The Internet has always been familiar with before and after photos, with a myriad of comparative pictures online which are often subject to:
Not often enough do we see much of the transitional journey some of the transgender community undergoes. Due to this, there have been societal myths that have become associated with transitioning, which in reality, are far from the truth.
To empower the transgender community and educate others, Jaimie Wilson, a fully transitioned female-to-male (FTM) transgender man, has chosen to share his transition on social media.
21-year-old Jaimie Wilson, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, knew that he was male when he was only 15 years old. However, his strict conservative, and religious household forced him to hide his true identity.
Wilson’s transphobic family required him to hide everything from them; he admitted that he would hide any masculine clothing underneath feminine clothes in his drawers.
“Honestly, it was extremely scary because I didn’t think I’d ever be able to transition,” Wilson told UNILAD. “I thought it was something I would have to live with for the rest of my life. I didn’t tell anyone how I was feeling because I was afraid of losing everyone.”
However, Jaimie was able to move past this fear and hopes to help others do the same by trying to further normalize the gender reassignment process.
Wilson found himself wanting to only spend time alone so that he could dress and look the way he wanted. This eventually prompted him to transition, so living in solitary wasn’t his only option to be comfortable.
At 18, Wilson fully transitioned from female to male and has used his Instagram to debunk the idea that everyone shows signs of being transgender.
“Transitioning for me physically was the best feeling,” Wilson told UNILAD. “I remember cutting off my long hair and how, although the world remained the same, it felt like a whole new one!”
While Jaimie finally began to feel like himself, he admits that he lost a lot of friends during the process and even family.
“The most damaging stereotype people have of me is that I have not always ‘looked’ the part,” Wilson said. “There are no ‘signs’ to be transgender.”
While Wilson may have lost friends and family, he’s amassed a following on social media who have praised him and showered him with love and support.
Wilson now has over 132,000 followers on Instagram and has used his public platform to create awareness for protecting trans youth and sharing his own personal stories.
“The days I feel down about myself, the days I look in the mirror and feel like complete garbage, the dysphoric moments… you have all helped me overcome those [expletive] times and continue to help me overcome them,” Wilson wrote to his followers.
“I want people to know that I am a human being,” Wilson told UNILAD. “Me being trans does not define the person I am. I am choosing to be visible and not try and force anything upon anyone.”
While Wilson admits that the support he’s received has been overwhelming, he still experiences negativity.
However, Wilson stated that if his struggles help just one person, then it’s worth the hate. He hopes to continue educating people and make transitioning easier for those looking to make the change.
“I just know deep down that there is someone out there who could find hope in my story,” Wilson stated.
