Posts by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
 (DIR) Post #AT9ZKDUGl31gcjNOPw by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       Voice progress thread 🧵I don't know how helpful this'll be, but I've been cataloguing the slight progress I've made in feminising my voice since March 2022.I'd been uploading these to Twitter, but now that it's burnt down, I guess I'll be uploading these to my TikTok & linking them here.March 2022 - https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepycatten/video/7170064056110320902June 2022 - https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepycatten/video/7170066062883491077August 2022 - https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepycatten/video/7170066706650434822January 2023 - https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepycatten/video/7184470329937497349#trans #TransVoice #voice #TransVoiceFriday
       
 (DIR) Post #AT9ZKEb2dM2O41YJc0 by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       THREAD 🧵#Trans or #NonBinary? Perhaps questioning your #GenderIdentity?Want to know more about #HRT or #transition, particularly in the #UK? Maybe you just want help working out your gender identity?I've compiled some hopefully-helpful resources, links and guides to help you know where to get started.My DMs are also open to anyone who wants more personalised help :BlahajWavingTransFlag: Just be patient with me if I don't respond quickly please 😅1/#transgender #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+
       
 (DIR) Post #AVkO9qtSOLAFMxM5Sa by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       PSASteam Support do make exceptions and allow you to update your Steam account name (login) for trans/non-binary folksI originally made a guide about it here 👇https://www.reddit.com/r/transgamers/comments/pughme/steam_support_do_make_exceptions_and_allow_you_to/I wanted to share the details here also :TransHeart: :NonBinaryHeart: #Steam #Valve #gaming #gayming #trans #transgender #enby #NonBinary #genderqueer #genderfluid #agender #LGBTQ #queer
       
 (DIR) Post #Ai3fg20D1eRSow3LBw by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       PSA about hair removalThis post is for anyone who's seeking hair removal, but especially for the many other trans / non-binary / agender girls / women / fems / folks I see being given misinformation by laser or electrolysis technicians, especially in the US and UK 🥺Please note that we've not gone into all hair removal forms, such as waxing, epilation, sugaring etc., as there is less misinformation given about these. Laser hair removalNOT suitable at all for tattoos!There is a high risk of burning, scarring, and damaging the tattoo.Not to be confused with tattoo removal lasers, which work differently to laser hair removal.Permanent hair reduction.Always shave the area closely beforehand. Laser is less effective if you do not shave, and can actually cause skin burns if the hair is too long.Ideally look for a clinic that uses something like a Candela GentleMax Pro or newer. Such machines are less painful & more effective than ones like any of the Alma Soprano devices.6-8 sessions will typically be the sweet spot before moving on to electrolysis.Laser is sadly not universally effective with all combinations of skin and hair tones / colours. However, machines like the GentleMax Pro use a combination of a 755 nm Alexandrite laser for skin types I to III (lighter) and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for skin types IV to VI (darker). You can find more info by searching for the Fitzpatrick scale.If the technician or clinic tell you not to use numbing cream, that's a massive red flag against their knowledge. A technician does not need pain feedback from you to know they're using safe levels!ElectrolysisSuitable for tattoos.Permanent hair removal.You must let the hair grow at least a few mm before a session.There are 3 different electrolysis methods. Flash thermolysis electrolysis uses short, high intensity bursts that are less painful. Galvanic is slower and more painful, but typically the most effective. Blend combines both methods. Each method has pros and cons, so ask your electrologist which method they recommend for you.Ask your electrologist for an estimate of how long it will take to clear an area, as their expertise and speed will vary. For example, NHS Scotland estimates it can take 250-400 hours to fully clear a face of facial hair. My own highly-experienced electrologist estimated 100-150 hours max for me, but has nearly cleared my face in under 40 hours. She's not yet taken more than about 120 hours to clear someone's face / neck fully.Again, numbing cream is not only absolutely safe, it's in fact highly recommended if you cannot afford local anaesthetic injections.For most folks, it's as much a mental challenge as it is about physical pain management. Even with numbing cream and strong painkillers, it's gonna hurt, especially in 2 hour+ sessions and around sensitive areas (especially the top lip and around the mouth).Aloe vera gel helps with post-electrolysis swelling and recovery.Numbing creamThe most common brand of numbing cream is EMLA, which is 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine.The strongest cream we'd previously found without prescription is Tattoo Numbing Cream, which is 