For my entire life I've always wished to be a girl.. for the past 6 months now I've thought about it more than ever.. i live in the south(USA)... the extremely religious redneck part.. ive always been a called the F word and such.. I dont want it to continue when I try to be who I am. I dont know what to do at this point.. sure I may have realized that I AM a trans woman.. but im afraid. Im afraid of my family, friends, and all the strangers.. what they may say or do or think.. im afraid ill never be beautiful like I want to be.. im afraid ill never be considered a woman in the eyes of others.. Im certain my family thinks im gay, which im not. I like men and women, but I am a woman... I feel so atleast.. well sometimes I dont, and that hurts allot.. I dont know where to start or who to talk to and I dont have any friends or family I feel I could open up to..

I just wish I could get away from this awful place and awful people and be who I am.. and be happy. I just.. I just don't know what to do anymore.. I wish I was able to come to terms with this earlier in my life, and maybe then I'd have the confidence to pursue who I am meant to be now.. where do I begin? What should I do? How do I find friends? I know im going to lose most of the people ive ever known when I finally open up about this...

Please and thank you for any support and replies!!!!