Transgender: Transition Success Series

Question: Do you think there should be a distinction between transgender and transsexual people?

(Posted by: Irish boys help you get lucky! on 2010-01-09 04:35:46)

I hear a lot of times, some transgender people say they are "trans " and some transsexual people say they are "trans " too. I get that "trans " is just shorter and sometimes one of those things you just say, but shouldn't there be a distinction? I mean, since the term transgender is an umbrella term to encompass all kinds of people that don't follow traditional gender norms and/ or expression, isn't a bit 1) pompous of the transgender people to call themselves "trans ", when most assume "trans " means transsexual or getting/ have gotten a "sex change "? and 2) A downgrade for those who truly ARE transsexual to be compared to say...a person who crossdresses in the privacy of their bedroom and wants to call himself/ herself "trans "? Shouldn't transgender people say they are transgender and not transsexual? A lot of people mistake these two things as being the same thing, and they are not. For example..I have a friend that considers herself "genderqueer ". She considers herself female in situations where an unconventional gender expression would be awkward, and considers himself a male in situations where he feels comfortable to do so. She/ he also calls herself/ himself "trans ". It frustrates me, because as a transsexual person, I *am* trans too, but my transsexuality doesn't go away. It doesn't switch on and off like a light switch to fit my comfort level. I can't change it or take it off. It's me 24/ 7. I just feel like those who playfully throw around the word "trans " in this way..it's like a slap in the face.

Posted by: Jay B on 2010-01-09, 15:45:03

People who play and expect the same respect as those who are 24/ 7 living and breathing gender nonconformity annoy the snot out of me. Grow a spine and earn the title trans. I'm not saying genderqueer, gender fluid, or bi-gendered folk annoy me. It's the "only when I feel safe " sorts that make me want to shake them and tell them to get a new hobby, because my brothers and sisters didn't die in the streets so you could play dress up and feel rebellious. I use the term trans though because it is all encompassing and non discriminating, which suits my needs. Also, I don't related to the term transsexual, I don't hold that as part of my identity. I find it an archaic term that has no place in my life. Also, on top of being a transitioning transman, I am genderqueer to a strange degree. So really no matter how you slice it I am trans. I'm male, but I'll always have that trans aspect to my existence. I vote for those "when I feel it " trans sort we either call them trans-trendys or gender jockies cause they are racing back and forth depending on what is going on around them.

Posted by: dogtear5 on 2010-01-09, 04:38:56

WHO FRICKEN CARES..... equal right BS...... this homosexual, transex, transgender crap was all in the DSM psychiatric manuals classifying this sexual preference(s) as a MENTAL DISORDER !!! So now we the people have to be politically correct and accept this sick twisted problem as real??? Nope, not me.... still a freak, and a freak is a freak.

Posted by: RHG1605 on 2010-01-09, 04:39:53

These are changing times.

Posted by: Tiny Dan on 2010-01-09, 04:40:30

Yes we should be specific

Posted by: Sobchak on 2010-01-09, 04:43:39

I'm trying to think of a situation where that may come up for me. As a heterosexual that is not trans I can't see any problem. If and when a trans person talks to me, I regard them as a human being, just like if any other man or woman talks to me. I would only need to make the distinction should I want to have sex with them, which I wouldn't, so no problem as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: Melikemore on 2010-01-09, 04:45:29

Trans to me are transsexuals ie people who have both genitalia or are going through a sex change. People who like to behave as the opposite sex should be called cross dressers.

Posted by: Kinkylibra32 on 2010-01-09, 04:51:54

Lol this would start a movement here! and we gays need to stick together regardless! there's a difference to me though one trangendered people are changed with operations and such into what they feel they should be. two transsexuals arent completely transformed into the gender they feel they shouldve been. yeah we do need to be specific though because they are two different things and people confused the two. but another thing when someone transform into another gender i dont think they are called transgendered legally if they change it all on paper they become whatever they transformed into to. man or woman! idk its crazy a bit complex!

Posted by: Kayle M on 2010-01-09, 04:55:03

No, I don't feel there should be a distinction.

Posted by: Leah on 2010-01-09, 05:00:29

There is already such a distinction. The problem is the general public is too lazy to learn the difference. And I agree: saying "trans " is confusing because it can mean a number of things. Edit: I am in agreement with Jill and Diane as well. Yes, there are different groups, but we should NOT put down others or think ourselves superior. When we do that WE are guilty of transphobia (are you listening pj?). Education is the key, teaching people about the inherent diversity that occurs in our species and that the simple dichotomy they were taught is wrong.

