During hostile ignorance:

• I had to leave the state I grew up in to get into a place I could access medical care, get away from an unaccepting family, and get into a place I wasn’t afraid of being attacked while transitioning (being visibly trans till HRT kicked in).
• Trans panic was seen as more of a valid defence back then for killing trans people.
• I think we were seen as more of a curiosity/fetish than people, but that’s debatable since that’s definitely still an issue.
• People were more afraid of being visibly trans and finding community outside of forums was harder.
• I was certain I’d lose my job when I inevitably had to come out and had prepared for it by saving up enough to get me through finding another job. I was amazed when that didn’t happen and most of the company accepted me. I still had to deal with harassment that nowadays would probably get those people fired.

During hostile attention:

• I had to leave my home due to the state no longer ignoring us and focusing on passing laws to make our lives more difficult.
• I know a ton of trans people and have a stronger support network. Finding others is easier now.
• Medical care is easier to get now if you aren’t living in one of the states currently trying to ban HRT.
• Parents seem a little more accepting but it’s still divisive
• I’m less afraid of the average person fucking with me in most areas of the US
• I’m afraid of government attempts to round myself or loved ones up into camps within the next few years.

Generally, I prefer the visibility and broader social acceptance we have now. More people know about us, so more people hate us but way more people accept us. I see it as how being gay was in the aughts. More people were out and it was less of a big deal even though there was still a lot of hate crimes against gay people. Now it’s way more accepted outside of ultra conservative areas. I’m hoping we are more accepted within a decade instead of being rounded up and killed en masse.