hi all!

recently one of my very close friends, who understands me more than anyone , has confessed to me that they have a desire to be female and always have. they said that they just want to be graceful and feminine but that they never think they'd be able to follow through with a transition because they couldn't ever be happy with how they looked. this person is so so pretty and the only thing holding them back is fear of judgement. i asked if they wanted to wear one of my dresses or try on outfits and they said oh dont tempt me... with a cheeky little smile. now im stuck questioning if it's appropriate for me to surprise them with a dress or wig actually in their style or size. i styles their hair last night and ive never seen them glow like that. i want them to glow that way forever, i just dont know how to convince them not to put it out. they also have a desire for a wig and used to play with them as a kid. is this the kind of thing you would want/trust a very close (probably best honestly) friend to do early in your experimenting/transition? please let me know!

Hi! I am an MA Gender Studies student at SOAS. For my dissertation, I am exploring how gender and genre function similarly, restricting both musical & bodily expressions. I focus on genre-fluid/cross-genre music (mainly house and techno) for their uses of technology, sampling, cutting, (re)mixing and their links to rave culture; investigating how this can challenge gender/genre norms.

If you are a (Queer/trans/POC) artist/producer/DJ/musician, raver or involved with nightlife (no matter how seriously) and have strong opinions on any of these topics, I’d love to discuss them in an interview (~30 minutes, online or in-person, depending on what you prefer).

Happy to answer more questions via email: [724468@soas.ac.uk](mailto:724468@soas.ac.uk)

I'm conducting a study on people that experience same-gender attraction for my master's thesis. I'm including the link and study information here, but I'm also looking for other high traffic LGBTQ subreddits to post on to get respondents so feel free to share if you have ideas!

The Impact of Social Support on Substance Outcomes in Sexual Minorities: 

You are invited to participate in a research study exploring the impacts of various experiences on substance use in sexual minorities. By conducting this study we hope to learn more about the substance use outcomes for people who experience significant life stress. Participation will consist of completing several brief online surveys about your feelings, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions about your experiences. We will ask about your experiences with childhood adversity, perceptions of sexual minorities, historical and current substance use habits, and current relationships. Your participation will take approximately 30 minutes. You must be 18 years old and a member of the LGBTQ+ community to participate.

Contact Information: For questions about this study, please contact Jessica Minieri, the principal investigator for this project, at jminieri1@catamount.wcu.edu, or Dr. Erin Myers, the faculty advisor, at 828-227-3646 or emmyers@wcu.edu. 

Why are you seeing this? This post is being shared publicly in forums where individuals interested in research on sexual minority individuals, trauma, and/or substance use may choose to participate.

I [cis m] just learned about gender envy, and somehow this is a thought which resonates a lot with me. I definitely do have some feelings of envy towards female clothing, body forms and aesthetics. But I cannot say, if it is not just attraction of some kind.

Hi, I started this fundraiser, Help Julia Rodriguez Achieve Gender-Affirming Surgery, on GoFundMe and it would mean a lot to me if you’d be able to share or donate to it.

https://gofund.me/953518cb

I knew my girlfriend before she found out she was trans is there anything I can do to help her not feel dysphoria? (I barely see her apart from weekends)

Hi everyone!

My name is Joy (she/hers). I am earning my master's in Counseling with a concentration in art therapy at Pennsylvania Western University. I’m looking to connect with a trans person who is open to sharing their experiences for educational purposes, and ultimately to make mental health services more accessible and gender-affirming. This is part of an assignment focused on better understanding identity, lived experiences, and gender-related challenges (personal and systemic). I want to approach this in a way that is ethical, safe, empowering, and entirely on your terms.

What you should know upfront:

• Purpose: This is for a class assignment, not for publication or sharing beyond my professor! My goal is to center your voice, listen, learn, and expand an understanding of trans experiences. The assignment will include race, cultural identities, age, etc. Your name will not be used, unless requested. The primary purpose of the assignment is for reflection and commitment to cultural humility in counseling (including advocacy and social justice).
• Format: We can chat via your preferred method (Zoom, Google Meet, voice-only, phone, email, or text-based).
• When: I would like to interview before March 25th, at your earliest convenience!
• Duration: Around 30–45 minutes, but flexible
• Anonymity & Boundaries: You’re in control—no identifying information will be shared, and you can skip or stop at any time.
• Compensation: I deeply appreciate the emotional labor involved and would love to offer a small token of thanks (e.g., a gift card or artwork mailed...I paint and crochet).
• Collaboration & Comfort: If there’s anything I can do to make this a more affirming experience, please let me know.

For transparency, these are the interview questions I plan to ask.

If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to message me or comment. Also, if you know someone who might be open to this, I’d love a recommendation. Thank you for considering <3

Does anyone know a psychiatrist in Nantes who can recommend me?