5% lidocaine and 5% prilocaine.We no longer recommend Tattoo Numbing Cream due to having found a stronger, more cost-effective Korean brand called J-Cain, which comes in higher strengths, but our initial testing with the 29.9% lidocaine version was that it wasn't much stronger, but we think we might have been actually sent the 15.6% version.They typically do 10.56%, 15.6%, 19.8%, 25.8%, 29.9% creams in 500 g tubs, which are much more economical than the Tattoo Numbing Cream.They also do 59.9% and 79.9% creams, but those those are potentially very dangerous in terms of lidocaine toxicity.Please note that J-Cain seems to have a decent preservative in it, but it's not clear what penetration enhancer it uses.If you can get a strong lidocaine-prilocaine cream on prescription at an affordable cost, this is definitely something to consider.Lidocaine and prilocaine form a eutectic mixture and work very well together.You ideally want a cream with a decent penetration enhancer (like IPM).To help with absorption, exfoliate and clean the area before applying cream, apply 60-90 mins before a session, and cover in an air-tight, water-tight dressing (cling film / plastic wrap works well).Please note that food-grade PVC wrap works far better than the non-PVC one now commonly sold in supermarkets.Sadly, I can't provide much information on local anaesthetic injections. In the UK, they're typically arranged either by a medically-trained specialist at an electrolysis clinic or separately (such as at a dentist's) immediately before attending a session.#HairRemoval #Laser #LaserHairRemoval #LaserHairReduction #electrolysis #electrologist #trans #transgender #enby #NonBinary #agender #transition #TransWoman #TransFem #queer #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #LGBTQIA2S+
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQurKFabfKUzfHtY by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       We felt we had to make this :FediverseSymbol: 🤭Edit: Added additional alt text to describe the fediverse symbol 🩷Edit 2: Added more description to the alt text. Hopefully this is helpful to folks who wanted more details about the girls and the room they're in :HeartHands: #WhatPrideFlagIsThat #SoAreYouGayOrSomething #sarahmhops #meme #memes #fediverse
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQux5w8jmUOL0wPw by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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        (Please note that we've defaulted to the British English spellings of oestrogen and oestradiol instead of estrogen and estradiol, as this issue affects those in the UK. In general, we use and prefer the versions without the leading silent O.Also, GnRH means gonadotropin-releasing hormone. You'll see us writing it a lot followed by "analogue", "agonist" or "antagonist". Those are all types of "puberty blockers.)" Original puberty blockers banBack on 2024-05-31, we wrote a post in response to the transphobic emergency restrictions for new prescriptions of puberty blockers to trans youth by the then health minister.Our original post explaining that in more detail can be found here, but we have now unpinned it and replaced it with this post to ensure everyone has the most up-to-date info. New government hopes dashedIt was hoped that the new government would not extend the ban, but as soon as they announced Wes "Weasel" Streeting (a highly vocal transphobe and self-loathing gay man) as the new Health Secretary, he pretty much immediately announced his intention to extend the temporary ban, with an aim to making it permanent.Per this post by TransActual, it's not like Weasel and his advisors weren't made aware of all the negative impacts an extension would have, as "he was told about it when meeting with the representatives of LGBTQ+ organisations".Even more darkly-farcical is that the justification Weasel used for continuing the targeted medical discrimination against trans youth is that it's being done "to avoid serious danger to health", which is not only contrary to the information provided by those LGBTQ+ organisations, but completely contrary to:increasing international condemnation of the Cass Review, which was the primary justification for the order;all valid scientific studies over decades, which were excluded by the Cass Review because they weren't "double blinded controlled studies" (which is medically unethical);even the frickin' BMA criticising and planning to review the Cass Review.It's not that Weasel doesn't understand this: it's that he either doesn't care or actively wants to hurt trans youth by making it as difficult as possible for them to medically transition :PleadingFace: 😞 The temporary ban extension explainedThe news page on on the government is coldly entitled Puberty blockers temporary ban extended, as if it's no big deal. It links to the original ban and to the new-and-worsened "The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (Extension) Order 2024" that's replacing it.This order extends the duration of the original ban until 2024-11-26, but also increases its scope. The original order did not apply to Northern Ireland and allowed EU professionals to prescribe. This small loophole gave a glimmer of hope for supportive parents of trans youth, who could essentially:Get a prescription via a private online gender service from an EU medical professional.Travel to Northern Ireland to pick up the prescription.Travel back home to use it to support their trans kid.The government clearly discovered this, as the new order has 2 very clear statements on the news page:It also prevents the sale and supply of the medicines from prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland for any purposes to those under 18.  