Ophiucha
Auror
I have this character, let's call her Hannah, who is a transgender woman. She has a conflict that relates to her gender, indirectly, but it doesn't come up for quite a while in the story. Like at least half way through the novel. I don't necessarily want her being trans* to be a 'twist' or anything, but I'm not sure how to imply it without saying something offensive about how 'poorly' she passes for a woman or something abrupt like her just out-and-out saying it (keeping in mind that my setting is a world where it's not very acceptable). Should I just leave it off until it is relevant or try to find ways to imply it - and if the latter, I need some tasteful tips on that. I don't have much experience writing trans* characters, and the only transgender friend I could ask is a man, so not all of the tip-offs and language are the same when it comes to writing the little things. Thanks!
Hannah has a blood disease that is inactive in males - think of it is a reverse haemophilia - and hence, as she is male-bodied, she isn't affected by it. Later on in the story, by means of magic, her girlfriend offers her her blood, which in this world would allow Hannah to basically have a sex change (it doesn't work completely, usually leaving the blood drinker intersex, but many trans* people do it in this world since there is no other option with their level of technology in terms of physically transitioning). The conflict being that there is a good chance that her blood disease will kick in if she becomes female-bodied.
For the group in question, I'd say maybe a third of them are accepting of her identity while the others are at least a little bothered by it - maybe one or two of them being outwardly disgusted.
For the group in question, I'd say maybe a third of them are accepting of her identity while the others are at least a little bothered by it - maybe one or two of them being outwardly disgusted.