Estonia is a former Soviet Republic, and a recent member state of the European Union, and NATO. The country is located on the Baltic Sea in northeastern Europe, with a population of approximately 1.34 million people. Its language is unique, but similar to Finnish. If you want to know more about this country, click here.
From Kristel S. of Tallinn, Estonia June, 2010
Trans-life in Estonia? Difficult to say. We do not have any trans-organizations in Estonia (as far as I know). I personally know a few other Estonian TS's (two are now post-op and one will go soon to op).
No support groups. However, Estonian legislation about transpeople is one of the most well-defined, that I am aware of. Estonian laws do not allow for discrimination based on Gender Identity. Here we are just men and women. Once you started your transition and it comes to the point of changing documents, there will be no trace after that that you have been someone else.
You will get ALL rights and obligations of your desired gender. You will get a new birth certificate with new personal ID number, ID Card, new driver's licence etc. So - my legal identity is in no way different to other Estonian women's. We can marry and adopt children (but for example gays can't do either in Estonia).
So I live pretty much entirely in cisgendered world, my only contact to the trans-world is mostly Internet. I have good relations with my parents and sisters, I have a nice husband we live 16 years together), with his parents I have also good relations.
The Soviet Union had already collapsed when I transitioned, but when I was a child my parents worried that when I grew up that I would be put into prison for being gay, as it was a crime to be so under Soviet law.
Most Estonian TGs go to Thailand for SRS, because the results are among the best. Some SRS surgeries however, have been performed at the Tartu University Clinic in Estonia, with excellent results by a very good surgeon, Dr. Udo Reino. He is now in his 80's and retired.
2. Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a town of approximately 65,000 people, located just west of Grand Rapids, on Michigan's west coast, on Lake Michigan.
From: Anonymous of Muskegon June 29th, 2010
I live in a town called Muskegon, on
the west side of Michigan situated on Lake Michigan, about 400 miles from
Chicago. We've got one gay bar and the city itself is not very T-friendly, the 2
colleges have Gay-Straight Alliance groups, but by and large its not all that
great for anyone who isn't white, and protestant.
My two younger brothers, hated
living here, They are both gay, and feel more comfortable down in Ann Arbor, Michigan around the University of
Michigan.
Besides being a racist town, the unemployment is very high and most of
the manufacturing jobs have moved to Mexico or Europe.
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3. Memphis, Tennessee
Located in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, on the Mississippi River.
Memphis has an estimated population of 670,100 making it the largest
city in Tennessee, the 3rd largest in theSoutheast U.S., and 19th largest city in
the U.S.
Memphis Metro,
including adjacent counties in Mississippi and Arkansas,
has a population of 1,280,533. Memphis is the home of Elvis Presley, and his famed estate, "Graceland".
Submitted by: Darlene F. June 29th, 2010
Memphis is okay if you are passable. Transphobia is common. The non passable
should expect rude comments and poor service. There have not been any
murders since the article came out on me in February of last year. There has
been one shooting, but that was a trans woman in her own neighborhood by one of
her neighbors. Before I was passable I was assaulted on campus. I was alone
at the time so I guess I became a target. The Cooper-Young neighborhood is
fairly safe. (It is around the intersection of Cooper and Young). So I guess
travel with others if not passable. Remember, this is the south and
religious based prejudice is common. There are bad neighborhoods, commonly
poor black areas where crime is very common - toward everyone.
As with the Police beating by police of Duwanna Johnson, and her subsequent murder, which remains unsolved, most violence and hate crimes are committed against transwomen of colour.
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4. London, England, UK
The financial capital of the world, and one of the world's premiere cities, London is a very TG friendly and fun place to visit or live!
Submitted by: Anonymous July, 25th 2010
Love London, glad i was born & live here, it is mainly a very friendly &
acceptable place for any person in the lgbt spectrum, but like everywhere you
get the odd idiot who thinks they are funny shouting out some ignorant comment,
but as i say on the whole, very cool to girls like us.