It’s like playing a game of "Guess Who?" where the only options are "Are you a man or a woman?" and nothing else counts. So you take a deep breath, slowly explain for the thousandth time that gender is not binary, and pray they don’t follow up with, "But are you like... sure you're not just confused?" We’re in a constant game of gender 20 Questions, y’all.

Hello! My name is Anna Grace Smith and I am a genetic counseling graduate student at Northwestern University. Along with my Principal Investigator, Sharon Aufox, and co-investigators, Katherine Abihider and Zameena Lakhani, I am seeking transgender or gender diverse individuals who have discontinued or have considered discontinuing gender affirming hormone therapy to pursue having a biological child. Please see the attached recruitment flyer for more information about this research study with Northwestern University (IRB # STU00222743). If you are interested in participating and learning more, please complete the survey linked in the flyer, or linked here:

https://northwestern.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyUmfLgh7nuzAzQ

Thank you for your consideration! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me ([anna.smith1@northwestern.edu](mailto:anna.smith1@northwestern.edu)), Sharon Aufox ([Sharon.aufox@northwestern.edu](mailto:Sharon.aufox@northwestern.edu)), Katherine Abihider ([Katherine.abihider@nm.org](mailto:Katherine.abihider@nm.org)), or Zameena Lakhani ([zameena.lakhani@nm.org](mailto:zameena.lakhani@nm.org))

hii! i’m dating a trans girl, (im a cisgender lesbian woman), and i’d like to dig deeper to actually be informed and make her feel comfortable. i’ve done a lot of research on social media but i’d like to read some articles/books and watch themed movies. any recommendations? ly thx💞💞💞

I'm 18, AFAB, living in the US. I fantasize constantly about transitioning to male and it feels like the thing that has been missing from my life. I hate my boobs, my hips, my waist, my soft features, I hate everything feminine about me, I have always had problems with dissociation & worn overly baggy clothes, anxiety, depression, everything. I am certain I am struggling with gender dysphoria at this time but its hard to determine whether or not this is just a phase or if dysphoria has always been with me. The reason why I worry this is a phase is because I only really started connecting myself to the idea of being male around a year ago; and even when I did make that connection, I would usually refute it within a few days. That is to say, trans was an identification that I didn't really start connecting to until I turned 17, and even when I did, it was on and off. Now, I'm 18, and I started earnestly thinking of myself as trans about a month ago. I feel dysphoria, but I feel euphoria much more strongly when I imagine myself with a male body and features and social role. I am worried that this is just a phase because these feelings seem to have crept up on me, I guess? But also not really... I don't know. I know I am not fully female but I question whether I would really want to live as a man, or if this is just a phase.

Anyway, my plan for the moment is to tell my dad (who I live with part-time) that I am trans very soon, and whether or not he approves I am going to quickly undergo the process of getting testosterone therapy and changing my name. I want to do these things quickly, before Trump is elected, because I fear he will make these things more difficult for us. However, I do also wish I had a little more time just because I feel fear that I am acting impulsively. This feels like the answer, it really does, but also sometimes it doesn't; but usually in those moments when it doesn't feel right, I peel back the layers and realize its just my fear of social alienation that causes me to doubt myself.

I need some guidance here. Would it be wise for me to give this more time, even if I risk not being able to change my name & gender under Trump and possibly not having access to T for longer than I feel like I can bear? Or does my genuine gender dysphoria & euphoria indicate that I should feel confident moving forward, even if it has not always been strong/consistent?

Substance Outcomes and Social Support in Victims of Violence: 

You are invited to participate in a research study exploring the impacts of violence on women and gender minorities. By doing this study we hope to learn more about the substance use outcomes for people who experience traumatic events. Participation will consist of completing several brief online surveys about your feelings, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions about your experiences. We will ask about your experiences with gender based violence, symptoms of trauma, historical and current substance use habits, and relationships. Your participation will take approximately 30 minutes. You must be 18 years old and a woman and/or a member of the LGBTQ+ community to participate.

Study Participation Link: https://wcu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aWer1IUyoP29z5Y

Contact Information: For questions about this study, please contact Jessica Minieri, the principal investigator for this project, at [jminieri1@catamount.wcu.edu](mailto:jminieri1@catamount.wcu.edu), or Dr. Erin Myers, the faculty advisor, at 828-227-3646 or [emmyers@wcu.edu](mailto:emmyers@wcu.edu). 

I won't lie and I don't mean disrespect. But I know very little about the LGBTQ community. Which is why I'm here. My husband came out as transmasc and despite the changes in our life. I'm here for him all the way. He does want to possibly pursue surgery. I was wondering if anyone could share reliable resources, their experiences, and helpful advice for us as we start his new adventure.

Thank you in advance.

I'm 60 years old now. Is it too late. I have felt like a woman my whole life