Yes, you are Trans Enough, my transition from self-loathing to self love by Mia Violet is a primarily autobiographical book with some reflections and opinions on the state of trans issues in the UK.

I've followed Mia on twitter since I was in my own transition egg and she was one of the people who produced the environment that made me ready to hatch. She is also a lovely person. It would probably have helped me to read this book at that point, but it wasn't published until 2018 by which point my egg was well cracked. This book is aimed at little egg me, but I'd argue that it's also the perfect book for anyone with trans friends who wants to understand them better.

Mia starts at the very beginning (a very good place to start) with childhood and works her way through indicative experiences, trials, and tribulations. I have to admit that some of the passages had me in tears; and in general Mia seems to have had a worse time of things than I did, although there are places where I envy her.

I'm actually writing this review having got to page 226; where Mia has just taken her first HRT pills because I'm just bursting with love for this book. On every page there's an experience either I've had myself or I know a friend has had; and these things are so hard to talk about. Mia is a very brave person for having put all of these thoughts and experiences into print and I want everyone to benefit from them.

Once I've finished the remaining third of the book (which ends with a happy Mia, I hasten to add) it's available for any of my friends in Cambridge to borrow. It's also available on Kindle as well as in print.

Title

Yes, you are Trans Enough

Author

Violet, Mia

Published

2018

Reviewed Format

Paperback

ISBN

978 1 78592 315 9

I don't appear to have much effort to write here in my blog, but since I was passing by I thought I'd write an update on my transition; for posterity if nothing else.

Over the summer I've had my EV dose doubled; it looks as if 4mg might be sufficient to maintain a reasonable Oestradiol level (but we'll have to wait for my most recent bloods to be sure); and started on decapeptyl - a GnRH antagonist (which causes the body to stop producing testosterone).

I have also somehow caused my brain to naturally sing in the upper part of my vocal range, at which point all the latent singing skills I had from before puberty started have kicked in and produced a singing voice I'm actually happy with (even if my ability to stay on pitch is still a bit lacking). Speaking voice will require actual work; and I've started watching Z's transvoice videos with an aim of working on that.

I now have breasts that are visible to even me, about a 38C bra size; and I'm told that some of the fat from my tummy has migrated to my bum - although I'm incapable of seeing either of those things.

I spent some time last year with pink hair, but haven't been able to leave the house this year to get it redone.

I'm thinking more clearly, more often, and in more convoluted sentences. I cry sometimes and have a mood range that my pre-HRT self would have regarded as impossible. I am happier all the time, even when I spend 5 hours crying.

I have also, very cautiously, started drinking alcohol - the reasons why I never did don't exist any more, and I actually feel like I'm growing up now.

I need to ask my GP to confirm with the GIC that they've even received my referal since I've not heard even a squeek out of them.