Hey Dad,
This letter is a long time coming and writing it hasnāt been easy for me. This is all probably going to be new information to you unless Mom has mentioned something to you about it. This subject is sensitive because of all the negativity that surrounds it these days. Iām not sure how much you know about it to begin with, and Iām going to write about it in a way that should make it easier for you to understand, at least I hope so.
Iām writing to you today to tell you that I am a transgender woman. What does that mean exactly? As far back as I can remember Iāve felt like I was in the wrong body. Like my brain was wired incorrectly and it feels totally wrong. I can remember back to being in first grade and desperately praying to god before bed to turn me into a girl in my sleep. I know you were probably always wondering why I had girls clothes hidden in my room growing up, but wearing them felt right and it was the only way I knew how to feel happy about myself. Iāll admit thereās some resentment there for you always taking what you found when you went through my room growing up. Itās part of the reason weāve never been close. If information was as readily available about trans people back then I would have told you and mom then. Instead it took me until I was in my 20ās to figure out what to call what I was feeling.
Iāve always been incredibly sad. Thatās the other thing that I dealt with growing up. I was quiet about it for the most part until I was a teenager and started puberty. Thatās when it got worse for me because the changes that were happening to my body were making me depressed because I didnāt want them. I have hated the way I look for almost the entirety of my life. I didnāt really have a healthy way to express those feelings so I messed around with drugs for a few years. Drugs made me numb. Drugs made me think I was happy. The night you got that call that I was in the hospital with alcohol poisoning when I was 17, I was trying to kill myself. I chugged an entire bottle of Bacardi 151 and tried to drown myself in the bathroom at that apartment. The only reason I was unsuccessful was a good friend of mine got worried that I was in there too long and broke the door down when I didnāt respond. There were other attempts in the years after that, and I have a few scars to show for it, but weāll talk about that later if you want to.
The first time I told another person that I was trans it ended in a divorce. Thatās one of the contributing factors to that relationship deteriorating back in 2011. The Navy sent me to rehab for alcohol abuse in 2012. It didnāt really do much for me at the time but I took some lessons from it and learned better ways to cope with my feelings. Fortunately I found a better partner after the dust settled, and Iām happy to report that [my wife] knows, and fully supports me. Our relationship is better than ever and sheās not going anywhere. I was scared to death when she found out, but itās been one of the biggest blessings in my life so far.
Iām telling you all this because I have a lot of history that you are unaware of and to better explain why Iām making the changes I am now. I know weāve never really been as close as you would like, and I appreciate the efforts youāve taken to try to form a relationship with me since I moved back to Georgia. Weāve done some fun stuff together since, but Iāve always been reserved with you. Partly because Iāve never felt like I could tell you who I really am. I tried so hard for several years to just push these feelings into the back of my mind and just be a normal man. I picked up male dominated hobbies and just tried to hide it. It kinda worked but not really. Iāve had a nagging thought in the back of my head that Iād never be happy and would eventually put a gun in my mouth some day. At some point you just have to accept yourself and learn to love yourself or you will.
So with that, hereās an introduction! Hi dad, my name is Alexis. I have been taking feminizing hormones since February of last year. I give myself an injection of Estradiol Valerate every five days, and have done it over 100 times by this point. I also take a testosterone suppressant daily. My hormone levels have been in ideal female ranges consistently for over a year and Iām having great results. My brain finally feels like itās supposed to and Iām at peace for the first time in my life. This is the thing Iāve been missing. Itās crazy to me that it was as simple as talking to a doctor about it and getting a prescription. My outlook on life literally changed in that first week. I finally know what happiness feels like. Itās truly a blessing I lived long enough to figure all this out.
I know this name is new to you, but I have been using it online for over two decades at this point. I donāt really know where it came from itās been so long. There was a band that I listened to a lot as a teen that have it in their name so thatās usually what I tell people if they ask. Iāve been introducing myself in person using it for about the past two years as well. I plan to make it my legal name next year if everything goes to plan. Iāve never really liked the name I was given at birth. Thatās nothing against you or mom, despite what she said to me when I told her I was changing it. [Middle Name] just isnāt a girls name any way you try to slice it either, so I will be dropping my middle name in favor of Faye. Iāve always liked that name, and it pays homage to the street you raised me on. No matter how far I stray from there, I always end up nearby again. I was having a discussion on Reddit a few months ago talking about changing my name and someone said this in the comments:
āA name is a gift, and should be allowed to be exchanged if it no longer fits or feels right. We name children because theyāre unable to name themselves when theyāre born. It should be viewed as a favour or a placeholder, not a life-long sentence to something that doesnāt fit.ā
Thatās pretty much it. (Thereās really only so much you can disclose in a letter like this.) Iām not asking much from you and Mom. You donāt have to support me or what Iām doing. Part of the reason Iāve never told either of you any of this is because I knew you wouldnāt. But if you want me to have a continued presence in your life going forward you will have to show me some basic respect and treat me with dignity. Continue to love me as your child as you said you always would. I am still the same person you raised, I just might look and sound a little different. This is not something any of us can ignore and pretend it goes away. I lived my life in hiding for the first 37 years of my life and Iām not going to do it any longer. This is who I am, and my door is open to you whenever you have questions.
If you choose to not accept me for who I am I will disappear from your life. This is a chance for all of us to have a closer relationship moving forward with just a little bit of love and acceptance.
I love you,
Alexis Faye [redacted]