Trans Mission: MY Quest to a Beard
BY Alex Bertie
I guess we should start at the beginning. I was born on November 2nd, 1995. The doctors in the hospital took one look at my genitals and slapped an F on my birth certificate. ‘F’ for female, not fail–though that would actually have been kind of appropriate given present circumstances.
When I was fifteen, I realized I was a transgender man. That makes it sound like I had some kind of lightbulb moment. In reality, coming to grips with my identity has taken a long time.
Over the last six years, I’ve come out to my family and friends, changed my name, battled the healthcare system, started taking male hormones and have had surgery on my chest. My quest to a beard is almost complete. This is my story.
Accessible and emotional, Trans Mission fills a gap in nonfiction about and for transgender teens.
About the Author
Alex Bertie is a young transgender YouTuber from rural Dorset. While still attending school at just 14, he started making videos on sexuality and gender identity, continuing to do so today with weekly uploads. To this day, he has reached around 330,000 subscribers. His work has been picked up by organizations such as Childline and Stonewall, and has been recognized by the Independent, YouTube magazine TenEighty, and trans publication FTM Magazine.
#MyQuesttoaBeard
