#transgenderpoc

I was recently watching some videos in my youtube recommended and this video kept pulling up. I thought it would be a fun idea to give my answer on the questions they had set up for the individuals they selected for the video.

#1 children are capable of understanding their gender identity

My answer- I agree, I believe there are plenty of children that understand their gender identity. The thing they could struggle with at that young of an age is how to put their thoughts and feelings to words and if they manage to that, finding a support system that will listen and understand. As a young child, I’d say ages 1-7, I thought I was a cisgender male. Even though people around me would reference me as a girl, use she/her, I’d wear skirts and play with “ girl” toys, the connection never made through to my brain. I don’t remember what exactly brought me to reality and would eventually lead to a road of insecurity and dysphoria, but I truly wish i could’ve lived in that mindset until I was in my teens and had information that could’ve helped me realize my true self.

#2 gender roles are necessary

My answer- I slightly agree. I believe gender roles should be less harsh and seem less important to society. The reason why I think gender roles are necessary, is because these gender roles can be the cause of realization for many transgender people.

#3 gender reassignment surgery is necessary to be transgender

My answer- the only thing I believe is necessary to be transgender is dysphoria. I wouldn’t understand if someone could transition but didn’t ( even with dysphoria) but at that point still I wouldn’t judge them.

#4 dating is difficult for me

My answer- I believe being transgender can add another layer of difficulty to dating but personally I haven’t had that many issues. I’ve only had 3 serious relationships, counting the one I am in right now. The first one was unaccepting, the second took some time but came and finally the third one ( my current boyfriend) he is also transgender but I have no doubt he would be supportive no matter what. My first relationship and being accepted was definitely hard and made me insecure but I do recognize for the rest of my relationships I’ve been lucky.

#5 there are risks to being transgender

My answer- I agree, there is danger that comes to any person of the lgbtq community. Especially people of color members

#6 I love my body

My answer- my dysphoria can get pretty bad but my confidence has come a long way. Obviously I still can’t for the changes of testosterone and to get top surgery one day, but I try to stay positive about myself and focus on the things I like about my body.

#7 sometimes I wish I wasn’t transgender

My answer- I do kinda agree. I believe part of myself was made from my experiences being transgender in a good and bad way but it would make things easier to be cisgender. Unfortunately, it’s not my choice since I have dysphoria but I make it through each day and I will continue to push through.

That was all the questions mentioned in the video. I might do another one of these on their video “ do all guys think alike” but I’ll see how you guys enjoy this first.

Thank you for reading,

Hi I'm Kam Brooks, I'm a nonbinary transgender college student who's currently in their Sophmore year at Seminole State College of Florida's Sanford/Lake Mary campus.

I'm currently saving up for top surgery (also know as a double mastectomy/chest masculinization surgery) which for those who don't know is a gender affirming surgery for transgender/nonbinary people. My gender dysphoria has become increasingly worse in the last year and due to job-related circumstances I wasn't able to save up very much money during my summer. I am extremely grateful for those who donated to my YouCaring fundraiser while the site was still up but the effort from both parties still wasn't much of a dent in my surgery bills.

Here's what they look like:

Non-refundable fee for reserving a date: (Orignially $500) Now $1,000

Surgical Fee: $6,500

Hospital & Anesthesia fee: ~$1,900

Pathology Examination fee: $300

The total is: ~$8,400

*This estimate excludes gas/travel, hotel and post-op care supply costs

Outside of being a full time student and working ~20 hours a week, I help out at Zebra Coalition as a part of their Youth Council. There, with the collaboration of other young leaders on the Council, I coordinate events to give a voice and extend support to the LGBTQ+ youth here in Orlando. On top of all of this, I'm also the president of Unity! Gay-Straight Alliance on my campus with an overall goal of creating an intersectional, supportive safe space for LGBTQ+ students, providing local resources to them and educating non-LGBTQ+ people on various issues as well as how to be more supportive and respectful of their LGBTQ+ peers.

This is why I need some sort of support. I can only do so much alone and I want to keep making my contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and its youth but I'm limited due to mental and physical health problems from binding and gender dysphoria. I often times wear a chest binder 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week and slowly but surely am suffering from the affects on my body. My back can oftentimes ache due to the compression. I can also experience some tightness in my chest and even (on thankfully very rare occasions) have an ache or two in my lower ribs. I'm doing what I can to develop safer binding practices but I know it would be better for myself and my body in the long run if I got top surgery sooner rather than later.

So please if you can buy a shirt and/or share the link. If you can't buy a shirt then please donate whatever you can to my Venmo account here: Kam-B

Any sort of contribution is greatly appreciated and another step toward my goal. Thank you so much for supporting me!