FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions about my transition from male to female. Start your research here! More questions and answers will be added to this page as I hear back from fans and friends. If you don’t find the information you need, email me or go to the Professional Facebook page..

Where is Ava's Transition (web site)?
How can I contact you by telephone?
Are you on any social network web sites?
I denied a friend request from Ava Nieves on Facebook and/or MySpace, what do I do?
What is the gender change process that you're undergoing?
Why are you undergoing the change from a man to a woman?
When did the transition happen?
Who’s affected by Ava's Transition?
I am (or was) colleagues with Ava. When I see her somewhere, I see a woman, right?
Will I still call Ava as Frank?
What should I keep in mind when I speak to my therapist in regards to Ava's Transition?
What should I do in the event I still remember Ava as Frank?

1. Where is Ava's Transition web site? I can't find it.
I have a page specifically for that. Click here.

2. How do I contact Ava by telephone?
In July 2007, I was cyberbullied on Encyclopedia Dramatica. I was getting prank telephone calls at all hours of the night. As a result, I cannot post my telephone number.

However, I am working on a solution to alleviate this.

3. Are you on any social network web sites, Ava?
I have a Frequently Asked Question for that specific question. Click here
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4. I denied a friend request from Ava Nieves on Facebook and/or MySpace, what do I do?

Ava Nieves has a policy when it comes to adding a friend request on Facebook and/or MySpace. You probably did one of the following:

    * On Facebook, you probablky clicked on "Ignore" instead of "Confirm" by mistake
    * On MySpace, you probably clicked "Deny" instead of "Accept" by mistake.
    * For Mississinewa Alumni (Class of 1998-2004 only) Doesn't want to beleive that Ava Nieves (formerly Franky Zinn) has undergone the sex change process. Since 2003, it has against the law to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Click here for more information.
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5. What is the gender change process that you're undergoing?
The transition process for yours truly to change from male (Ava's biological sex) to female (Ava's gender identity) was very complicated from middle school (late 1995) to post-high school (late 2003). While doing well academically, Ava was having insufficent coping skills, dealing with family problems, and simply was not prepared for the college life.

There were complicated social issues, legal issues and also dealing with mythical issues that are very complex and in 2004, eight years after breaking a classroom window in middle school. Later that year, after almost 22 years, finally took major steps to begin living and enroll that yours truly more countable in what would eventually after a lot of research, finding support for yours truly then a lot of people will begin the essential process where they start going out as there new gender (now a woman named Ava) or expiring that then a lot of people will begin miracle inventions in a earful hormones all the way out to surgery and a lot of people somewhere in that process undergo to legal steps such as simply legally changing their name (from Frank to Ava) your social security documentation and people can switch up that order some people do only some of those steps but biological sex is an overview of the most of the steps.

The best way to describe the gender change quality difference between the 22 years as Frank and the five years as Ava is that of clip-on earrings compared to pierced earrings.

In my case, the gender change also can offer multipule styles called multistyling. Usually women have breasts, a figure, wear feminine attire. (For example, in my case, I have breasts, have a figure, wear jewlery, feminine attire, and have longer hair.)

There is also a unique aspect to the gender switchover of yours truly. The conversion will (and/or has already) proven to be a sucess socially, psychologically, and academically, which has surprised some people.

6. Why are you undergoing the change from a man to a woman?

There are a number of answers that might answer this :
Can be stemmed from :

April 18, 1996: Broke a classroom window in middle school
8th to Senior Year of High School: In a time when my relationships with Amanda (Davidson) and Elisa (Everman) were on the rocks, I wanted a contingency plan in the event Amanda and/or Elisa broke up with yours truly. Eventually in December 1997 and August 2000, the tables turned against Amanda and Elisa, respectively.
Early April 2000: Did not go to Mississinewa 500 (was invited too late.)
Entire Senior Year: Took nine months to find a prom date from a pool of 64 women down to eventually Brittani (Gerstorff) and Angela (Willis). Unfortunately, I had a disasterous time at the Mississinewa 500.
September 27, 2001: Devastated after being let go from Indiana Wesleyan University.
All of 2002 and first half of 2003: Six immediate family members of mine passed away.
1. May 10, 2002: My mother dies of liver and kidney failure after being poisioned by my step grandfather a year before.
2. June 2002: My former father-in-law, Marshall, suffers a fatal heart attack.
3. July 2002: My youngest at the time, Maxwell Taz, was killed in a hit and run.
4. August 10, 2002: My brother commits suicide by going down a zip line and drowned in Pine Lake.
5. January 2002: My step-grandfather also committed suicide.
6. February 2003: My youngest nephew, Baxter, also commited suicide after he could no longer deal with the death of my brother.
January 2002 to December 2009: Failing to find another college or university. It took me nearly nine years to find another university.

In November 2003, I came out and diagnosed as a transsexual (or Gender Identity Disorder) after no longer being able to deal with the above weaknesses.

After I was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and came out as transgendered, I thought noone would accept me as a woman at all.

In a coming out note released on this web site shortly after my 21st birthday in January 2004:
After 11 years of consideration, I have made my decision to undergo a sex change from male to female and honor my true identity. The decision was not easy, but grateful for the support and respect that I have already received by my loved ones. It is my hope that my choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of Hoosiers regarding this issue, just as my ‘coming out’ did.

