From my earliest memories, I knew that I was different--and not just from other girls, but from everyone around me. I recall as a very small child, maybe three years old, looking in the mirror at my butt-length hair and thinking about why none of the other boys had long hair like me. When I was two I told my grandfather I wanted to be a baseball player when I grew up. He told me that little girls don't play baseball. I said, "That's okay... I'm not a little girl." Hmmm... I think we have a winner.

 

When I was in junior high school (those are times I wish had never happened) I was shunned and snickered at. I got my ass kicked so many times it isn't even funny. I defended myself, but there are only so many battles you can fight at age 12. My class-mates used to call me "Beth the Boy." It was very hurtful and embarrassing to know that before I even told anyone, people knew I was different from them.

 

At age nineteen I was awakened from my sleep, startled but clear headed. A dream had told me what my heart had known all along; something was wrong and I needed to talk to someone. So, that was it. I knew that I was transgender. So, what to do... Now here I am, finally taking the bull by the horns. I got so tired of living inside myself. I was tired of always wondering what people saw when they looked at me.

 

On a lighter note, I will tell you a little about the person behind the TG: I am unemployed at the moment (lost my job in September 2009) but I spent 11 years as a security officer. I began the FTM North Conference in April 2006--still working on getting that going again. Until the week after the first conference I was not out at work, but my hometown paper wrote a story about the conference which featured my story and someone brought the paper to work. That was it... I was out. Since September of 2001 I have been undergoing the traditional treatments for Gender Dysphoria and I am working with doctors at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Gender Services Program, as well as a doctor in my home town for more regular treatment when I can't get out to UM-CGSP.

 

I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my 2 nephews. I love spending time with my wife, Jenny. I love you, baby! Thank you for being in my life. We got married January 12, 2008! I like to read, play Sims 2 and I spend a lot of time on current events, especially political activism on behalf of those in the Transgender community and queer youth. In March 2003 I founded Transcend, an adult support group for transgender people and their friends, families, and allies. It meets bi-weekly and though I rarely participate anymore, it is a worthwhile place for people coming out and finding friends in the SW Michigan/Northern Indiana area. I am a student at the University of Phoenix, going for a degree in Psychology.

 

Thank you for visiting my web page and for keeping an open mind. I don't have a guest book because, frankly, I hate them. But please contact me if you'd like. I am always looking for new friends out there!