgender people in New York City officially have the right to use the single-gender bathrooms that match their gender identity, thanks to an executive order issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The mayor’s order states that all city-owned buildings – schools, rec centers, museums, etc. – must allow trans people to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity without requiring ID or any other “proof” of their gender. The order does not, however, apply to private businesses. 

“I think New York City has an obligation to lead. I think we have an obligation show that everyone should be embraced and everyone should be accepted,” Mr. de Blasio said today at a city recreation center in Chelsea. “Change comes from the grassroots. Change comes from the ground, and if people who believe in human rights don’t stand up for them, it lets those negative voices dominate.”

Hell yeah, New York. 

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Also one more question (sorry I don't know anyone else in Ireland that I can ask, all my friends are pre t) how much is t if you don't have a medical card do you know?

Oh sorry didn't see this q!! Em if we're talking nebido, it's €144 every 3 months! I'm not sure about the gels or other shots!

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sorry for the questions but my appointment is soon and I haven't a clue what to expect, do you usually get put on blockers in Ireland do you know (it's different in USA it seems) even if you're over 18 or do you have an idea of how it works?

No worries friend! I'm not 100% sure what other people's experiences are, but from what I've heard you can be put on T on your first visit if you have all your letters and what not 😊

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Hey did you get put on t at your first endo appointment or did you have to go back?

Hey! I was advised to not go on T first because I was doing my leaving cert so he didn't want me to start t during that year so I was on hormone blockers for a year and after that I was put straight on t 😊

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↖️ this blog will not be seeing the movie “Stonewall” as it whitewashes history and inaccurately cast a white cis man to represent Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman.

Added note: Watch Happy Birthday Marsha, instead, if you want to see the real heroes behind the story of the Stonewall Riots.

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Hey. did you find any other gender therapists in Ireland? I only knew of Dr Kelly.

Hey Anon! I tried to do some research but all I can get out of it is there is another doctor in Cork that comes up to Dublin once a month! Currently looking for a name! Sorry for the lateness! 

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What gender therapists are available in Ireland and where are they located, how was your experience

I went to see Dr Kelly, however he is no longer located in Ireland! I can do some research and find another therapist. My experience was great, he asked me generic therapist questions and of course relating to gender! I'll post up once I find out about a therapist currently in Ireland! :)

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Hi I was just wondering how do you go about transitioning in Ireland??

Hey! Basically you gotta go to a gender therapist, you need to have 3 sessions with them, then they refer you to a doctor in Loughlinstown hospital and they do their own assessment and you get on hormones there. You have to be 18 to get hormones.After their own therapist seeing you, they refer you to a surgeon to talk about your options for top surgery. I haven't gotten to talk about a hysterectomy or anything yet but as far as I know it's a similar process of getting referred. Hope that helped!

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Hi Matt! I'm Jay. I'm 21 yrs old and asian ftm guy. I'm going to move to dublin in a few days for about 1year. So I wanna make some ftm friends there. How can I do that? Is there any community only for transguys? Thank you!

Hi Jay! There's a group called IndividualiTy, but I'm not sure if they are still running? TENI are very involved and very accepting! They're located in the Outhouse on Capel street, which is in the city centre, it'll make more sense when you get here :)In honesty I haven't been very involved in groups because I found it hard finding a trans only group, but in the last year I found TENI, they're very involved and very nice! I hope that helped, and I hope you have a great time when you're here! :)

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Cladwell

Look Good. Feel Awesome. Get instant clothing recommendations from expert stylists. Totally free. https://www.cladwell.com/

Cladwell is a completely free website for men where you basically fill out a survey talking about your hair...

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transfriendly jobs

 i’ve been doing research about jobs/companies that are accepting of trans and the like since i’m going job hunting again next month, and i found this list, which lists trans-friendly businesses. it links to this page, a directory for employers.

tagging so people can see it, i figured this might come in handy for some people!

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that insurance providers in the state must cover transition-related care for transgender people, including gender confirmation surgery and hormone therapy. 

State law requires that insurance covers the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders, which includes gender dysphoria experienced by trans people. New York is the ninth state (plus D.C.) to ensure transition-related care is covered by insurance. 

The group said that most insurance policies currently exclude coverage for transgender treatment, and at best include it as a more expensive rider to a standard plan.

“This is an absolute sea change in the way that insurance for transgender people will cover their health care needs,” Michael Silverman, executive director of the fund, said. “This essentially opens up an entire world of treatment for transgender people that was closed to them previously.”

HUGE. This is going to change lives. 

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If you’ve been looking to bind, whether you’re transgender, non-binary, or a cosplayer, you’ve probably come across binders like these on Ebay, Amazon, or AliExpress. Usually they’re called E.V.A, SHO, Whatwears, or Ancient Fish King brands, all of which are apparently, interchangeable with each other. Ross is here to tell you that these chest binders are not much of a step up from ace bandages, which in case you hadn’t known already, are the worst thing you can do to bind your chest. So here’s the run down, from least bad to worst.