The government has also extended the order to cover Northern Ireland, following agreement from the Northern Ireland Executive, to come into effect from 27 August 2024. Temporary ban extension number 2 😞On 6th November 2024, a 2nd extension to the temporary ban was created, which will come into force on 27th November 2024 and last until the end of 31st December 2024.Fortunately, it was only a time extension: not an expansion of the meds being blocked.Indefinite banWe bleeping hate this country. On 11th December 2024, an indefinite ban was imposed by the scumbags in power, under the false guise of safety. This will come into force from 1st January 2025 :FaceExhaling: And now for the good news 🥰GnRH antagonistsWeasel isn't as smart as he thinks he is. Under Article 2, they've continued to define GnRH analogues as:a medicinal product that consists of or contains buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin or triptorelinIt's been this way since the original temporary ban was introduced by the previous government and nobody has updated the wording.Whilst technically calling them analogues isn't incorrect, all of the medications listed above are actually more-specifically GnRH agonists.Just like the original order, they've ignored GnRH antagonists, as these don't tend to be typically used, despite being just as safe and effective, with the same low-risk profile.GnRH agonists and antagonists are both types of GnRH analogues. It's just that, for some reason, the agonists tend to be prescribed rather than the antagonists.The wiki page on GnRH antagonists even specifically states in the Other uses section:GnRH antagonists could be used as puberty blockers in transgender youth and to suppress sex hormone levels in transgender adolescents and adults, but have not been studied in this context.We've checked through the list of GnRH antagonists listed on NICE ("National Institute for Health and Care Excellence") as being able to be prescribed, and the following ones could be legally prescribed by any willing UK medical professional without infringing on the order:Cetrorelix (Wiki) (NICE) (EMC)Degarelix (Wiki) (NICE) (EMC)Ganirelix (Wiki) (NICE) (EMC)Relugolix (Wiki) (NICE) (No EMC page, but NICE has some details here)The drugs would be being used off-label, but so are all the existing meds for trans people anyway! There are no officially-licensed medications for trans people in the UK. It's all outside of their prescription guidelines. We actually had to sign 2 consent forms to request HRT, 1 of which genuinely reads:I confirm I understand feminising hormones are not licenced for the treatment of Gender lncongruence; however, I am happy to receive this treatment.That's not an outdated form either. It's what we had to return to the East of England Gender Service (EOEGS) in May 2024.Elagolix appears to be starting to be used at 150 mg daily or 200 mg twice daily, but does not appear to be approved for use by NICE. Alternatives to puberty blockersWhilst puberty blockers are considered the gold standard:They were mainly offered in place of gender-affirming hormone therapy in order to delay the medical transition of trans kids, in the hopes that they could be "persuaded" that they're not actually trans (i.e., conversion therapy).Other alternatives to these do exist and are commonly available.Anti-androgens (steroidal and non-steroidal)For those who want to block testosterone, the other options are broadly steroidal anti-androgens or non-steroidal anti-androgens. They're typically grouped together under anti-androgens.Of these, the prescribable options are:spironolactone (NICE)cyproterone acetate (NICE)bicalutamide (NICE)Why no mention of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride or dutasteride? Because all they do is reduce the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). They're technically considered anti-androgens, but both have some pretty common side effects, haven't been shown to be effective for trans healthcare, and interaction badly with micronised progesterone.SpironolactoneSpironolactone has tonnes of common, negative side effects and is a weak anti-androgen at best. The fact that it's still even prescribed to trans people to block testosterone is probably solely because it's cheap. Even its Wiki page states:Its use continues despite the rise of various accessible alternatives such as bicalutamide and cyproterone acetate with more precise action and less side effects.Cyproterone acetateCyproterone acetate, even at low daily doses (6.25-12.5 mg), isn't particular great either. It's a progestin (a synthetic progestogen), has a fair number of common side effects, and can cause liver issues.The only safe progestogen for feminising HRT is bioidentical micronised progesterone. It's best to avoid progestins at all costs, due to their inherent risks.BicalutamideNow we come to the oft-overlooked and demonised bicalutamide, even though one of its key uses, as listed on its