- try your hardest to focus on the positive
- journal about your feelings/struggles
- exercise (exercising relieves a lot of stress)
- have a friend that you can call up when you need to talk
- talk to a gender therapist as often as you need to
- if gender therapy is not an option for you, call the Trevor Project Lifeline
- if you can be, be open with your parents about your feelings
- if you can, book a surgery date even if it’s years in advance (it’s good to have something to look forward to)
- go to concerts (music can get your mind off of negative things)
- wear clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable
- hang out with your friends
- watch positive movies
- do things that have nothing to do with being trans
- talk to other trans people about how you are feeling
- join trans groups on facebook (if you need links let me know)
- sing, dance, make music, create, draw, sketch, be artistic
- stay away from drugs, self-harm, self-abuse
This list will be added to! If anyone has some more suggestions please let me know!!
TW*
This is an audio recording of my poem “The Trans Slam.” It portrays the horrors of not being able to get top surgery soon enough and the absolute desperation for gender reassignment surgeries to further a transition. This poem is on my album “The Theme of Humankind.”
Written September 20th, 2010
My surgery was finally on January 5th, 2012, over a year after writing this poem.
WORDS:
Inside of me, a monster fucking and sucking out my energy
Leaving me blessed with no spirit and I’m restless to find hope
I’m messed and I fear it, I can’t clear it, I can’t cope
In jeopardy, moving weatherly, and everyone is after me, after me
The importance of the character that I’ve become, what I once was,
Is altering and fading, there’s no naming and I’ve been shaming
I’m turning shades of yellow and red and I’m trying to cope
But my mind says rebel and all I find are thoughts of rope
Still I’m lugging my bones through the path of life crying
Turning sluggish and dying, wishing I was flying
But the win is so far and my insides another star not shining
Burning and hurting when they go up and die
Loosing flight, loosing mind, turning blind
And can’t find any aspiration but temptation for this alteration
of my body to please my mind, can you please help me to find?
I need a doctor for the double incision, seeking no revision
Just a bilateral mastectomy and then I’ll feel revised and free
Can you blame me for the hatred boiling up inside of me?
Can’t tame me of the pain that’s making my pride flee
You say set this aside and the guilt will subside but I’ve been taking the strides
and my mind still collides, pulls me under the tide and my mouths open wide
would you be able to push the shame aside?
Am I ready to die?
SUPPORT RYAN CASSATA:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ryan-cassata-music/id414716631
*trigger warning
The Trans 101 and Gender Dysphoria workshop consists of Ryan Cassata’s personal coming out story from lesbian to transgender man. Ryan shares his story through words and original song. This workshop will include a detailed explanation of the transgender umbrella and key terms. This workshop will also include an inspiring slideshow on gender dysphoria.
• • •
The Trans 101 & Gender Dysphoria Workshop I will be presenting explains what it means to be transgender and to have gender difference. I will explain all other gender identities on the transgender umbrella such as transsexual (FTM, MTF post-operative, pre-operative, no operative), drag king/queen, transvestite, cross dresser, gender queer, etc. In order to explain these terms I will draw the transgender umbrella and provide celebrity examples for each term. During this workshop I will also explain my personal transition from lesbian to transgender man. I will share my personal experiences with the coming out process, legal name change, hormone replacement therapy decision (testosterone), and top (chest) surgery. I will also explain the struggles that transgender teens face in high school. (Where to use the bathroom, where to change to gym, my name change through high school, and coming out in high school.) I will also tell the audience about my experiences as a transgender teen on the Tyra Banks Show and Larry King Live Show and what it’s like to come out on international level. I will also perform original songs that I have written about the media on LGBT people, equality, and the transition process. At the end of the workshop I will explain gender dysphoria and inform everyone of the suicide rate and the reasons why transgender people chose to get surgery or chose not to get surgery, chose to go on hormones, or chose not to go on hormones. The heartache of gender dysphoria will be portrayed through a slideshow video that I created, titled “Gender Dysphoria.” This video has gotten over 16,000 hits on youtube and continues to gain popularity each day. “Gender Dysphoria” clearly portrays the hardships of being transgender and provides hope to the transgender community for a better future and a happier life.
