Keywords:
transition, school, coming out, friends, teachers, preferred pronouns, GSA, identity, allies, safe, support
transition, school, coming out, friends, teachers, preferred pronouns, GSA, identity, allies, safe, support
Transcript
Tara: So, you transitioned while you were in school?
Nim: Um yeah. I didn't medically transition until later. But yeah, I was starting to come out to friends and a couple of teachers when I was still in Grade 12.
Tara: And what was it like trying to transition in school?
Nim: Um, it was definitely difficult. I didn't come out to the whole school. I just came out to some friends and when I had new teachers I actually found I prefered having new teachers to older teachers because the older ones would know me and they know me by the wrong name and pronouns. If I had a new teacher it was easier to go up and say hi I use this name or I use these pronouns. It's a lot easier kind of just introducing myself instead of having to come out. It was more of just an introduction.
Tara: And when you talked to teachers about the pronouns you used, what kind of response did you get?
Nim: I actually only told one of my teachers about pronouns because he was involved with some of the GSA, The Gay Straight Alliance work that we were doing, so he knew I was I was a part of that. So you kind of knew about my identity through that. So I never actually had to come out and say like "I use these pronouns". I remember from my report card, he came up and said "Is it okay if I use like your pronoun he/him in your report card, like do your parents know?". He was definitely really good about checking that that was okay.
Tara: That you were safe.
Nim: Yeah, that I was safe at home and it wouldn't like cause any problems if he used my pronouns on my report card, which was definitely good.
Tara: So, you transitioned while you were in school?
Nim: Um yeah. I didn't medically transition until later. But yeah, I was starting to come out to friends and a couple of teachers when I was still in Grade 12.
Tara: And what was it like trying to transition in school?
Nim: Um, it was definitely difficult. I didn't come out to the whole school. I just came out to some friends and when I had new teachers I actually found I prefered having new teachers to older teachers because the older ones would know me and they know me by the wrong name and pronouns. If I had a new teacher it was easier to go up and say hi I use this name or I use these pronouns. It's a lot easier kind of just introducing myself instead of having to come out. It was more of just an introduction.
Tara: And when you talked to teachers about the pronouns you used, what kind of response did you get?
Nim: I actually only told one of my teachers about pronouns because he was involved with some of the GSA, The Gay Straight Alliance work that we were doing, so he knew I was I was a part of that. So you kind of knew about my identity through that. So I never actually had to come out and say like "I use these pronouns". I remember from my report card, he came up and said "Is it okay if I use like your pronoun he/him in your report card, like do your parents know?". He was definitely really good about checking that that was okay.
Tara: That you were safe.
Nim: Yeah, that I was safe at home and it wouldn't like cause any problems if he used my pronouns on my report card, which was definitely good.