wiki page, is:as a puberty blocker and component of feminizing hormone therapy for transgender girls and womenBicalutamide is a first-generation non-steroidal anti-androgen and works in a different way to other anti-androgens. It actually increases testosterone production slightly, but then converts the excess into oestradiol (E2) and blocks androgen receptors. It's kind of an invisible blocker, as any blood tests will show a higher testosterone level, but androgenic effects will stop, due to the blocked receptors.Its common side-effects are actually positive effects for many seeking feminisation (e.g., breast growth; decreased libido; reduced body hair growth) alongside blocking androgen receptors. This is, however, worth taking into consideration for someone who may want to block androgenic effects, but not particularly feminise, as this would not be best for them.Bicalutamide does have a common chance of raising liver enzymes, so it's absolutely vital to monitor closely and get regular liver function blood tests.Why vital? Because seeing elevated liver enzymes is an indicator of liver cells breaking down at an unusual rate, which can be an early warning sign of liver toxicity (toxic hepatitis). Further tests can then be run to confirm.The liver is very capable organ in terms of recovery and regeneration, so stopping bicalutamide early if further tests are positive for liver toxicity will stop further damage and increase the likelihood of the liver repairing any slight damage caused.And now we come to the reason why it's not more-commonly used: there have been 10 published case reports of liver toxicity reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) in the USA, from which there were 2 deaths. As far as we can tell from reading the links into this, none of these were trans people (of any age) taking a low daily dose of 25-50 mg.In other words, the fear of bicalutamide is disproportionate to the actual real-world risk, especially for trans patients taking low doses.This is what the bicalutamide comparison section has to say:The side effect profile of bicalutamide in men and women differs from that of other antiandrogens and is considered favorable in comparison....Relative to GnRH analogues and the steroidal antiandrogen (SAA) cyproterone acetate (CPA), bicalutamide monotherapy has a much lower incidence and severity of hot flashes and sexual dysfunction.... In addition, unlike GnRH analogues and CPA, bicalutamide monotherapy is not associated with decreased bone mineral density or osteoporosis.Bicalutamide is the best alternative for most, but not all, trans youths wishing to block testosterone and achieve some bonus feminisation before being prescribed oestradiol. It has a lower risk profile overall than cyproterone acetate, but due to extremely rare risks of liver toxicity and lung diseases, many medical practitioners won't prescribe it 😞{NEW} Second generation non-steroidal anti-androgensThere are some promising second generation non-steroidal anti-androgens which may both be more effective and have an even lower risk profile than bicalutamide. These are:ApalutamideDarolutamideEnzalutamideOf these, enzalutamide appears to be beginning to be used as part of feminising HRT, at a dose of 160 mg daily, and the drug is approved by NICE at this dose. Apalutamide has been approved by NICE at a dose of 240 mg daily.Darolutamide, the newest of the meds, has been approved at a higher dose of 600 mg twice daily.Each of these has its own risks and side effects that should be reviewed and taken into account. Enzalutamide purportedly "shows no risk of elevated liver enzymes or hepatotoxicity", but both it and apalutamide list a low possible risk of seizures. Anti-oestrogensThere are anti-oestrogens, particularly SERMs, but they typically have a lot of side effects and risks. As a rule, most don't come highly recommended.We wish we could be more positive about them here, but we wouldn't recommend any of them for anyone wishing to block oestrogen production or an oestrogenic puberty.Look to the GnRH antagonists that aren't blocked (like relugolix), or consider the option below. MonotherapyIt's very notable that the extended ban still does not ban any oestradiol (oestrogen) or testosterone prescriptions.This means that there is still nothing to stop supportive parents from helping their trans kids to get a private prescription for oestradiol or testosterone.Furthermore, due to the way human bodies work, if you maintain a high-enough trough (lowest) level of either oestradiol or testosterone, the body will basically tell the gonads to stop producing that hormone. (We know there's a term for this, but we cannot remember what it is.)Please note that the figures quoted below are the typical figures for trans adults. Even WPATH SOC8 seems to have no defined ranges for trans youth, just same vague dosage suggestions adapted from the Endocrine Society Guidelines under "Appendix C GENDER-AFFIRMING HORMONAL TREATMENTS" within "Table 3".For feminising HRT in adults, monotherapy typically requires maintaining an oestradiol trough of around 750 pmol/L. It varies from person to person, so some folks might need as little as 350 pmol/L.You'll know if their oestradiol trough is sufficient if their testosterone level is 2.4 nmol/L or lower, though up to 3 nmol/L is still considered within the