Lesotho: The trailblazer
I am a transgender man living in South Africa, and I have been on testosterone for a year and five months. Navigating life as a Black trans man is not easy, but having a strong support system has helped me through most challenges. In the early stages of my transition, I was misgendered frequently. It was painful, but as my voice deepened and bits of facial hair began to grow, the world slowly began to see me for who I am.
My family and friends have carried me through so much. Their support, along with the reminder that this is my journey, one meant for me to enjoy and learn from, has kept me grounded. I’ve learned not to compare my transition to other trans men online. Our bodies, genes, and timelines are different, and that’s okay. My path is mine alone.
Some changes have been transformative. One of the biggest was when my menstrual cycle stopped, a moment of affirmation I had longed for. I also noticed subtle shifts in the world around me. People began acknowledging me as a man. Society is far from perfect, but seeing this gradual shift gave me hope.
Still, the challenges are heavy. Gender‑affirming care remains limited. Many transgender people cannot afford hormones, relying solely on public healthcare. When clinics run out of stock, which happens often, we go without treatment for weeks or months. Top surgery through private healthcare costs around R90,000, and for those who can’t afford it, the public waiting list can be longer than six years. These obstacles can be devastating.
Through all of it, I remind myself:
“Restart. Reset. Refocus. As many times as you need, because you are the greatest project you’ll ever work on.”
To anyone on a similar journey, I’d say: be patient. Educate yourself about hormones, their effects, and their risks. Most importantly, never compare your pace to someone else’s. Transitioning is not a race, it’s a deeply personal path.
As for what comes next, I’m looking forward to changing my gender marker, even though the process is long and requires redoing all my documents. I know it will be worth it. I am also preparing for top surgery in the near future, a nerve‑wracking but life‑changing step that will help ease the weight of dysphoria and bring me closer to myself.
My journey has been difficult, emotional, and empowering. I am not just transitioning; I am becoming. I am shaping the man I’ve always known myself to be, a trailblazer determined to walk forward with courage, clarity, and hope.
