An interesting problem

[figmo]

It's interesting from a scientific point, anyway.

From my POV, it means I really have to get cracking on finishing up those vocal harmony arrangements for my CD.

The reason? My alto is going to become a baritone soon.

Specifically, Dr. Jane Ann Robinson told me today she plans to become Dr. James Daniel Robinson.

We joked that if things take a while, she could cut all the alto tracks, then after her voice changes, she could cut baritone tracks. (Actually, she thinks she'll be a tenor like her father, but I think she'll be a baritone.)

Comments

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Yes.

I told Jane I'd let her spread it, and she replied, "You have my official permission to tell other folks."

"Are you sure?" I replied.

"Yes," she answered. "You're the one person I can trust to disseminate gossip and get it right without embellishing it."

[johno.livejournal.com]

Cool!

So will be the more formal James or just Jim.

Dr James
v
Dr Jim

Dr James has a nice ring, but echos Dr Jane.
Dr Jim seems a bit clipped off for me.

[kshandra]

Dr James has a nice ring, but echos Dr Jane.

...which is actually one of the things I think "Dr. James" has in its favor...makes the transition easier for people zie encounters professionally (frex), who might not have any experience dealing with transfolk.

[I was realizing last night that I actually know more FTMs than MTFs...which feels weird, since AFAIK they're the minority of transfolk. Must ask griffen if he has any hard data on that....]

[johno.livejournal.com]

I know one FTM who I grumbled at, because he had a better beard then me.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

You do realize my song "Not the Man" is loosely based on a true story?

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Warren likes "JJ."

I prefer "Dr. J.," "J.D.," or "J.R."

As to which she'll go by as a he, I'd ask Sunday.

[johno.livejournal.com]

We asked, she's going to let the name thing sort itself out over time.

She has excluded a few variants already. Such as Jimmy.

Oh, as you can tell my use of the pronoun "she", she has not made the switch yet. Though she is amused that her friends are more concerned about being PC and/or wanting exact timings.

Though she has added James Robinson as DBA/AKA to her bank accounts.

James Robinson....

[(Anonymous)]

Jane/James Robinson Robinson
Went from a she to he...

(Rats. I'm stuck on adapting the next two lines. For those who don't recognize it, the reference is to "James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Duprey" or however it's spelled, which I think is by A. A. Milne.)

There have been at least two other musicians named James Robinson, so I'd guess he'll be sticking with Dr. James for now as a performing monicker...?

Forgot to sign

[(Anonymous)]

Just for the record, that last was from Keshlam. I don't normally do the LJ thing, but felt I ought to drop in on this one to add my voice to those saying "Not a great surprise; go for it and all the best." (And I love Cindy's quoted response!)

Someone once described this as "remedial puberty", for those who weren't quite satisfied with their instructor the first time around...

I'm less bemused by people changing bodies than by the fact that someone asked ME for advice on what to say to job interviewers when references/transcripts use the old name. Best I could come up with is "Just treat it as a paperwork issue, like any other name change. For a large corporation which tracks minority hiring percentage this might actually be a slight plus. If you feel a need to bring it up, the best time to do so might be when they get to discussion of health/family benefits." I'm not convinced that's the best possible approach, but it's the best I could come up with.