What does transition mean when we talk about trans* people? - DYKKA.com

You may have heard this word many times, but you don't know what it means exactly. Or you don't know what all goes into it. So: What does transition mean when we're talking about trans* people?

The Czech organization Transparent, which defends the rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex people, defines transition as “the process during which trans people begin to live under their true gender.” We further read that transition “can take the form of official (changing citizenship), social (changing the name used, clothing, hairstyle, or grammatical gender to more closely match gender roles) and/or medical (surgery, hormones).”

The important thing is that the change may or may not look like this. Every transgender person transitions differently .

For example, one transgender man, who was previously perceived as a woman by his surroundings, simply decides to use the masculine gender among his loved ones and not wear women's clothing or other feminine fashion accessories. Another decides that he wants a complete change, so he visits a medical facility, undergoes various tests, starts taking hormones, undergoes various surgeries, and finally changes the letter from F to M on his documents. Another decides for a completely different option.

Unfortunately, if you want to change your official gender in the Czech Republic , you will have to undergo hormonal transition and surgery , which will result in sterilization . The period between the start of taking hormones and the surgery (the so-called real- life test) lasts at least two years , and even then you have to appear before a commission that will definitively approve or disapprove your official gender change.

But if you wish to change your official gender and undergo all these changes (for example, because they cause you dysphoria), as a person insured by the Czech state, you will have all examinations and all procedures free of charge .

So how do you make sure that people around you start to perceive you differently as soon as possible, regardless of whether you're scheduled to have surgery in a few years or never?

For example, a hairstyle that is worn predominantly or exclusively by people of your gender can help you, as can various clothing and fashion accessories , including packers or binders . If you have a high or low voice, you can sign up for voice training .

There is also the option to change your name to a gender-neutral variant at the registry office. However, if you do not have a sexology certificate that you are transitioning, you will pay 1,000 CZK for the change. However, if you choose an unusual name , the registry office may ask you for an expert opinion , for which you will pay additional money.

A list of gender-neutral names that have already been approved by authorities in the Czech Republic can be found here .

But whatever your transition looks like, the same thing still applies: You are a man, a woman, or a non-binary person, even without any changes.