Facial Hair Growth [five years on testosterone]

Someone recently commented on my New Year's video complimenting my facial hair growth. I just noticed yesterday it was getting quite thick myself, so I thought I'd document it before I shave it all off!

Even being over five years on testosterone, I can only grow decent sideburns, and I don't get nearly as much hair on my cheeks as I do on my chin and neck. I can grow a decent chinstrap and an even better goatee and neck beard. I still have some patchy spots on my chin where I don't think it will ever fill in.



Facial hair doesn't always grow in evenly, and some guys don't get it at all. Here is a video I did on patchy facial hair growth followed by a video on dysphoria caused by lack of facial hair.





I tried to participate in "No Shave November" this past year, and document my troubles "holding out" in this video:



I'll leave you all with a classic shaving video - it's shaving time!.

Voice 4.5 Years on Testosterone [still working on my voice]

Yesterday morning I filmed myself playing guitar and working on my singing voice a bit. A video taken a few weeks ago follows for comparison.

I Got a Sex Change with My Best Friend! [documentary: parts 1 & 2]

In the spring of 2007 I made a short documentary film while in college about my best friend Troy (tro23y on YouTube) getting our chest surgeries done together in December of 2006. We went to Dr. Beverly Fischer in Baltimore (Timonium), Maryland.

Chest surgery was one of the most moving and empowering experiences I have ever had, and I can wholeheartedly say it was made 1,000 times better by having it done with Troy.

identity integration: was i ever my old self?

the holidays

Troy is Getting Lower Surgery on December 8th!

Just a short video I made Troy wishing him good luck with his lower surgery coming up on Tuesday.

Here is a birthday video I made for him a couple years ago:

Here is a photo montage I made of documenting our top surgery experience. We had our surgeries done together on December 12, 2006 with Dr. Beverly Fischer in Baltimore, Maryland.



Good luck, Troy!

changing your name

i was recently asked a question about the emotional aspect of changing your name, and i thought that was a great question, as most questions are concerned with the tangible technicalities of name change: documents, court appearances, filling out complicated forms, lawyers, obtaining funds for legal fees, etc.

changing your name is one of the first and biggest steps you take in your transition, whether you choose to legally pursue a name change or not. there is a complex process involved which includes not only picking a new name to be called for the rest of your life (which causes some great anxiety at times, i can attest!), but social aspects as well like getting your friends and family to actually call you the name you've chosen, which once again i can attest that this is no easy (nor quick) feat.

since i was not yet vlogging at the time i was actually picking my name (and coming to terms with leaving my old name and initials behind), i do not have any videos document that process as well as my nominal social transition.i documented the process wellin my livejournal at the time, because that is where all the transguys documented their transitions until youtube came alone.

that being said, here are still some videos related to name change nevertheless:











i hope you find some of them helpful.

this is the start of something good.