• • •
The goals of this workshop are to educate and inform the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer community about transgender people and gender difference because many people in the community don’t fully understand it. It is also to show what transgender people go through on a daily basis and why it’s wrong to harass and bully. This workshop will provide the audience with enough information to clearly explain gender difference to those who do not understand. This will help the fight against ignorance and eventually stop hatred. Lastly this workshop will help transgender people to come out and gain more confidence. This workshop will give transgender people hope to live a stronger and healthier life.
• • •
Presentation Topics Include:
- CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN A COMMUNITY & IN SCHOOL
- TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN THE MEDIA
- THE TRANSGENDER UMBRELLA & GENDER TERMS
- GENDER DYSPHORIA/DEPRESSION/TRANSGENDER SUICIDE STATS
- COMING OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL/COMING OUT TO FAMILY/FRIENDS
- HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCES AND STRUGGLES AS A TRANS STUDENT
- TRANSGENDER SURGERIES AND HORMONES
- LEGAL NAME CHANGE & COURT SYSTEM
• • •
EMAIL RYAN CASSATA’s MANAGER TO HAVE THIS PRESTATION COME TO YOUR SCHOOL/CONFERENCE/COLLEGE/MEETING:
**MANAGER, SAMUEL TALL - sam.tall@underthewindow.com - (201)-452-6991**
(Include your prefered first name, school name/organization name & location.)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION AT: www.ryancassata.com
LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND BE ONE HUMAN RACE.
Gender Dysphoria Survey for Trans* Identified Individuals
The point of this survey is to collect data from trans* identified individuals on the topic, Gender Dysphoria. The data is to show in what ways trans* people differ and in what ways trans* people are similar. The terms used in the survey came from transgender friendly websites and are not intended to cause anyone discomfort and are not meant to be offensive in any way. The survey is intended to be as inclusive as possible to all trans* individuals. If you feel the survey is not inclusive to you as a trans* identified person, I apologize and please feel welcome to email me and voice your concerns. If you feel that there is a way that this survey could be made better please email me. My email address is ryancassata@gmail.com It is understood that not all trans* individuals that fit under the term “transsexual” chose to/want to identify with the word transsexual. This is okay. It is understood that some trans* people many not want to identify as trans* or within the trans* community. It is understood that some trans* individuals do not want to identify as male or female, or either, or may want to identify as both, etc… It is understood that hormone replacement therapy and transgender surgeries are NOT available to everyone and that getting these procedures and treatments is a privilege. Try to answer the questions to the best of your ability and be completely honest in your responses. No names will be collected in this survey. It is completely anonymous.
***(TW) Trigger Warning: This survey could be triggering to some trans* individuals. ***
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGlzUlB6V21XYlN3YWpwODZ3NExuNVE6MQ
Please pass around this survey. The more people who take part in the survey the better the data for the transgender community. You can use the above link to post this in groups or on other websites.
When at least 500 people have taken the survey the answers will be made public.

THE GENDER DYSPHORIA SCALE FOR TRANS* INDIVIDUALS
inclusive to all trans* individuals
The purpose is to show that all trans individuals are different and do not follow the same path of transitioning due to different amounts of gender dysphoria.
This is a quick interpretation (that is my own). Of course there are numbers between all of the dots. The point is to show that all trans people are different.
I have taken a survey that about 1000 trans people have responded to. That is how I came up with this information on the chart.
Anyone is free to use this chart and change it based on their own interpretations.
WHAT MY SCALE IS MODELED AFTER.
created by ryan cassata — www.ryancassata.com — www.ryancassata.tumblr.com — @ROCassataMusic
http://ryancassata.tumblr.com/post/22520008473/ftm-transgender-survey-2
http://ryancassata.tumblr.com/post/22520008473/ftm-transgender-survey-2
http://ryancassata.tumblr.com/post/22520008473/ftm-transgender-survey-2
http://ryancassata.tumblr.com/post/22520008473/ftm-transgender-survey-2
I NEED AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE!!!!
Speaking @ Brick High School in NJ. www.ryancassata.com
“Gender Dysphoria” - Ryan Cassata Speaking Testimonial RYLA by Christina
Cait Uncensored: How long have you positively identified as a member of the transgender community?
Ryan Cassata: Since age 14 – so four years.
Cait Uncensored: How has this affected your relationships with other people?
RC: Mostly my relationships have been affected positively because I have become a more confident person. Some relationships have altered because some people are not open minded. Many of my extended family members have had a lot of trouble accepting my transition and this made our relationships take a turn for the worse. My relationship with my older brother has been really great since I came out to him because coming out to him made us bond. He’s been one of my biggest support systems.