First off, the sellers are usually misinformed about why someone would use a chest binder is needed just from how they title them. Why would Lesbians want a chest binder (outside of cosplay?)? I don’t know, but most of these listings have lesbian in the name, suggesting that chest binders are for girls, not men or nonbinary. This right there should be a warning sign of a company that doesn’t know what they are doing.

The strapless binders’ model is wearing the wrong size for their chest. Their breast is popping out over the top of the binder, and I can personally say that with that binder, it is very, very, painful if you have a larger chest. After about 20 minutes, bruising and chaffing will occur, especially to those with larger chests or are heavier. In the worst case scenario, the breast will rip or pop as if it were cut with a knife.

Look at the materials used. These chest binders do not have any or enough stretchy material in them. Elastic or spandex is the best. On the ones that do have spandex, they don’t mention how much there is in the binder. This is an enormous, bright, flashing sign that the binder is NOT safe. Just how bad is it? Ace bandages likely have more elastic than these binders do, and the ace bandages can still kill you if they don’t maim you. A binder is supposed to stretch, be easily manipulated, and you must be able to take a full breath in them. I’ve bought and used two different types binders from Ebay not knowing any better, and I could barely take a breath at all. I did get larger and larger sizes, and with the same result. Putting it simply, their binders could be falling off of you because they are too big and still would not be safe. 

Now I can’t show you in a picture about the next part, but what’s probably the worst about these binders is that their ‘binding’ material goes all the way around the binder. Your binder should NOT have this unless it is made to correct back posture. Sports bras can, but that is better for again, correcting back posture. So not only will you be binding your chest, but you’ll be binding your ribs, back, and shoulders as well. This can warp them and damage the tissue. 

So what does a good binder look like? I’m going to use the binder I’ve had the best experience with as an example. The Ultimate Chest Binder Tank by underworks. I’ve bought two of these as I’ve needed them, I wore out my old one after a year and a half of use daily including at work.

So, straight off from the site, we know this seller is knowledgeable about their target audience. Chest binders are under the men’s section and you never see the word lesbian on any of them. The only thing marked for women under the chest binder section is a sports bra, put there because transgender men often use them for working out.

The information section on the binder isn’t just two or three lines, it’s a whole paragraph. What is this binder made of? Medical grade 70% nylon and 30% spandex knit. It says it right there and is readily available information, you don’t have to dig through the seller’s ads for cheap wholesale jewelry in the description to find it. The listing also tells us how much of each material is used, information you must have when buying a chest binder. My personal rule of thumb? If it’s under 20% spandex or elastic, it’s trash. Our listing also tells us how to put the binder on, rather than making you struggle to figure it out on your own. Size chart and customer reviews are readily available on the listing and not buried under ads for other unrelated merchandise. 

Also from looking at the binder’s pictures, the front and back of the binder is made differently; the front is thicker and non transparent while the back can bee seen through a bit and is thin in comparison. This is because the front of the binder is made to compress and bind the chest and the back of the binder is not. All the binding is in the front, support in the back. 

Please, know the difference between an unsafe binder and a safe one. Save your money and avoid ones found on ebay. Can’t afford a binder still? There are programs for people who cannot buy one on their own or it is unsafe for them to buy one. One such I know of is the In a Bind program, they have fantastic service if a bit slow delivery time. Remember, this program is only for transgender men and nonbinary, cosplayers will have to go elsewhere or outright buy a binder.

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Ireland’s High Court has ruled that denying a trans person’s true gender is a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights Act of 2003, ending one woman’s long battle to be recognized as her true self. 

The decision comes more than two decades after Dr. Lydia Foy, a 67-year-old trans woman, began fighting with the Irish government to change the gender marker on her birth certificate to “female.” Long after the Court’s decision, Foy has agreed to a settlement of 50,000 euro (about $62,000). 

Responding to an earlier claim from Foy, the Irish government first declared in 2007 that failing to recognize a trans citizen’s gender was a violation of the Human Rights Act, notes the Times. In the wake of Foy settling her case against the State, the High Court plans to hold the Irish government to its stated “firm intention” to enact laws that recognize trans citizens’ identities “as soon as possible” in 2015.

Never stop fighting for your right to exist. Even if it takes you to the highest court in the country. Even if it takes 21 years. 

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My friend got me cake to celebrate the coming soon gender recognition bill! :D

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Kye Allums, 25 year old former college basketball player—the first openly division 1 transgender athlete—talks about his experience with the media after coming out as trans in Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word. Watch here or here.

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The settlement was made following a “firm intention” by Government to introduce a Gender Recognition Bill.

Legislation coming in next year!! :D