In the case of Franky Zinn (now known as Aeverine Zinn), who has become something of an Eastbrook and Mississinewa Community Schools icon, derives enormous pleasure from being a man. But such is not the case with Franky Zinn. And thus, in an effort to achieve peace of mind, she has decided to become a woman. Indeed, it appears as though Franky Zinn is no longer willing to tolerate being a woman trapped inside a man's body.

7. When did the transition happen?

The transition officially began around Noon December 1, 2004 when the legal name change was filed and became official February 3, 2005.
The transition has been going on since then.

8. Who’s affected by Ava's Transition?

Anyone who has went to school with yours truly (known as Franky Zinn) as follows:
- J. C. Knight Elementary School in Jonesboro, Indiana from August 1988 to June 1991
- Silvercrest Children's Developmental Center in New Albany, Indiana from July 1991 to December 1992
- Northview Elementary School in Gas City, Indiana from January 1993 to June 1994
- R. J. Baskett Middle School in Gas City, Indiana from August 1994 to May 1997
- Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana from August 1997 to May 2001
- Indiana Wesleyan Univeristy in Marion, Indiana in September 2001
And immediate family, extended family, and personal friends (of Franky Zinn, Albert Zinn or Margaret Zinn)

These individuals will be affected by the transition.

According to previous research, at least 2,000 individuals know yours truly exculsively and 577 knew the late Margaret and Albert Zinn. Overall, nearly 2,400 individuals are at risk of not accepting yours truly as Ava, if they do not make the adjustments.

9. I am (or was colleagues) with Ava. When I see her somewhere, I’m seeing a woman, right?

Maybe, but nine times out of ten. You must be able to adress Ava unsing female pronouns.

This can be done many ways; the most common are adressing "Ava", "Ma'am," "Ms. Zinn," "Ms. Nieves," or "Aeverine" (pronounced ay-vur-inn).

If you knew Ava before December 1, 2004, you can adress yours truly as above. I simply ask you do not address yours truly as "Frank", "Franky," "Mr. Zinn," "Sir," or any male pronouns, etc. As of January 4, 2005 that is considered disrepectful, even though you were used to the former pronouns for many years. As of January 4, 2011, I will impose a 75 cent fine per incident.

10. Do I still call Ava as Frank after the gender transition?

No. I know most of you are VERY TEMPTED. If you do adress yours truly as Frank, I will not respond at all. There is another Mississinewa High School Alumni from the Class of 2001 in which I always said "Which one?" (referring to Frank Wilkins and myself).

Note: Help for those affected is available for those who need help adjusting to my transition. For more information on Ava's Transition, visit Andrea James' TSRoadMap, the TS FAQ web site, watch Dirty Sexy Money (available on DVD featuring fellow M2F Candis Cayne), "Google" Alexis Arquette, or call your local relationship counselor and set up an appointment. (For example, if you live in Grant County, call Cornerstone at 1-765-662-3971 and tell 'em "I have some trouble adjusting to Ava Nieves' Transition." )

11. What should I keep in mind when I speak to a therapist ?

This is a great question. There are a lot of factors to be considered when speaking to a therapist about my transition, including:

What is your reaction to Ava's transition? Are you shocked, appalled, or just don't like the change? Do you have a hard time adjusting? You're probably a transphobic.

Have the answers to these questions and seek out a therapist that can match your needs with the right solution and help you adjust to this.

Be careful – there is a lot of poor information out there. For this type of resolution, pick a therapist with professionally trained staff.

12. What should I do if I in the event I still remember Ava as Frank and don't accept her as a woman?
That is another good question. Watch below for the answer

If that doesn't work or you believe yours truly has changed in not the way you wanted.. You have two options.

The most important option is to, above all, be supportive. You and I want to be allies. Then, to the extent you are able, offer them the support they've asked for. If you haven't done so already and now is the time, adopt the use of the person's new name (in my case Ava) and appropriate (feminine) gender pronouns. I understand that this change can be uncomfortable at first, and you may slip up once in a while, but eventually this change becomes habitual and comfortable. This is just a small but very important step.
You can also try to maintain your existing (or previous) relationship with Ava whether you have known her as Frank (or know her now as Ava), whether you went to school with Ava or knew Ava from other means. Gender transition is new territory for many people, and can be scary. "Hanging in" with the person in transition despite feelings of discomfort with the process can be a very supportive act.
Also, you may ask how you can help in letting others know about Ava's transition. The best way is to tell people themselves, or they may be grateful for help "spreading the word." There may be certain contexts--the workplace (at Carey Services and NO SIR GIFTS), on Facebook via the Mississinewa High School Alumni page--where your assistance in telling others and expressing your support will be appreciated.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to confront your fear of transphobia and homophobia.

If confronting your fear doesn't work, call your local psychologist and set up an appointment. ( if you live in Grant County, call Cornerstone at 1-765-662-3971 and tell 'em "I have some trouble adjusting to Ava Nieves' Transition." The staff there probably knows Ava is talking about)

The last resort is losing an existing relationship or acquaintance because of this.

Sources: Wikipedia, TS Roadmap, Aeverine Nieves