I feel like my identity is actually a call for attention
Hi. I know many people won't probably read this post and if you see this, feel free to continue, since this is mostly a vent and probably won't be very interesting. I am a trans man, very freshly out of the shell but I've known for years now, that I am probably not a woman. What was the tipping point for me, was when my older sister came out as trans as well and I remember thinking how jealous I was that she could be trans and I couldn't (my anxiety probably contributed to me thinking that I couldn't). Then, I first came out, when my girlfriend kept complimenting me and I felt sick to my stomach, knowing that she doesn't like me, but someone else. So I first came out to her and from there to my family. I was excited for a while, because I suddenly felt like I was who I wanted to be and I could finally imagine a future in which I existed. But then my brother told me that it's fine but he's gotta dead name me, cuz it's easier than learning to call me by my name. Now, since we both have holiday, he calls me every day on discord and every day, he misgenders me. My mom at least asked me, what I want to be called but she misgenders more than she doesn't and it hurts. Mostly because I know that with my older sister, she easily switched. If she did it just out of ignorance, I don't think I would feel as bad but I know that she's empathetic and I know that with my older sister, she had no problem. Now, I'm also noticing, that she tries way more, to call me correctly, when we're with my older sister as if she was trying to impress her while doubting me. Mom often doubts me, whether it's with what I choose to do or where I want to work but I thought that this, she could understand. And even though it hurts, I never say anything. For my sister, I fought tooth and nail for my brother to call her by her correct pronouns, especially since my brother is not very empathetic but when it comes to me, I suddenly can't. Now, I'm wondering if I'm doing all of this just so I could cry to others, tell my friends that I feel terrible and just be a victim, without doing anything about it. Am I truly trans or do I just want to get the attention my sister gets?
Posted Jul 25, 2026, 7:43 PM UTC