Hello, Playground

[Guest Peta]

Hi, I'm Peta, I'm 30 years old. I started crossdressing around age 12, although I vaguely remember having experimented with that before. It's always been a sexual thing with me, so I was never entirely sure if it's about gender or just a fetish. The problem is, I grew up in a very conservative town and I could never talk about my issues, so the sexual and the social are separate things for me: I could never openly question my manliness; whatever gender issues I may have had, they made themselves felt when I was alone, which was a lot, and the excitement that ensued from thinking about them usually led to self-gratification. So, I came out to me girlfriend about a week ago, and she was shocked and confused. Now she's trying to be accepting. I think this was probably the healthiest thing I could do at that point: I knew I could not repress it and I didn't want to hide it from her any longer (not that there had been no clues). Now we signed up for relationship counseling and I'll probably need to see a gender therapist on my own. I get really excited thinking (just thinking and reading) about transitioning and the HRT, but at the same time I'm still confused as to where I stand on the gender spectrum, I don't want to hurt my girlfriend who is still confused, and the financial situation doesn't look too promising at this juncture. I thought I'd start with LHR on my legs, something I wanted to do since I was 14, but only if I find an affordable place around here (Madison, WI). And then see where that leads me.

[KathrynJulia]

Hello Peta

Welcome to the playground. I approved your post yesterday and then had to run. Coming out to your girlfriend is the right thing to do. She probably has a lot of feeling going through her right now that will take some time to process. Just a suggestion, you might invite her to join the SO Forum on Laura's. She can ask questions of other significant others. They can reasure her that she has nothing to fear.

Laura's is a very laid back forum. A place to find support and get answers and to talk things over with other like minded people.

I also happen to know the Madison area quite well. I have 3 sets of in laws that live in and around Madison. My brother also works in Madison. The University Hospital has a Gender Clinic. One of our Family Practice docs worked their for 7 years. So their is plenty of medical support in the area.

One of the things that we moderators ask of every new member is to read the Terms and Conditions which can be found further down every page on the right side. The Terms and Conditions are the rules of the site and are their to provide safety and sanity of this site. We have members ranging from teens to grandparents and every age in between. So we keep this a G rated site. Laura's is a moderated site. What that means is a group of dedicated moderators read and approve every post before other members can view it to ensure that it follows the Terms and Conditions of the playground. It works quite well.

So Peta, let me extend a warm welcome to the Playground. I'm Kathryn and it is a pleasure to welcome you.

[Guest Peta]

Thank you for the kind words, Kathryn! I didn't know about the Gender Clinic, so thank you for the tip! I'll certainly tell my girlfriend about the SO Forum (I know she's been browsing around the internet searching for some information). Sorry I don't ask any questions. I'm at a crossroads right now, trying to understand my own feelings. I don't have much of experience of being that other me. It's exciting, liberating, and scary at the same time. I just needed to share that with someone. Thanks for listening...

[Carolyn Marie]

Welcome to the Playground, Peta. I think LP is just the place to come to, to find some of the answers you seek. Your idea to find a G.T. is an excellent one, because sometimes that who it takes to help you figure out if you are transsexual or a cross dresser. The gender spectrum can be a complicated thing to navigate on ones own.

I encourage you to read whatever forums interest you, and post your questions and comments in any of them. We will do our best to give you honest and direct answers. With five posts now, you have access to all of the site features. Enjoy your stay.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest angels wings]

Hello Peta Welcome to Laura's . Great to have you here . I'm sure you will find many other members you can relate to . I am an S/O I do encourage you to introduce your partner to Laura's . I have learnt alot here . Laura's helped me understand what my partner was going through I got support and understanding . I had been to many sites searching for support but found them very negative . Laura's was the opposite they gave me hope . Thank you for your intro . Looking forward to getting to know . You are definetly never alone in Laura's playground

Angel

[Guest miss kindheart]

Hi Peta,

<<< hug >>>

Welcome to Laura's Playground.

Please feel free to come over and chat sometime.

The Chat room does require another registration that is separate from from your forums one.

Please read the chat room rules before coming in, and expect a short interview with one of the chat room moderators.

One of the things that they will ask you is if you read the rules.

We have Cross Dressers meetings -Tues 8pm est, and you are welcome to attend.

We all look forward to seeing you.

vanna

[Guest MsPerseveres]

Welcome to the Playground!

Hugs, Brenda