The only valid reason is that deep down, a person is not at home in the physical gender given at birth, because the experienced gender is different.
True enough. I have feelings that have no logic to them. I do my best to apply some logical and/or sensible reasoning to them. It's how I think.
I have these crossgendered feelings, and I figure because I want people to treat me as a girl? Why? Why do I want people to treat me as a girl? Because I am a girl. But I'm physically male. Why do I have these crossgendered feelings?
It's all very circular. All I know, for sure, is that transitioning has made me more happier, more confident. It has raised my self esteem a bit. And I'm beginning to feel more...me?
You are right that no one of us has a way to control how others are going to treat us.
If that was the reason GA wanted to go through all this, I'm pretty sure a shrink would have called a halt to all the changing medications.
This is quite true. If my psychiatrist (who is basically "THE" guy to see in Perth about such things (though not the only psych)) thought I wasn't 100% he wouldn't have diagnosed me with Gender Identity Disorder. He would've suggested I seek counselling or something.
There is strong psychological screening before someone is allowed to go through all this. It does amaze me that GA is put on hormones before having dressed and identified as a woman in every part of his life, over a year, that's what would have been required here I think. But every country has a protocol of its own. I don't know the ins and outs of Australia regulations.
Don't think that anywhere in the world where some ethics are applied in meds a sex change will be done lightly.
RLT (Real Life Test) is no longer required before HRT. In any country that I know of. It's sometimes recommended, my psych recommended I experience being socialised with as a girl before I push forward, which I did with friends (which was his suggestion).
Australia doesn't have any set regulations of how you should go about it, but the generally accepted method is to see a psychiatrist for several sessions to be assessed and get some counselling. He/She then will approve you for HRT, possibly give you some names of trans-friendly endocrinologists whom you need to get a referral to from your GP. The psych will give you a letter to take along to the endo, along with your referral from the GP. The endo assesses you, requests a blood test, gives you a physical blah blah blah, and if you're healthy and the bloods check out away you go.
I also see a psychologist who is familiar with gender issues and autism, for my counselling and stuff.
It's a long process, it took me about a year or so to get to the endocrinologist.
