Trans man says he’s treated better than when he lived as a woman

By Amy Reast via SWNS

A trans man claims he "gained privilege" after transitioning and is treated better now than when he lived as a woman - despite "daily transphobic online comments."

Samuel Giardina, 24, came out as transgender in 2020 at 21 - after previously thinking he was a bisexual female.

He came out to his family and close friends, started testosterone, cut off his long hair, changed his name - from Samantha - and adopted male pronouns.

He had top surgery so he could finally bin the chest binders - and he has never looked back.

Samuel says an unexpected part of his transition is he "gained male privilege" -compared to when he was still living as a woman.

He said as a woman, people would constantly talk over him, objectify him and he didn't feel safe walking home at night - and now it's the complete opposite.

Samuel, a self-employed photographer, from Berlin, Connecticut, said: "In high school I came out as bisexual then I came out as a lesbian in college, but something still felt off.

"I did some research on the transgender community and realized that was who I was.

"I realized I needed to stop caring what others thought, and do what made me happy.

"Three years on, I am at a point where I'm happy with myself and I'm confident for the first time in my life.

"One thing I talk about is how I experienced all the things a woman experienced including sexism - and now it's so different being a man.

"I have gained male privilege but I can still relate to a lot of the things my female friends go through - it's very humbling."

In high school, Samuel had come out as bisexual before coming out as lesbian and getting a girlfriend at college - but realized the label "still didn't really fit."

He revealed how he felt to his close friends and family in November 2019 - who were all shocked but supportive.

He said: "I was scared but I asked myself ‘if I could come out tomorrow and it didn’t matter to anyone else in the world, how would I want to live my life?'

"The answer was to transition."

In April 2020, during the pandemic, Samuel took the next step and started on testosterone.

In July that year, he legally changed his name to Samuel and began to shop in the men's section.

He said: "I finally felt able to express myself.

"It’s a very surreal feeling to finally look at yourself and think ‘that's who I'm supposed to be.’"

Samuel's next step in January 2021 was to get top surgery - having his breasts surgically removed.

He said: "I remember seeing my chest for the first time after surgery - I broke down sobbing.

"After that I started to really see myself, looking in the mirror was so different.

"It was so nice to not have to worry about binding, it was just a huge step in my journey."

Samuel now feels confident for the first time in his life.

But one of the most unexpected things about his transition was discovering the true privilege men have in society, he said.

He claims as a woman he experienced sexism - and now can experience the flip side of it.

Samuel said as a woman he felt like his opinion wasn't valued or taken seriously, and people would speak over him.

He also experienced being objectified by handsy men who would put their hands on him on a night out - and wouldn't take no for an answer.

But that has all changed since he transitioned, he said.

"Before transitioning it seemed like anytime I had an opinion, men would overlook it and they constantly talked over me.

"Now, I have an opinion and men are all ears.

"Before, I experienced the cat calls and the constant stares. I was treated like an object to men.

"Now, men will make comments to me and immediately think I’m going to disrespect a girl with them.

"But I was in their place once."

"Whenever I was at a bar or a club, I would always get the random butt grabs or the guys trying to grind on you without permission.

"Now, a guy accidentally touches me and they’re afraid someone might think they’re gay because they’re insecure in their masculinity.

"And before, I wouldn't even have been a question if I should walk home alone at night prior to transitioning.

"Now, I have the privilege of walking home alone at night simply because I’m a dude."

Samuel said he does experience transphobia due to being present on social media.

While he rarely gets transphobic comments made in person, online he faces cruel comments from trolls daily but he brushes them off.

He says he has "no regrets" - because of where he is today.

He said: "I've got to a point where I am happy with myself and feel confident for the first time.

"For 21 years I thought I was confident but there was always a part of me - although I couldn't put a finger on what it was - that was off.

"People said I was so beautiful – and I was a pretty girl – but I don’t care, I was unhappy.

"But now I can look at myself and be happy.

"Being openly trans comes with a lot of backlash but I'm proud to be trans."