[AbiDrew85]

I personally find genderqueer to be an offensive label, but then I never did buy into the idea that choosing to label ourselves something offensive somehow reclaims the word(s). I think it is just another way to empower the haters, and maybe even continue subtly denigrating ourselves. "They" "took back" the word gay quite a few years ago and it remains a strong and common hate label when used by the haters.

OK. I can respect that and try not to use it. Honestly I've never liked most of the terms used either. Personally I'd much prefer it if I was simply just "a girl with a problem".

*sigh* Respect huh? Let me share with you what that word triggers for me in a context like this. I hear someone say they respect the right of someone else to be distinct. In this kind of context it means "I don't agree with or like what you are doing, but it's politically incorrect to say that. But if I vocalize respecting your rights, then I don't have to give up on my position and you can't tell me I did anything untoward." And in the meantime I have told you in code that you probably can't recognize, your position is wrong. You'll notice how this gets reinforced in subsequent communication when other clues to the underlying feelings slip out, such as using derogatory terms and saying they aren't derogatory because you didn't mean them that way. You know something? If you are into a discussion and at some point feel you need to tell the other party you respect their right to their opinion but you wish they would keep it to themselves, then you've already demonstrated you don't respect their opinion.

I didn't quite say this either. What I said is that I'd appreciate if he'd respect me enough not to keep trying to shove in-betweenie status down my throat. I KNOW I'm a girl. That's the end. Just like you KNOW you're somewhere between. That's the end. And that's fine. I do not and can not fully understand you, and you can not and do not fully understand me. And that's fine. What's NOT fine is for either one of us to go around telling others their gender experience is somehow WRONG just because WE don't understand it.

He wasn't just sharing his experiences and what made him a betweenie. He was telling me I was one too and just hadn't accepted it yet. And that's unacceptable.

As for the original poster's question, I don't know much about transitioning, but I would be very surprised if you can transition without surgery unless I misunderstand what you mean by transition. Neither herbs nor drugs will make your dick fall off or grow a vagina.

Actually not every transition involves EVER getting SRS. Some, maybe even most do. I will unless a better option is developed before I can.

But there are lots of girls who don't ever get SRS but still consider themselves fully transitioned. They generally seem to either have no sex lives, or are lesbians.

Many of them are VERY late-life transitions.

I still persist that spironolactone is not necessary and is just far too dangerous. And that's what they're gonna put you on if you go traditional.