high-end of female range.Please note that there's a lot of scaremongering over oestradiol level. The NHS typically demands you be within 400 to 600 pmol/L... despite the fact that the NHS considers normal, safe ranges during menstruation to be:Mid-luteal: 180 to 1068 pmol/LPeri-ovulatory: 349 to 1590 pmol/LFor masculinising HRT in adults, a rather-low testosterone trough of around 10-12 nmol/L is generally considered the aim when using prescription testosterone medications like Nebido 1000 mg / 4 mL or Sustanon 250 mg/mL, with a low peak of around 25-30 nmol/L. This is rather out of step with international guidance, which is 300 to 1,000 ng/dL (~10.4 nmol/L to 34.7 nmol/L). As such, please keep that in mind if your kid feels low mood / energy when approaching their trough if they go by outdated NHS guidance and let it go down to 10-12 nmol/L.For context, our testosterone level before starting feminising HRT was 18.6 nmol/L in our late 30s. It was likely higher during our first puberty.You'll typically know if their testosterone trough is sufficient if their oestradiol level is under 150 pmol/L, though some folks may be up to around 180 pmol/L.Monotherapy completely avoids the need for any kind of puberty blocker, anti-androgen, or anti-oestrogen.It also has the delightful side-effect of making your trans kid happy to be starting the puberty that they want to go through sooner, thus alleviating their feelings of gender dysphoria and allowing them to enjoy their lives, rather than continuing to wait on non-existent NHS healthcare.With feminising HRT, monotherapy is most easily achieved by a daily high-dose of oestradiol in the form of oestrogel (oestrogen gel) typically applied to the thighs or abdomen, but could in theory be achieved by sufficient patches applied twice weekly. Transdermal methods can benefit from being applied on the upper buttocks, but this will not be convenient or comfortable for everyone. Injections are sadly not available on prescription, and implants will be very, very expensive and only privately prescribed.For masculinising HRT, monotherapy can be easily achieved by daily application of testosterone gel or cream, but is more easily achieved by testosterone injections (Nebido or Sustanon). However, the injection recommendations are all for adults, so these may be harder to adjust.For trans adults, NHS trans masc shared care guidelines are typically Nebido 1000 mg every 12 weeks (after an initial loading period of 1 injection every 6 weeks for the first 12 week period).For Sustanon 250 mg, those guidelines are far less clear. It suggests every 1 injection every 4 weeks, but seems to imply a loading dose possibly too in order to suppress menstruation, but it's really not explained well. Blood testsThese can be done privately, completely avoiding the need for the NHS.You can find more information here:https://genderkit.org.uk/resources/blood-testing/https://transactual.org.uk/medical-transition/hormone-therapy/ Where can we find more information about gender-affirming care by experts who actually want to help trans kids?Although far from perfect, arguably the best sources currently are:WPATH Standards Of Care 8UCSF guidelines for gender-affirming care What if I'm still confused about all this?Ask for help. We're all in this together. Some of us know a lot about how broken trans healthcare is on the NHS right now, not just for trans kids but for trans adults too.The key thing to remember is that you are never alone. All you have to do is reach out and ask for help from the community :TransHeart:​ :HeartHands:Here is a non-exhaustive list of organisations who may be able to offer you some immediate support:MermaidsGendered IntelligenceSwitchboard National LGBTQIA+ Support LineYou can find more info resources and support on this Gender Construction Kit page.And here are some other websites / people you may want to look up:Trans Kids Deserve BetterTrans Kids Deserve To Grow UpDee Whitnell (Founder of TransKidsDeservetoGrowUp)Queer AFNancy Kelley (Executive Director of DIVA Magazine) and big supporter of trans youthAnne (aka Anne Health Limited), which has a helpline and offers trans+ gender-affirming healthcareUCSF guidelines for gender-affirming care Edits: Apologies for all the typos. We're trying to gradually get rid of them all 😅 Further apologies for the minor formatting edits as we notice issues.#TransKidsMatter #TransYouthAreLoved #TransKidsDeserveToGrowUp #TransKidsDeserveToThrive #TransKids #ProtectTransKids #trans #transgender #enby #NonBinary #agender #genderfluid #genderqueer #transition #TransLiberationNow #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransRights #queer #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #PubertyBlockers #GnRHAgonists #GnRHAntagonists #GnRHAnalogues #AntiAndrogens #AntiEstrogens #AntiOestrogens #SERM #spironolactone #CyproteroneAcetate #bicalutamide
