This is possibly the hardest thing for me to post. Posting a picture was one thing, that to me is less 'intimidating' then this but still in a way its a part of my ethos. Part of my way of spreading a message to wipe out ignorance and discrimination. Up till the age of 12 I was happy, I played with "boys" toys ((Action Men, Lego etc)), I hung with the guys I was treated like I was 'one of the boys'. At the age of 12 this all changed. The toys and clothes I were brought were more feminine, I started to develop breasts ((Thankfully not too big or else I fear I'd go insane!)). While part of me acknowledged this was wrong I was too scared to try and tell anyone. I tried to hang with the group of friends I'd hung with all my life, but they saw me as just female and were only interested in what I could show them of the female body. Hurting I retreated back into myself and started to struggle with finding friends. Anxiety and depression started, though I wore a mask to hide this. At the age of 23, August of this year however I stopped running, I stopped trying to hide who I am. I accepted that I wasn't female, that I didn't count myself as female. I counted myself as male. I came out to my parents as they'd been asking me about why I was wearing a binder more often. The reaction I got hurt me, but it made me more determined to keep fighting on, to go for what I believe in. I got told that if I kept on my route of becoming a guy not staying a girl. If I didn't just suck it up and deal with being born female, that nothing could ever change, I would be disowned. I would also be kicked out. As far as they were concerned I was only a girl. I was only their grand daughter. They didn't want to accept that their 'grand daughter/daughter' was really their grand son/son. Every day at home is a battle ground, but I am stronger for accepting my interior self, for loving my interior self even if I can't love my exterior self yet. My anxiety has all but gone apart from when I'm having to use anything that vibrates such as scroll saws or sewing machines which still can catch me off guard - but that is due to my Aspergers. For the first time since the age of 12 I feel at peace with myself. Anyway this is my story so far.