I have taken hormones and developed breasts and so on, but I haven’t had the operation to make me anatomically female. So I’m still male in that I have a penis and the rest of it. The hormones do things like help the growth of hair; my hair is much longer and doesn’t fall out as much. As far as feelings, I’ve always felt feminine anyway, so it hasn’t really altered anything that way.
My driver’s license and my I.D. Cards say “female” and it’s not questioned. The only way I can actually have my birth certificate changed is if I have the operation. Then I’d be female. But, for one reason or another, it will probably not happen. Basically, it’s the cost of the operation that’s prohibitive. I don’t have ten thousand dollars. That’s what it cost three or four years ago; it probably costs more than that now. So, I’m satisfied to live as I’m living. Most of my friends consider me female, even my male friends. They don’t question anything about what I’m doing or why.
I identify myself as a lesbian. I basically like women sexually, as another female would. I’ve been involved in some homosexual relationshipshomosexual in that when I was male I had a male lover for 14 years. But now I like females, and always did.
from an interview with Brandie
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