Cait Uncensored: What is gender dysphoria, for those who don’t know the term?
RC: To me, gender dysphoria is the extreme hatred and discomfort towards your body because you don’t feel the sex you were assigned at birth.
Cait Uncensored: Have you ever had feelings of gender dysphoria, self-consciousness, depression, frustration or anxiety when you were first discovering you were transgender? Does it still exist?
RC: I went through a really hard time when I first came out and I went through a very hard time when I told my parents that I needed to get top surgery and they made me wait. I went through really dark times with depression due to not being able to get my top surgery when I felt I needed to get it. I had very bad gender dysphoria before my top surgery. I still have a little gender dysphoria but it definitely isn’t bad. I haven’t felt depressed about my body since before getting top surgery. I think I am lucky to feel this way, especially because I haven’t been on hormones.
Cait Uncensored: How did/do you continue to get through it?
RC: For me, playing music helps me get through these struggles. I’ve written a lot of songs about these struggles and about transitioning in general. I also like to journal. It helps to let out any fires that are building inside of me due to feelings of discomfort about my body.
Cait Uncensored: Who has helped you solve this problem? (if it applies)
RC: When I was in high school I had a lot of help learning to accept myself from the school social worker. They helped me be happy with who I am.
CU: Do you have a large group of other transgender friends you are close with who you talk through your issues about?
RC: Yeah, I have many transgender friends. We definitely discuss our issues together a lot and I believe that it helps us all. There is also a strong transgender female to male community on youtube and by watching these videos I feel less alone.
CU: Has anyone ever responded to your identity as trans in a negative way? How did you deal with it?
RC: That is explained in this YouTube video on my channel, here. http://youtu.be/qm7N1mCbmTo
CU: Who is one famous transgender (if any) member of society who you have been inspired by? How did they help you achieve all your goals and be comfortable with your identity?
RC: I think Charles Asher was one of the first transguys that I watched on youtube. I really looked up to him quite a bit because he was different. Like me, he had long hair, which was a bold thing for a transgender female to male person to have. It was really cool and I admired him a lot for it. His videos gave me a lot of strength when I was first coming out and coming to terms with myself.
CU: How has your top surgery helped you to identify with the gender in which you feel comfortable? (FTM) Has it presented any challenges for you thus far?
RC: The privilege of being a post-operative transgender man, having top surgery, has given me a lot of inner strength and courage. For the first time in my life I feel normal. I can’t explain what normal feels like or compare it to anything relative to anyone else. I just know what normal feels like for me, Ryan. I feel 100% Ryan right now and it’s absolutely wonderful. I’m really lucky.
The only challenge that I have faced after having top surgery is that some people think of it as disgusting or disrespectful. I’ve gotten a lot of negative comments from people that I know. Some people have went to the extreme of telling my Mom that pictures of me (post-operative) shirtless are inappropriate and I shouldn’t have them on the internet.
CU: What is one thing you would like to teach the world about the transgender community in order to create a better overall understanding of trans people in general?
RC: I would like everyone to know that transgender people are just regular people. Transgender people aren’t trying to be different and most of us do not want to be so different. Also, it’s very possible to live a “normal” life as a transgender person. Success can be found just like with any other person.
FTM BINDER GIVEAWAY!!!!
Size Small, Tri-top from underworks!
www.youtube.com/xqueerkidx
www.ryancassata.tumblr.com
www.facebook.com/ryancasatamusic
Full info here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcmBECYsDOU

BOTTOM SURGERY. Someone just asked me about bottom surgery. Here are the statistics. According to the graph (over 100 people surveyed) most transgender female to male individuals do not wish to have bottom surgery. Interesting, huh?
I’M NOT “TRANS ENOUGH”
FTM (Female to male) Perspective.
I made this because there is so much judgment inside of the transgender FTM community. Please watch the trans enough video by Chase Ross (uppercaseCHASE1)
Stop the hate. Stop the judgement. Everyone is trans enough. Everyone is an individual.
WATCH THIS VIDEO IN HD!!!
http://transenough.com/ - Check out my friends project!!
CONTACT ME:
ryancassata.com
ryancassatamusic@aim.com
Every transgender or gender variant person should watch this. Anyone who wants to better understand the transgender community should watch this. Ignorant people should watch this also. Pass it on. ryancassatamusic.com
Happy 20,000 views! Keep it going.

