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When I did my legal name change last year I had a count of 50+ places that I had to make the update (then I stopped counting, it was too stressful), but you're right, it does keep coming up. I haven't even thought as much about who has records of my gender! (Aside from the obvious ones, drivers license, birth certificate, etc.). When I contacted North Carolina State Univ. (where I did my undergrad) to change my name they actually asked if I wanted to update my gender as well - it hadn't occurred to me that they would even have that, but it makes sense. I throw that story in partly to show that even in North Carolina not everyone is transphobic :-) (Of course my sister lives there now, and she is transphobic, oh well)

Hey CT! Welcone to TGGuide! Good idea to start a blog, write down what's going on in your life and gender journey. It's heloed many of us tremendously. You say your from a very religious family; this video by Mark Yarhouse, where he is telling religious leadership about transgender and gender dysphoria, may be interesting for you: http://qideas.org/videos/transgender-1/ Please feel welcome to look around our forums and blogs, add your voice and questions wherever you'd like. We're here to help each other. Emma

Welcome to TGGuide! It sounds like you have some real challenges, I'm sure you'll find a lot of support here

Hi Chrissy, Gender Odyssey (http://www.genderodyssey.org/) is, from what I can tell and have been told, is an excellent conference for all transgender people. I've been encouraged that it's much more than a supportive and fun environment to present en femme, which is how another recent conference in Port Angeles was described. Check it out! Let me know if by chabce you can come, I'd love to meet you in person. Emma

That all sounds great :-) I can definitely relate to the fear and exhilaration- personally I didn't consider it to be a line between the two, I just saw it as both things happening at the same time. There is a lot to be excited about, and a lot to be afraid of - but overall living authentically is worth it all!!! What is Gender Odyssey? I'm planning to go to the Trans Health Conference in Philadelphia again this year, this time on the professional track (since i'm a social work student it seemed right)