FTM Home Video Timeline | 30 Years In Transition

Instead of a traditional transition timeline with photos, I used thirty years worth of home videos to share my story. I called this my Five Years On Testosterone video, but it could more accurately be called Thirty Years In Transition. This is three decades worth of what it looks like to be a transgender person. From childhood tomboy days to confusion and questioning to denial and finally coming out, starting hormones, changing my name, getting top surgery, and all of the moments in between. Not all of our stories are the same, far from it, but this is one story––my story. The story of how I became the man I am today.

Music (courtesy of Epidemic Sound):
“Give Me Your Attention (Instrumental Version)” by Candelion
“Pretty Little Liar (Instrumental Version)” by Candelion
“Dawncaller” by Valante
“Motor Town Heartbeats 3” by Victor Olsson
“Together Alone” by Josef Falkensköld
“Sing to Me (Instrumental Version)” by Sven Karlsson

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More videos I think you'll like:

→ Changes From 5 Years on Testosterone | Transition Update

→ Do I Regret Sharing Pre-Transition Photos?

→ One Word A Day - First Year On Testosterone

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and hit that 🔔 for notifications!

🔴 My TED Talk, "How to talk (and listen) to transgender people"

🎧 My Podcast, Everything's Bigger

🎧 My Daily Podcast, the Kottke Ride Home

📙My Book, Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place

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N O T Y O U T U B E

S T I L L N O T Y O U T U B E

V I N T A G E M A I L
📬 (that thing where you can send me physical items)

Jackson Bird
PO Box 3003
Astoria, NY 11103

A B O U T M E

👋 I'm Jackson Bird and I make (hopefully) funny, (sometimes) educational videos for LGBTQ+ nerds like me – and the people in our lives that want to understand us better.

Here on JACKISNOTABIRD, you can find new videos once a month sharing my experiences as a bisexual trans guy, answering questions about LGBTQ+ issues, and sometimes showing what happens when you put weird stuff on a waffle iron.

P L A Y L I S T S

→ Transitioning 101 / FTM

→ Booktube

→ My Transition

→ Will It Waffle?

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😍 This video brought to you in part by the following Patrons:

Adam Koski
Alison G.
Blop
Catherine Aust
Chris Frank
David Beasley
Laura González
Mel Dufrene
Nik Hansen
Reid Lewis
Ryan Winter
Will Shughart

[jackisnotabird]

Hey everyone! If you want more, join me on Tuesday 10/13 at 7 PM Eastern for a livestream here on my channel. I'll talk more about the making of the video, share some behind-the-scenes stories, answer your questions, and probably talk about Halloween because October 🎃 Hope to see you there!

[CorneelVf]

Jackson, I don’t know why, but I’m crying. I really find that difficult to grasp: I don’t know you personally, and as a cis guy there isn’t really anything that hits close to home.
And yet… It’s your open way of talking, your earnest and honest way of showing your life and transition, the vulnerable way of enlightening cis people, the extraordinary support you give to the trans community; these things make me reflect on a person who’s incredible, even though I don’t really know you. Thank you so, so much for letting this cis person into a world that he did not know much about, thank you for leading the way for me to try to be an ally for trans people. Thank you for sharing with me, and undoubtedly others, experiences that are different than mine, but are incredibly important to get heard by people like me, someone who first thought those videos weren’t for him. I hope I now know better: these messages are important for everyone. Thank you for taking the decision to share them with us.

[zrnxx]

Started crying when he said “I just want to be me without thinking about it”

[sadberry]

I'm starting my journey now. Congratulations for your 5 years since the turning point of yours.

[pastyginger]

HOLY SHIT JACKSON, THIS IS HANDS-DOWN MY FAVORITE TRANSITION-RELATED VIDEO.
I'm getting top surgery April 7th, I rescheduled from October 7th bc my mom needed time to wrap her head around it more and I think this video will really help. I also felt second-hand euphoria at the end. THANK YOU So much, this is such a treasure for so many people, I'm sure.

[nathanfortier]

Jackson Bird, fun fact, you where one of the first ever trans youtubers I ever watched and, in the times where I thaught I was crazy for wanting to be a boy, you taught me that trans people exist and are not crazy. I'm now 8 and half months on T and top surgery is within the next 8 month! Thanks for your videos. You helped me so much in discovering what trans people are and how I'm one of them.