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQuxkLiU6iPfvDPM by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       Hey folks :FediverseSymbol: Apologies in advance for any errors, typos, omissions, or unclear explanations. We've written this hastily whilst still in AuDHD burnout, fighting through brain fog and fatigue (and possible infection), after reading the latest QueerAF newsletter, as they have unknowingly made this service seem legit. We are not a lawyer and we are happy to make amendments accordingly for those who have more experience than we have from our research or notice errors / typos we've made. Also, boosts are most welcome. Also, just to clarify, we are very much NOT bashing QueerAF. We think they're AMAZING and you should totally subscribe to their newsletter. This is just a one-off error, which we've highlighted to them, along with the GDPR and scamming implications. The gistDespite its official-sounding name, the UK Deed Poll Office is NOT an official government agency. They even admit as much in small print at the bottom of pretty much all their pages: The UK Deed Poll Office is not a government agency. Our function is purely as a document provider for the self-declaration of an unenrolled deed poll.If you look under the terms and conditions, it gets worse.We own and operate the Website www.ukdeedpolloffice.org (“Website”).  We are UK Deed Poll Office LLC, with a UK postal address at Queensway House, Queensway, Middlesbrough, TS3 8TF, UK. Our official company is based out of the United States at UK Deed Poll Office LLC, 416 W 52nd Street 323, New York, NY 10019.Is it the only one?When we first wrote this PSA, we thought it was, but we've since found several more, some based in the UK, scamming people into paying for unenrolled deed polls that they could do for free!!!Deed Poll OfficeUK registered as Deed Poll Office Limited on Companies House under 08126967UK Deed Poll Service and Deed Polls OnlineBoth UK registered as UK Deed Poll Service Limited on Companies House under 08587775Only the first website states this: the second doesn't list it anywhereWe doubt these are the only ones, too: just the ones we found (due to one comparing itself against the others).ProblemsGDPRWe felt the need to do this post after seeing a worrying article in this week's QueerAF newsletter:The UK Deed Poll Office just released analysis of the trends they see when trans people change their name.Gender identity is considered special category data under GDPR, and comes with a lot of additional legal requirements for processing.Given that this is a scam company operating out of the US, do you really think they're going to comply with GDPR like they should do?No: of course they won't. They already haven't. If they had, they wouldn't have been able to produce an analysis about trans people's name changes, as they shouldn't be collecting, storing, or processing such information!!!This was data from 1,516 trans people, likely without their consent for their data to be stored and used.Other issuesBeyond the worrying GDPR implications, unenrolled deed polls are completely free, minus printing costs, to create, but not universally accepted in all UK nations, and yet this scam company: Is charging people for a free deed poll creation process. Implies that you need to apply for a legal name change in all UK nations.Implies that the unenrolled deed poll will be accepted in every nation within the UK.Legal name?Strictly speaking, the UK doesn't have a concept of a legal name or surnames: at least not like other countries do. Instead, it's just what name people know you by. So the term legal name is often used, but it just means whatever your name is. However, how you formally change your name to update IDs varies across nations.England and WalesYou can easily change your legal name, so long as it's not for nefarious or fraudulent purposes. As TransActual summarises it: It is a principle of the law in England and Wales that a person’s legal name can be changed simply by using a new name and becoming known by it. There is no legal requirement for a new name to be enrolled or registered.-- TransActual - Name Changes - An overviewScotlandUpdated on 2024-12-20 based on additional info from Reddit user Neat-Bill-9229, who replied here to the version of this we posted on RedditIt's a bit different in Scotland, as Scottish law is different to English law in terms of name changes.The official name change route for people who were born or adopted in Scotland is listed on the changing your name page on the National Records of Scotland (NRS) website. This legally registers the name change and updates your birth certificate with your new name... and sadly the name you were "formerly known as" too 🥺Unlike enrolled deed polls, however, the name change isn't published publicly, so this method doesn't carry the same associated risks. It's only a public record in the sense that all birth certificates are public records (i.e., someone would need to order a copy of your birth certificate). However, if you're willing to wait until you get a Gender Recognition Certificate, you can use a different route to change your name and gender on your birth certificate at the same time. Details are listed on the gender recognition page on the NRS.Please note that you aren't required to register a change of name for it to be considered legally valid. An easier and cheaper route for many is to change your name via a Statutory Declaration for Change of Name. It should cost no more than £10 to get a "practising solicitor, notary public, or other officer of a court authorised by law to administer an oath" to witness this. Alternatively you can ask a "Justice of the Peace" to witness your statutory declaration. You can find your local court and book an appointment on