Posted by: Jill Edwards on 2010-01-09, 05:33:40

Well that’s a debate that will go on for a long time. IMHO the problem starts with these experts (Psychologist, Therapist, Doctors, etc) that keep labeling people and putting us into categories. As a result many people come to understand that they are one or the other or both. The terms are also still being changed which further adds to the situation. From the very begining of the doctors attempt to define us, a person born with a mismatch between their mind and body is born Transsexual. You are not transsexual after SRS. The term transgender came later and the powers that be have been messing things up ever since. Transgender may be an umbrella term that includes transsexual but, to be honest, I have never seen anyone who is a cross dresser identify as transgender. Or a person who is pansexual, gender queer, drag queen, etc. either for that matter. Maybe someone else has but I haven’t. The decision to identify as Transsexual or Transgender or Trans should be personal. Where I am and the Trans groups I belong to they (the words) are all pretty much intermixed and no one seems to care. That’s why I am surprised to see so much debate about it here on yahoo. In my search to find myself I thought I was many of the identities that are under the Transgender umbrella and LGBT, I thought I was Gay, A Drag queen, transvestite, Cross dresser, Gender Queer, etc. I ultimately found out that I was Bisexual and Transsexual. I’m a non-transitioning, technically pre-op, transsexual. I’m Bisexual but, one could argue that since my identity is female I could be considered a Lesbian when I am with a woman. My body is male so I’m Gay when with a man. I still feel like the missing link and rather than explain all that to someone I just use Transgender or Trans most of the time. Edit: "and 2) A downgrade for those who truly ARE transsexual to be compared to say...a person who crossdresses in the privacy of their bedroom and wants to call himself/ herself "trans "? " I just caught that. Comments like that makes me ashamed to be Transsexual. I am not any better than anyone else because of what my condition is or what level of therapy or transition I am in. Next you will be saying that this person is more transsexual than this one over here. This one isnt Transsexual because they haven't started to transition yet. This one not living full time, or this one hasnt had bottom surgery yet. How about we go after the ones that dont have blue eyes and blond hair next? . Oh wait, someone already tried that one.

Posted by: pj on 2010-01-09, 07:35:16

You make an excellent point. many transsexual people have been trying for a long time to make a clear distinction between ourselves and the "transgender' population. it is a very difficult thing to do for several reasons. denial and transphobia are leading factors. denial leads many transsexuals to try to escape their transsexualism...to make themselves believe that they aren't "transsexual " at all...just women born with some minor medical anomaly that once "fixed " somehow magically moves them into the world of the "cisgender ". so, they further complicate any any real understanding outside of the transsexual world. transphobia is rampant among the entire population. it is just simply another manifestation of humans being fearful of what we don't understand. so every opportunity we miss to enhance understanding is an opportunity lost in the war against transphobia. every time we surrender to our own natural transphobia propagates more transphobia. it is only when we either lose the fear...become fearless...or confront the fear by courage, stand up and be counted as among the transsexual population...that we can confront the cause of transphobia....misunderstanding. we all, transsexuals included, demean and belittle those with gender related fetishes...transvestism primarily. we <transsexuals > are a part of the reason they don't want to differentiate themselves from us. what little credibility we have among the general population is a mountain of credibility to them....if they can get away with convoluting themselves into the public vision of us...then they will. we demand it, then gripe about it. we don't want their stigma but instead of helping to remove the stigma we tend to buy into it by pointing out how much better we are then they...instead of pointing out the difference in positive terms. we make ourselves a part of the problem instead of being a part of the solution. i personally do not wear the transgender label...that would be giving in to the convolution process...propagating misunderstanding. i define myself as either transsexual or one with "harry benjamin syndrome " a relatively new term that is attempting to remove transsexuals from the whole "trans " nomenclature. i think playing the "blame game " is counter-productive. i think there are reasons, not blame, for our condition. i try to point out conditions that create misunderstanding where i find them. one voice...it's all i have. thank you for the opportunity to speak on this subject. much love and hope. pj

Posted by: Lola on 2010-01-09, 08:35:48

Wow gang, y'all be making a mountain out of a molehill here. I think the crux of this question is about how you can meet some person and somehow it comes up and they refer to themselves as "trans " - and no one else can tell if they're transsexual or transgendered - period. And that does make for an awkward social situation. If they are so forward as to mention being trans, I don't think you'd be out of line to ask them to clarify what they meant by trans, some of us feel a need to talk about it. Probably because figuring out our gender identity and sexual orientation is such a long road for some of us. if it comes up, I refer to myself as genderqueer, which can raise more questions than using "trans " - but I yam what I yam... and if they ask me what a genderqueer is, I enlighten them = D

Posted by: Diane on 2010-01-09, 15:13:14

While I accept that the distinction between transsexual and transgender is very important to some trans people, I think we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that we're all fighting essentailly the same fight; to have variations of gender identity OR gender expression recognised and respected. 'Transgender' is really a loose alliance of people with similar, but not necessarily identical, issues; and the differences between us are not as important to the 'mainstream' as our perceived similarities. For example, at various times in my life I've been abused verbally, ostracised, threatened, and on two occasions, physically assaulted for being trans; and not one of the people who did those things first tried to ascertain whether I was transsexual, a crossdresser, or just some weird person in a skirt - it didn't matter to them; as far as they're concerned, a 'tranny' is a 'tranny'. Do you think the injuries I sustained when I was attacked would have hurt any less if I'd been a man who liked to dress up at weekends, or someone using gender expression as a political statement? Like Jill, I 'tried on' several of the identities that fit under the 'transgender' heading before I was able to accept myself as transsexual; I have no doubt that there are quite a few people who currently identify as crossdressers, genderqueers, transgenderists or whatever, who will eventually 'come out' as transsexual, and several people who currently identify as transsexual will ultimately decide that they're not. But whichever flavour of trans they are, they will still be trans; creating some sort of 'pecking order' achieves nothing constructive. And I, also, take issue with you use of "downgrade "...a crossdresser is not some lesser being, and being mistaken for one is not a 'downgrade' or an insult, it's a simple, and often (given most people's lack of knowledge of trans issues) quite understandable, misunderstanding.