Oh yeah I’m old lol. RLE is short for Real Life Experience. The long and short of it is many therapists used to make you live as your identified gender full time for a period of time before they would write you a letter of recommendation to start hormones. And back then you couldn’t get hormones without that letter, it acted as a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The rise of the modern informed consent model is something I transitioned during about 11 years ago and it was kinda a huge deal.
But yeah as an old comic I spent too long looking for before deciding I probably shouldn’t link it anyways said, RLE more or less functioned as hazing for trans people by the medical establishment. Even as late as the early 10s you might be denied hormones for not transitioning to hetero (or bi depending on the therapist) or for not dressing exaggeratedly enough (in the mid teens a friend got refused a letter because she didn’t wear makeup or skirts to appointments).
I actually had that happen with my therapist, I refused to do so until they caved in. I wore a skirt and lipstick to appointments online, even though I’d normally not have done so. I hate having to put myself into an arbitrary box because others are narrowminded.
I wanted to do the RLE only accompanying with hormones (and even then, I felt the RLE shouldn’t be a thing and is a barrier to push for being harassed). I felt it too scary to be dressed in an affirming way while I still looked the “wrong gender for my clothes” (and I thought it’d give me harassment). Women get harassed regardless of what they dress, so I didn’t want to imagine what it would be like, appearing masc still and having to dress feminine. I want to do that at my own pace, thankyouverymuch.
I think that that’s why it’s so important to let people decide for themselves. The hormones should be over the counter and people should be able to try them out for at least a few months, with informed consent.
When I finally got the hormones, that was such BIG relief honestly. I nowadays manage to pass more and more and get gendered right, so I’m very happy about that.
Oh absolutely and sorry if I was kinda downery about it, I had it easy, not as easy as some, but those who came before did important work. I just think as someone who transitioned in a different time it’s important to not let our history be forgotten, especially as many who experienced it learned to be less loud about it
Oh yeah I’m old lol. RLE is short for Real Life Experience. The long and short of it is many therapists used to make you live as your identified gender full time for a period of time before they would write you a letter of recommendation to start hormones. And back then you couldn’t get hormones without that letter, it acted as a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The rise of the modern informed consent model is something I transitioned during about 11 years ago and it was kinda a huge deal.
But yeah as an old comic I spent too long looking for before deciding I probably shouldn’t link it anyways said, RLE more or less functioned as hazing for trans people by the medical establishment. Even as late as the early 10s you might be denied hormones for not transitioning to hetero (or bi depending on the therapist) or for not dressing exaggeratedly enough (in the mid teens a friend got refused a letter because she didn’t wear makeup or skirts to appointments).
I actually had that happen with my therapist, I refused to do so until they caved in. I wore a skirt and lipstick to appointments online, even though I’d normally not have done so. I hate having to put myself into an arbitrary box because others are narrowminded.
I wanted to do the RLE only accompanying with hormones (and even then, I felt the RLE shouldn’t be a thing and is a barrier to push for being harassed). I felt it too scary to be dressed in an affirming way while I still looked the “wrong gender for my clothes” (and I thought it’d give me harassment). Women get harassed regardless of what they dress, so I didn’t want to imagine what it would be like, appearing masc still and having to dress feminine. I want to do that at my own pace, thankyouverymuch.
I think that that’s why it’s so important to let people decide for themselves. The hormones should be over the counter and people should be able to try them out for at least a few months, with informed consent.
When I finally got the hormones, that was such BIG relief honestly. I nowadays manage to pass more and more and get gendered right, so I’m very happy about that.
Thank you for explaining.
I’m sorry you had to struggle.
I’m glad that (if I understand correctly and please let me know if I don’t) that you get to be you.
Oh absolutely and sorry if I was kinda downery about it, I had it easy, not as easy as some, but those who came before did important work. I just think as someone who transitioned in a different time it’s important to not let our history be forgotten, especially as many who experienced it learned to be less loud about it
Please don’t apologize.
History is important for everyone to remember, I agree.