What Being Trans Is Really Like | Get Real | Refinery29

So much of the conversation around transgender people in America focuses on the extremes. We either talk of famous entertainers or share tragic statistics about homelessness and suicide rates. Those conversations are important. But, they don't represent the vast majority of trans Americans who live and work in cities and towns across the country — people like Hannah.

Hannah is a 30-year-old woman who lives in Harlem, attends medical school, and occasionally gives slam-poetry sermons at a local Jewish organization. She also happens to be transgender.

In this video, Hannah takes us through her daily life. We watch her morning routine, see her neighborhood haunts, and tag along when she goes out with friends. As we do so, she shares with us her thoughts about her gender identity, her transition, and her not-quite-ordinary life.

[EllaBelle]

wow. as she was talking about her experiences hesitating to buy certain items i was really struck by how we have structured our society to impose gender unnecessarily. so silly and pointless! 

[danceloveclaire]

Very intelligent young woman. I love the analogy she used comparative to being trans (writing with your opposite hand). Something very likable about her!

[rhiannonk]

"There is so much more to be gained from doing it [transitioning] than there is to be lost."

So freaking true. You look so damned happy, they same way I and every other transgender woman feels. The harder path has many more rewards than the easier one.

[danterodriguez]

hannah is very inspiring for me. i'm a transgender guy, and she gives me hope that maybe, when i can pass as male and come out, it won't be the bad situation i keep imagining.

[Kiki-lxwz]

Im so proud of her! She is so beautiful and I actually smiled so wide and teared when she said "i don't feel the dysphoria anymore"

[Supersillystuff]

The part about writing with the opposite hand is such a great explanation! Truly heartwarming, thank you for sharing your story.

[adynofpasavil]

5 weeks on Testosterone today. I gave myself my second shot today. My voice is starting to crack and that's pretty awesome to me. I just turned 14 this past August. I'm lucky to have a supportive mom, sister, and boyfriend. It's not about who I want to go to bed with. It's about who I want to go to bed as. If you are genderfluid, transgender, agender, cisgender or anything I'm probably missing, don't give up hope if you aren't getting on hormones immediately. If you ever want someone to talk to, feel free to reply and we can find a good way to communicate. :)

[abira.]

no one should feel like they have to explain who they are, everyone has the right to be whoever they wanna be if it brings them joy .

[suzyq]

"...we want to actually measure people by their character and by their content of their soul.."  I loved this story.

[hunterbeckham]

She's so very inspiring and the bit about the writing with the opposite hand really spoke to me. So true how we can't all just explain everything or that there isn't always an explanation- some things are just simply "not right." Loved this. She's so beautiful, too! Much love for sharing your story, Hannah. Thank you.

[chrisrickerby]

I know this video is old as hell. But at 35 I'm just now coming to terms with me being a woman. My entire life revolved around hiding who I was. Crying all the time crying myself to sleep wishing I could be a girl. It's only recently that I have realized that I am a girl and through the work and love of my friends I've come to realize that I have just been hiding the fact that I was and always have been female despite the body I was born in. This video made me cry my eyes out because it's so relatable to who I am as a woman today. Thank you for inspiring me and a giving me more to make this jump.

[mychemicalrmancetrash]

My mom has always wanted another son, so I hope when I come out she will understand she has two sons and not just one.

[TwoOnlyChildrenxoxox]

Several times, I found myself placing my hand over my heart while watching this.
So touching and the few seconds leading up to 2:40 broke me.
Much love to her. Many best wishes for her happiness.

[MaikiThePrince]

I’m 21 year old trans male and it makes me so uncomfortable when people calls me ma’am. It’s one of the reasons why I want my boobs chopped completely off. As a child, I’ve always wanted to stay flat chested. The first time I got the talk about a menstrual cycle and “All woman gets it”, I wanted to end my whole life at that point😭

[dirkrider]

Even though I am ftm this is still completely inspiring and a great little video.

[eo]

Your metaphor/explenation for being trans honestly gave me chills... Especially since I was acctually drawing while I watched this video. Amazing<3

[feathersandflorals]

An intelligent and inspirational individual speaking from the heart- how could you not love this?

[francescadibologna]

such a sincere and insightful self-examination. thank you so much for posting, hannah.
the bit you said about the sadness and loss trans people can feel about leaving behind one self, to move to another that feels more authentic, doesn't get said enough.

though it is generally felt to be a positive move/transition, it's not always easy and it can be conflicting. and there is a 'bereavement' process to go through, of sorts, which i'm not sure all trans people are as prepared for as it would be good for them to be. that's why it was so important for you to have said it. 'get real' is a very accurate video description.

i'm also glad you apeear to have found a community that enables you to live as you want to live generally free from oppression, discrimination and abuse. in other places in the world trans people can suffer a terrible fate simply for trying to be true to themselves.

we must stay strong as a community, and work in solidarity with other marginalised communities (and that means not letting counterproductive intersectional tit-for-tat break the solidarity that unites us in the face of adversity), locally, nationally and globally.

i hope your medical degree worked out well and life is being kind to you, hannah x

[Rachel-nqso]

She inspired me so much. Honestly, nobody should be considered "weird" or "unacceptable." Many people may think that being transgender is not a good thing for the society, but I think everyone has the right to be what they want to be. The video made me so happy and gave me courage to become anything I want. I wish Hannah the very best.

[theEddieworld]

I actually cried # wanted to give her so many hugs