Art of Transliness

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of our frequently asked questions, answered for you! 

Q. Why is there sometimes an asterisk after the word “trans,” what does it mean? 

A. The asterisk intends to make it more inclusive. When it is written as trans*, it includes pretty much the whole gender-variant umbrella (genderqueer, bigender, neutrois, transgender, mtf, ftm, etc.) 

Q. What is transgender? -OR- Do you have any good resources to explain gender issues to someone who doesn’t really know much about it? 

A. Check out Not Your Mom’s Trans 101,  Trans Etiquette/Respect/Support 101, and Trans 101 from ftmichael. If you want more reading material, check out our booklist or resource list. 

Q. Am I transgender/genderqueer/butch/gay/pansexual? 

A. I don’t know, are you? Only you can tell that! If you’re questioning your gender, check out our article on figuring out your gender identity and transition path. If you’re questioning your sexuality, read our article on figuring out your sexual orientation. 

Q. Why doesn’t this blog include trans women/genderqueer individuals/femmes? 

A. We absolutely try to be inclusive (seriously, we think about this a lot), however this blog was designed to be an advice blog for trans men. We respect and affirm the identities of trans women, genderqueers, and non-binary individuals. We attempt to cover issues facing the large variety individuals on the transmasculine spectrum, but of course it is impossible to be 100% inclusive since this blog is primarily from the perspective of two individuals. Short answer, we try to be inclusive but this blog does have a fairly narrow focus and we’re only human. 

Q. Am I trans enough if I don’t want to take testosterone/get top surgery/physically transition/act masculine all the time/date women? 

A. Yes. There is no such thing as “trans enough.” If you say you are male, we’ll trust you on that. If you say you are transgender, we’ll trust you on that. YOU define your identity. 

Q. What will happen to me if I take testosterone? 

A. Read Hudson’s Guide, it’s a really great resource for this. 

Q. Do I have to be on T to get top surgery/can I partially transition? 

A. Read our article on partial transition or transitioning without identifying as male.