Questions on coming out to parents...

[traptintmyskin.livejournal.com]

I don't believe I've posted here before, so as a quick intro, my chosen name is Dustin, I'm 18, and ftm. I'll post a little more about me once I get the chance, but now for the questions...
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Ok, for reasons I'm not going to explain right now, I CAN NOT come out to my parents right now. However, in less than 2 months I'll be able to which is why this question is in my head.

I'm 18, and living at home right now. I'll be leaving for college (5 hours away) in January. I originally set myself the deadline that I have to come out to my parents before the end of February, but I'm not sure it will even take me that long. I had planned to hand-write a letter to them and send it home from college, but right now, I keep thinking it might be beneficial to go ahead and tell them before I leave (either through letter or just flat out tell them).

All parents are different, but I wanted to get some opinions on what you all would recommend. Do I tell them while I'm at home, or away at college? Write a letter or suck it up and tell them in person? Also, if you all would be willing to share how/when you came out to your parents (or how/when you plan to) and how you feel it worked for you, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Dustin

(Crossposted to a few places. My apologies to those who are getting this more than once.)

Employment

[chooseareality.livejournal.com]

Ok I have a question about finding a job at some point before transition. Now I know I won't really know the answers to any of this till I just go out and try locally, but here it goes anyway. What do you think is the best way to go about finding a job that I can transition in when I am located in a conservative area in the Central Calfornia area. What would you do to find jobs in an area like this? One where I can transition in and be still have a job and not be as worried about finding a job when full time. I know that California has protection now but, as with all employment, they can always find a reason to fire you and say it was for a discriminatory reason.

I am thinking about anonymously calling places in town and talking to someone about their policies, but given that it is illegal to discriminate I can't imagine they would say anything except they can't consider that in a decision. Once I get a job I was thinking that I would make sure I had nothing but amazing reviews until I tell them so they have nothing to go on if they do decide to break the law. My current job isn't really an option since I have been here for way too long and people would never be able to get off the guy thing. It think that is the only reason I don't get more flack about how I look lately, 7 months DIY. Which is actually another concern. I am really leaning toward the female side these days thanks to the hormones. I am going to try for the androgenous geek look for any interviews, but they might figure me out anyway. So part of me is thinking just mention it at the interview. Oh, I don't know. Any ideas?