[honeycutiecub]

I used your coming out video to help me explain my transition to my dad. You and I are about the same age and have similar transition stories with similar timelines. I also publicly came out after being on T for a couple months. Didn't lose friends or family over it and I'm so thankful. I'm from suburban Texas as well. I am now a 28 year old trans man and have been in transition for 4 years. What a wild ride. Thank you <3

[neilkossler]

You're about my kids and nieces age. If you were part of my family I would be very proud of you. You have enlightened and informed me. I wish only the best for you. Oh yeah vote.

[tuckerphez]

I’m not trans but my sister is. Ever since she came out I’ve been trying to learn more about transgender people. This video was lovely and you just gained a new subscriber :)

[c.newman]

After I finish reading a really emotional and relatable book I always take some time to process my feelings before doing whatever it is I need to be doing. Just think a bit. I feel like Its necessary to think about why the characters or story made me feel so seen. This is the first time a YouTube video has given me the same feeling. I couldn't keep watching YouTube videos. Because I felt so emotional and so seen by your video that I needed to just think for a bit. Excellent video.

[ayakohirata-lohr]

Your video made me cry so hard. My 15 yo daughter has wanted to be a boy for a while now and I felt like I’ve just heard her scream from your video. Thank you for being so articulate about your feelings you’ve just spoken for many others like you. God bless you, Jackson Bird🙏🏼

[rayejohnston]

I found your videos a few years ago, in the beginning of questioning my gender

Now I've been on testosterone for 3 months, and I think I can honestly say that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your videos. Thank you for coming out and being open to the world <3

[caninec]

as a cis dude, this channel´s been a great resource to learn how to treat trans people (or rather how i was a rude dumbo), and understand the struggle and changes you people go trough. you're also just entertaining. thanks!

[raptorhonks]

My god you had me crying at the three minute mark and I didn't stop until the end. I resonate with your story so much as someone that lives in Texas as well. In my area the resources are thin and it's a real struggle every day going out and not being seen as who I am. My family is supportive though and coming out to them was the best thing I've done. Now I'm on the road to changing my name and getting the gender therapy I need.

Thank you for sharing your story, it hits home for a lot of us. <3

[LaLeviathan]

I'm sitting in my room alone, with my daughter laying on my chest. She's three months old right now, and through my pregnancy, during these three months of her life, and through the months, days and years before, I have known I was and am not a girl. I started watching your videos (as well as many other trans creators) when I was 13 and realized I related to you all more than I can say. I constantly struggle with doubt but as I sit here typing this, I'm struggling not to break down because I want this for myself so badly. I want to get on T and get top surgery. I want so badly for people to see me as male. This video has helped me doubt a little less, thank you for your content Jackson, you help so much.

[nathantherrien]

I’m 25, just waking up as 25 years of not being my true self. I resonate so much with your story

[joslynstallman]

I connect to Jackson's story more than I thought I did - I think it hit when he said "I finally found how to free myself from it, but the only way to do that was by making the weight visible to everyone else." I've been watching Jackson's content for about 4 years now, and I'm glad I've found someone so open and positive. This video made me cry, but I needed to cry

[gee]

Hi, Jackson <3 My name is Grayson. A year and a half ago at the age of 26 I saw your video on experiencing doubt about your transness while I was questioning my gender. Tomorrow I am starting testosterone. It was so lovely that this video happened to coincide with the start of my medical transition. You’ve been such an amazing resource over the years and I’m so thankful for you and other public-facing transgender guys for being basically the only media representation of transmasculine people that exists. Non-transitioned trans guys see you and we learn what our lives might look like by watching guys who are further along in transition just living their lives. I don’t know if you still read your YouTube comments but I hope you do so you can see how much I’m grateful for your online presence.

[TheKnucklesShow]

I'm not crying you're Crying - this is so beautiful - thank you Jackson for making this!

[snapcracklejess]

Man, seeing your confidence now is everything I want for myself. I'm mid-coming out as non binary, but it's frustrating how uncertain I still feel. So many of the things you said resonated with me- I'd love to get the the point where my gender isn't always at the forefront of my mind. This video was amazing, thank you