Male ID butch vs. FTM??

[SelfMadeMan]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

Also have a question to other male/trans identities whether male id butch, FTM, transguy etc. Do you find or have you found that your identity shifts at all? The way you perceive yourself versus the way you explain yourself to people depending on the environment? If you don't id specifically as a FTM or transguy but present as male id'd butch or a related identity, do you find yourself partially adopting a trans identity in order to better explain yourself to others in ways they might find easier to understand? Or perhaps as you go through your transition? Or maybe you find it more and more of a convenience or necessity from an activist perspective?

Or on the other hand: if you do or have identified as FTM or transguy specifically, do you find yourself letting go of the FTM/transguy labels as you go through your transition and no longer need access to certain resources? Distance yourself from a common trans pursuit for equality? Desire to simply melt away from a trans/ftm id?

In general, no matter your male/trans id, how has your relationship with the word "trans" changed over time (if it has at all)? If so, how and why do you think that is?

Great questions! I personally never partially adopted my Trans ID. I literally left Texas, moved to Boston, and transitioned. I went to support group at that time with a couple of guys who were testing the waters by remaining female IDd at work, home, etc and only going out as Trans in the community. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, I just am an all or nothing kind of person I guess. I needed to make a clean break from the me I felt wasn't honest, to the man I am.
As for labels... I get annoyed by them, and wish they weren't so necessary, although I get why they just are sometimes. I don't really ever use FTM anymore, and not to get into the semantics of it, but I've grown uncomfortable to its very implication with how I ID. I've also strayed away from using the term Transgender, and prefer Transsexual when referring to myself. Like I said, I'm annoyed by labels, but sometimes find it necessary, as I do panels and speak at Universities.
So I guess I would say that yes, my relationship with the word 'trans' has changed throughout the years as I've grown and changed. But it's a good thing :-)