Not every trans person undergoes hormone therapy as part of their transition, though many do seek the treatment.
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When Jamie Raines began taking testosterone to begin his transition from a woman to a man at age 18, he chose to document his transformation with a series of daily selfies.
He explained to Buzzfeed: “I wanted something for me to document my transition”.
As you’d expect, the arrival of facial hair was a real milestone for Raines, though acquiring a deeper voice had been more important to him.
“I was waiting for it once I first started getting a couple of chin hairs”, he said. I told my mum first and then she told my dad and brother and they’ve all just been really great with it. My mum thinks this was always how I was supposed to be.
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‘Now I feel like I’ve been doing it for so long I just want to keep going, for maybe five years. “I initially meant to just do it for the first year”, he told BuzzFeed News. The broadcaster will feature Raines – and his selfies – in a new documentary about transgender men called Girls to Men, which will air October 13 in the United Kingdom Raines’ advice to other trans guys who are starting testosterone is simple: “Patience is your best friend with transitioning, and it’s good to surround yourself with a community or friends and family that will support you”. “I have had to lug my camera and tripod on holiday and visiting people and sometimes taking the photo can be a very last minute thing!”
