I’m a 73 yo transgender woman. I am a Lesbian. Briefly I want to share my journey to give hope to all who are transitioning.
Growing up I knew I was a girl in a boys body. It was also a time that was very taboo on the subject. Parents forced me to do boy things because they felt the femininity of my sisters were rubbing off on me. I learned how to cover the feelings up and did the manly things in life, like join military, get married, have children. Suppressing my true self for tens of years, occasionally trying to be the true me, but always failing.
In 2011 my life changed dramatically and I slowly pushed the limits of being the true me. It was hard because I worked as a government contractor for the military.
In 2018 my youngest son bought a house in Georgia with a mother in law house. He said come live with us. Here was my opportunity! I told him about me and he said he knew and that’s why they bought the house they did. I sold my house, filed for social security, retired from my job, sold most of my belongings, and moved from Massachusetts to Georgia as Shelby, my true self.
Spent remainder of 2018 and most of 2019 seeing a therapist, and changing documents to correct name and gender. Meanwhile I had breast augmentation, permanent makeup on eyes and lips, laser and electrolysis on my face, monthly pedicures and manicures, and finding my style.
All of my family accepts and supports me. Most of my previous close work friends accept and support me. I have a couple of close friends here, but mainly my socializing is with my son’s family and his friends (he’s in the Navy). I kind of kept socializing to a minimum because of not having bottom surgery. But that will change.
I had GCS 6 days ago at the age of 73. I feel wonderful and complete. I never thought these last couple of years would ever happen, let alone bottom surgery. But I continued to hold onto my dreams and one day an opportunity was presented. It was now or never!!
I know each person’s journey is different and has its own challenges. I just wanted to briefly share mine as a way of saying don’t ever give up, it’s never too late, and dreams do come true!!
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