the signing documents page on the The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website. Please note that you may have to wait a few weeks for an available appointment, depending on your local court.Scottish Trans has created a template that can be used by anyone 16+. We'd recommend reading all the guidance before filling it in. Technically you shouldn't be able to use an enrolled deed poll to change your name, but only if it was signed in Scotland. If you got it signed in England or Wales, then returned to Scotland, it should in theory be accepted, as the applicable name change law depends on which nation it was signed in. It's a loophole that you can successfully use, though some institutions may still query it if it doesn't look official enough. Parchment paper is definitely recommended.Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is different again. You can try to use an unenrolled deed poll in theory, but you might need to apply for a name change through the General Register Office, which will cost money, and some methods may lead to registering the name change publicly.We'd recommend reading the Rainbow Project name change page and reaching out to them for more info.If you can get one ID updated using an unenrolled deed poll, it should be easier to get others done.Creating a deed pollIf you do not have access to a printer, you could ask a friend if they can help you, or print from any public facility with free (or cheap) printing, like many libraries.Although many choose to print their deed poll (or polls, if they make multiple originals) on fancy and/or thicker A4 paper (like parchment / certificate paper), this is not required. It's just to make it look more formal and less likely for be unjustly rejected when telling organisations, despite your right to rectification under GDPR.Why you shouldn't enroll / register the name changeIn England and Wales, avoid enrollment at all costs if you are trans or may be at risk if someone finds your new name.Enrolling a deed poll will create a permanent searchable link between your old and new names, including a notification in the London Gazette. Anyone could find out your old name with only a few seconds of web searching.-- GenderKit - Name change by deed poll - WarningIt's slightly different in Scotland and Northern Ireland:In Scotland and Northern Ireland, a name change carried out without a GRC will also cause your birth certificate to display both your old and new names. -- GenderKit - Registering a name change - WarningYour birth certificate is considered a public record, but someone would need to order it to see your former names. If you avoid the registration route, you can update your birth certificate without it deadnaming you after you've got a GRC.Removing name change from public record?If you have already enrolled your name change via deed poll, you can ask The Gazette to remove your name change details, but you may not be able to remove the public record of your name change 😔You could try to ask under the GDPR right to be forgotten, but we have no idea if that would be successful.If you wish to remove your previous names on your birth certificate after registering a name change in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you will likely need a GRC to ask for this.Where can I find more info?Please check out the following links. They're not exhaustive, but should put you in the right direction. GenderKit - Name change by deedFree Deed Poll Generator for 16+UK gov page on deed pollsAdult deed poll pageUnder 16TransActual - Name ChangeScottish Trans - change of nameRainbow Project (NI) - changing name#DeedPoll #UKDeedPollOffice #scam #UK #England #Wales #Scotland #NorthernIreland #NameChange #trans #transgender #enby #NonBinary #queer #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #LGBTQIA2S+
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQuxzEp8179qt6cC by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       Hey folks :FediverseSymbol: For those considering fleeing the US to Europe in light of the 2024 US election results, we recommend that you check out these resources:The Trans Health Map 2024 by TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia).You can view it in map or raw data format.It is a good starting point to help you determine whether you could even get care there for yourselves, and it highlights where having a disability, being neurodivergent, and/or struggling with mental health may hinder your access to healthcare.The 2024 Rainbow Map produced by ILGA-Europe.This is particularly useful for seeing how poor LGBTQIA+ rights are in many countries, against what the common perception might be from a US viewpoint.There are lots of other considerations you will need to take into account, but we wanted to make you all aware of these resources to help you along 🇪🇺Boosts welcome to spread the info to others :BoostsOKPrideSymbol:Edit: Here is some additional relevant context, as pointed out by a lovely comment :PinkHeart:These maps are essentially display the legal situation, which does not necessarily reflect how things are done by hospitals, doctors, federal officials etc.These maps also do not, by themselves, show how many extra hurdles there can be to obtaining healthcare, especially trans+ healthcare, as a migrant, and especially if you do not speak a native language fluently.Please also note that some countries might have healthcare monopolies or a figurative geographical lottery on healthcare.Basically, you really need to do your research before moving, including asking other migrants what their experiences have been.#USPol #USPolitics #politics #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #queer #trans #transgender #TransRights #TransRightsAreHumanRights #ILGAEurope #TGEU #TransHealthcare #TransHealthMap #TransKidsDeserveBetter #TransKidsDeserveToGrowUp #TransKidsDeserveToThrive #TransYouthAreLoved #MentalHealth #disability #neurodivergent #neurodivergence #EU #EuropeanUnion #Europe #OvertonWindow
