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Transgender youth who take puberty-delaying hormone treatments are more likely to be happier when they fully transition, according to a new study.

The study found that starting on hormone replacements around age 14 resulted in better mental health for trans youth, and that they had an easier time transitioning into their lived and true gender identity later on.

“The first thing this study shows is that transgender young people, with appropriate treatment, can function at the same psychological level as the rest of the population,” Jenifer McGuire, co-author of the study, told BuzzFeed News. “They have the same distribution as everyone else when they’re treated properly.”

The Dutch study, which involved 22 transgender men and 33 transgender women, found that because of the early hormone treatment, the participants ultimately had no more emotional distress, anxiety, or issues with body image than their peers in the general population after they had transitioned. They also required less gender reassignment surgery, as physical characteristics that develop during puberty were suppressed.

HRT did not cure my dysphoria, far from it, but at least now I don’t spend everyday considering suicide, which is what I used to do pre-HRT because of how badly female hormones fucked with my brain. There was a CONSTANT sense of “wrong, wrong, WRONG something is HORRIBLY WRONG and I cannot cope”. Now that feeling is limited to when I acknowledge the presence of my sexed characteristics, which is something I try to ignore as much as possible.

this is what i just picked up from the grocery store. it cost $32. Thirty. two. dollars. for 1 pineapple, 2 bags of grapes, a small container of raspberries, 1 soft drink and 2/$1 nuts…. 

do you know how much junk food i could have for $32? do you have any clue how much McDonald’s you can get for $32?

Let's say the soft drink bottle's from a convenience store at the expensive price of $4. This makes $15 so far. 

Raspberries? I've never bought one for this much anywhere, but how about $5 a box. Pineapple? I'll be generous and say $7 per thing, because it must be super organic and give back money to its source land or something. This adds up to a grand total of $27, with ridiculous prices for everything except for the packaged nuts, because the price is literally right there in the photo. 

Photos and final product for Mq. & Mrs.’s amazing lgbtq coloring book for kids.

Let’s stop HIV in New York City

If you are HIV-negative, PEP and PrEP can help you stay that way.

If you are HIV-positive, PEP and PrEP can help protect your partners.

  Daily PrEP

PrEP is a daily pill that can help keep you HIV-negative as long as you take it every day.

Ask your doctor if PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) may be right for you.

Condoms give you additional protection against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy.

  Emergency PEP

If you are HIV-negative and think you were exposed to HIV, immediately go to a clinic or emergency room and ask for PEP (Post-exposure  Prophylaxis).

PEP can stop HIV if started within 36 hours of exposure.

You continue taking PEP for 28 days.