I've definitely loved female characters for as long as I can remember, but I've never ventured outside what is expected of someone born biologically male.
Confusing feels are hard to communicate. x_x

fortunately in this day and age, there's quite a lot of resources to b found on gender identity, picking apart gender roles & expectations, if you go looking. but the best thing to do is start talking about it with friends you know are trans (and Ace is trans. it's what the white bar is for). I've been wrestling with my mental image of "what am I?" for a while, and the only thing I can conclude with any surety is "not Rigid Male". it's perfectly ok to not-label yourself, or identify by what you're Not. or even "I don't know yet". and don't let anybody tell you "queer" is a slur. it's been reclaimed (but it can still be used that way if someone spits it like a cuss. but that's tangential) and is perfectly fine if you don't want to go into details.

I think I've suspected I might be trans (or, at least, non-binary) for the past decade, but it's really taken making a lot of friends in the community to realize I didn't just accidentally stumble into these social circles.

it took realizing 90+% of the people I routinely associate with are somewhere on the queer chart to take note that "... this can't be happenstance."

It was gradually head that way, but the month I struck up a speaking relationship with a trans content creator I've casually followed for years. She... Immediately started talking gender in one-on-one chats. Internal Monologue: "Oh. I'm that obvious, aren't I?"

feels a bit like a brick to the face, don't it? Everybody around you gets it, but you're almost blind to it yourself and then - WHAM. allasudden "oh, that's why %obviouscue kept showing up" on 3/4 of your social interactions

Yeah. It's certainly validating... Although, I doubt my family and current roommates would see that if I came out with it. Feel like I'm in a precarious place where I'm all but certain I've found what that cloud over my life's been, but am not in a position where I can act on applying that knowledge to my lifestyle.

not touchin that cos I'm Mutt McWhiteboy. Not my lane

Also White McWhite, so can't say much in reply until I look into that. xD

Well, right now I'm hella scared, but hopefully the first step in a happier life!

Well, I picked up on it but I tend to notice.

Heh, well, lately I've been broadcasting my conflicted feels pretty hard... But, yeah. I approached my queer ex and her trans husband and asked. Both of them said, "Oh yeah, we always got that vibe from you." And I was like, "REALLY? YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS NOW???"

Tbh, don't blame them. Few years ago, I'd have definitely denied that if they'd suggested it.

...But, you were a Twitter mutual before I *seriously* started signalling in the last two months. Would you mind sharing what those observations were?

Welcome to a new community glad to have you hun ❤️🖤❤️🖤

Thank you! ❤️ I'm still pretty gosh darn scared. :'D

Well feel free to talk to me anytime, I'll give you the best answers and advice i can! my telegram is the same as this name. ❤🖤❤🖤

I feel ya. When I was in college I was a blissfully ignorant and now at the age of 30 I realize I'm trans. Hang in there, it's gonna be an exciting and hopefully fulfilling journey!

I'm 26, and pretty scared seeing as I'm still struggling to find a job I could be proud of, and living with roommates who are... Not close enough friends that I'd be comfortable experimenting around them.

But, I'd be lying if I said this admission wasn't a long-time coming.