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Transgender
Being transgender.
What is a transgender person?
Transgender refers to any way of being that differs from the usual gender roles of male and female. Transgender people feel that their biological sex at birth (female, male) does not match their gender identity (feelings of feeling right or comfortable with being a male/female). This may mean that a transgender person feels that they are a man born into a female body or a woman born into a male body.
Transgender people also include people who identify as gender neutral people, who may not identify as either male or female. In a nutshell, transgender people challenge traditional black and white definitions of male/female identities.
Transgender does not have anything to do with sexual orientation though. You can be transgender and be straight, gay, asexual, bisexual or any combo of the above. In the scientific literature, the terms used are androsexual (attracted to men) or gynesexual (attracted to women).
Being transgender is completely normal and there are many transgender youth.
Difference between transgender and other forms of gender identity:
Transsexual people are those who choose to medically transition to the gender that is right for them. They may take hormones and have gender reassignment surgery so that they become physically like the sex they identify with. They also live as the sex they feel they should have been born to. Many transsexuals are extremely unhappy, depressed and even repulsed at their pre-surgery bodies, so surgery is life changing for them. Some transsexuals feel that to be a true transsexual, one must want or have sex reassignment surgery.
The difference between transgender and transsexual is that transgender people may dress as the opposite sex or even live as the sex they feel they really are, but they do not take the step of having surgery. They may take hormones however.
Many transsexual people simply refer to themselves as men or women once they have had surgery and they do not identify as transsexual any longer.
Cross-dressers are people who like to wear the clothes of another gender, but who don't identify as another gender.
Drag Kings/Drag Queens are people who exaggerate female and male roles, generally for the purpose of entertainment.
Androgynes/Gender benders are people who mix the characteristics/appearance of both sexes in a subtle OR deliberately flamboyant way.
Gender queer are people who feel they are a combination of male and female and do not want to be rigidly fitted into either gender.
Hermaphrodites are people born with genitals which have the appearance of both male and female genitals. Many of these people receive surgery as a baby, but grow up feeling like there is something missing, and that they are not quite right.
Issues:
If you feel confused about your gender, it is important to talk to someone. A professional counsellor or therapist may be able to help you decide who you are and what you want.
Sadly, we do not live in an open world and many transgender people have to deal with discrimination, bullying or abuse. In fact, because transgender people are not specifically gay, they do not enjoy the same rights and protections that gay people the world over have fought for. So, if you are being bullied or abused, contact BeLonGTo for advice and help.
For more information and to read stories from transgender youth you can visit the Advocates for Youth site. This is an American site. There is no Irish equivalent at present, but we here at SpunOut feel this site is really good.
For further support and information contact:
BeLonG To PHONE: 01 670 6223
Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people.
Some Text thanks to BeLonG To Youth Project. Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people.