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQuy5GSipzSXhv0a by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       Hey folks :TransHeart: As you're almost-certainly already aware, access to GAHT is increasingly being restricted, being outright banned, or otherwise unavailableb to many trans+ people under 18 in many places across the world 😔For example, the UK had already banned new prescriptions of GnRH agonists (a type of puberty blocker) for any trans+ person under 18, and is now genuinely considering banning all private GAHT prescriptions too 🤬GAHT is literally lifesaving medication for many trans+ people :BlahajHuggingTransHeart:Without it, many trans+ people under 18 will struggle even more with mental health, and many will not make it to adulthood 😭If you are a trans+ person under 18, or are a supportive family member or friend of someone who is, please start to make contingency plans now for the worst-case scenarios 🥺We highly recommend bookmarking the below website and making copies of all relevant info and links in case it gets taken down: https://hrt4all.com/If you're 18+ or soon will be, please also do the same for these: https://diyhrt.info/https://hrtcafe.net/We all need to prepare now, before it's too late 🥺😞Enough lives have already been lost. We can't save everyone, but we need to try to save as many as we can ✊Boosts very much appreciated :BoostsOKPrideSymbol: #trans #transgender #TransKidsDeserveToGrowUp #TransKidsDeserveToThrive #SupportTransKids #TransYouthAreLoved #FuckTransphobia #FuckBigotry #FuckTheUK #TransLiberation #TransLiberationNow #queer #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #UnitedWeStandDividedWeFall #FirstTheyCame #GenderDysphoria #GenderIncongruence #GenderAffirmingCare #GAHT #HRT #TransGenocide #PSA #PleaseBoost #TransRights #TransRightsAreHumanRights
       
 (DIR) Post #AvpQuzVBBrA3rCq82a by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       Hey folks :TransHeart: :NonBinaryHeart: You may receive an SMS text from +44 7860 039092 or similar. It will read along the lines of:From: Tavistock GICHello, you are on the waiting list waiting to be seen at the GIC you were referred between 20## - 20##. We understand during this wait some patients will no longer wish or need to be seen.Please respond to our question via our secure portal within the next 14 days. https://drdoctor.thirdparty.nhs.uk/???????????????Thank you.We've seen screenshots of people of people referred 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. This was the Reddit post that made us aware of this. A friend of ours, referred in 2019-2020, received and responded last week.It very much looks like the NHS powers that be have contracted a third party to reach out to patients on this GIC's waiting list, in the hopes that many won't respond in time for any number of reasons. They're trying to artificially reduce their huge waiting list via nefarious means, rather than tackling the systemic issues.If you have been referred to this GIC and haven't yet received an SMS text, or you have changed your mobile phone number or any other details, you can attempt to log in to the main login portal without the unique code.Please note that you may not be able to log in to their portal without this third party having been sent your details. We'd highly recommend that if you've not yet received an SMS text and were referred between 2019 and 2021 that you urgently message both your NHS GP surgery and the GIC via email (gic@nhs.net) or phone number.Please spread this far and wide. People need to know about this, so they don't lose their place in the queue and have to be referred again 🥺Lives could literally depend on this 😞#trans #transgender #NHS #NHSEngland #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransHealthcare #TransLivesMatter #healthcare #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA+ #queer #TransLiberation #TransLiberationNow #TransPeopleAreLoved
       
 (DIR) Post #AwIulAx2OnCMgCwaDQ by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       @neil Binary options on fedi, Neil 🙀 :FediverseSymbol: We've used it occasionally, but only typically for niche tools that aren't available easily otherwise.Often kicks up repository update error messages on our tablet.@fdroidorg
       
 (DIR) Post #AwIxPVafHYQaBNq5Qm by SleepyCatten@cultofshiv.wtf
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       @fdroidorg They pop up intermittently on a Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro saying something like repository couldn't be updated. However, they don't persist and even if we catch them, they disappear before we could ever think to take a screenshot.