Transgender

[tsadriana]

‘Trans' is used to capture experiences of being gender variant in behaviour and preference, as well as social and legal gender change or transformation. Trans is primarily a UK term, developed in a political context to refer to a diverse and inclusive community of people ranging from part-time cross-dressers to transsexual people who undergo gender reassignment surgeries. Trans is used in the context of personal rights: that is, to support the claim that all trans people are entitled to have their human rights upheld.
‘Transgender' is an alternative umbrella term used in many parts of Europe and North America. In the UK, transgender is used as a policy term to describe those people who live part or all of their lives in their preferred gender role - they may use hormonal treatments to change their body form, but they will generally not seek to undergo gender reassignment surgeries. Transgender is also used to refer to cross-dressers and transvestites (drag queens and drag kings).
Transsexual' describes those people who seek gender reassignment treatments, including genital reconstructive surgery where possible. Someone who is transitioning from female to male (FTM) is often known as a trans man, while male to female (MTF) transsexual people are known as trans women. After successfully transitioning to live permanently in their preferred gender role, many prefer to be considered simply as men or women (see www.gires.org.uk). In the past, these people would ‘disappear' into the community at large (known as living in 'stealth'). However, nowadays many use the internet to keep in touch with the trans community in order to continue to claim their legal rights and protections.
Trans people can be heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. They may be people with a disability. They may present as trans when very young - trans behaviour can be noted as early as three or four years old - or when they are very old. They may also be members of Black and minority ethnic communities, though because of cultural and religious expectations within some of these communities, they may find it very difficult to ‘come out' and seek help or treatment.
Victims of Violence Because many (MTF) trans women are visibly trans for several years after starting living in their new gender role, (transphobic) violence is more often directed at them than (FTM) trans men.
HIV rates: One US study found (MTF) trans women to have the highest incidence of HIV infection of any risk group;8 however, HIV infections are not a major risk factor in the UK, mainly because sex work or recreational drug use is not usual in UK trans cultures.
Self-harm and suicide rates: The UK's largest survey of trans people (N = 872) found that 34% (more than one in three) of adult trans people have attempted suicide. Similar rates were reported in a US study.
Young people's concerns: Young trans people report insecure housing, economic hardship, legal problems and diffi culty in accessing appropriate healthcare. They have limited family support, high rates of substance abuse and high risk sexual behaviours.
Social attitudes towards trans people
Although social attitudes have become more accepting towards trans people, there is a persistent assumption that there are only two genders (female and male) and that one's gender is assigned from birth and cannot be changed.
Trans people still face prejudice. This continues to limit their employment opportunities (despite legislation prohibiting discrimination); their personal relationships; their access to goods, services and housing; their health status; their safety in both public and private spheres; and their access to health and social care.
Trans activists have lobbied for a shift in social and health perspectives from gender pathology (a disease or abnormality) to gender nonconformity (trans people do not conform to society's narrow view about gender).
I thgouht it will be nice to talk about this .

[Gillian]

It would doubtless help a lot of people if it could be established that gender isn't a binary state, male or female, but instead a continuum. Those who weren't able to declare themselves fully male or female might feel less out of place.

Does anyone know what proportion of mtf transsexuals who are living as women go on to fully transition and have GRS? I would expect it's a fairly high percentage but the question then is does the minority that's left lend any credence to the continuum argument?

[Heather Moorland]

In Denmark the Sexology Clinic (The state monopoly on treatmen of transsexuals) insist on caling MtF's transmen and FtM's transwomen. But staf on that clinic has a reputation of being rude to transpeople and not living up to the IDC10 Standard of Cares. They se it as their primary job to talk people out of an operation.

[Stavros]

Adriana, although I agree with most of what you say, I would question these:

HIV infections are not a major risk factor in the UK, mainly because sex work or recreational drug use is not usual in UK trans cultures
-there is plenty of recreational drug use, and sex work -I don't know that it happens together or all the time but it happens, and infection is also not always transmitted sexually, surely this is basic.

Although social attitudes have become more accepting towards trans people, there is a persistent assumption that there are only two genders (female and male) and that one's gender is assigned from birth and cannot be changed.

Most of the TS I have known considered themselves to be women -in other words, not just 'society' but TS themselves reject the concept of a 'third gender' which can be seen as being imposed on them by people who refuse or for some reason are unable to accept them as women.

Gender 're-assignment' must also be wrong for many TS since they do not accept Freud's claim that 'anatomy is destiny' because gender is more than the sum of its parts, in a manner of speaking, and has ontological meaning as well. For most, I wonder if it is not 'Corrective surgery' rather than 're-assignment' -? But that also raises the question of personal development after surgery, and I feel that it is in this area that research has failed to establish a consensus, because a number (I dont know how many) of Post-ops refuse to accept that the SRS has been a failure, be it a matter of physical or psychological/emotional satisfaction. Major talking point?

There may be as many opinions on this as there are people prepared to voice them...

[BigDF]

It would doubtless help a lot of people if it could be established that gender isn't a binary state, male or female, but instead a continuum. Those who weren't able to declare themselves fully male or female might feel less out of place.

Does anyone know what proportion of mtf transsexuals who are living as women go on to fully transition and have GRS? I would expect it's a fairly high percentage but the question then is does the minority that's left lend any credence to the continuum argument?

You make a very interesting point, Shelf. Unfortunately, society being the way it is, I'm afraid it will take quite bit of time for humans to evolve to such an enlightened view. I really do not know what the proportion is, but like you I expect it is quite high. But there will be some who do not anticipate having GRS. I knew one of these people who stated on a public forum that she rather doubted she would pursue the operation because she enjoyed sex just the way she was. Her case would lend credence to your argument.

Unfortunately, from what I've seen, many of the ladies on here will come back and say that she is not truly a TS, because of that statement and she is not on HRT, which seems to be their definition of being a TS. I think the reason for such viewpoints is that humans tend to judge other humans as reflections of themselves.

[EvonRose]

Everything is very true, Transsexuals are more common than you think and so is transensualism ( people who prefer ts women or men) The HIV rate in America is high within the gay community, bisexuals and transsexuals. Study has proven transsexuals to also have sexual relations with gay men and bi men who have had sexual relations to other HIV infected men, infecting the ts community. Mostly trough their coming out stage or exploring stage. Not every ts is also a true ts some have previously lived a gay lifestyle then switched for reasons we all probably know. Meth is a popular drug in the ts community and everyone knows meth can bring down inhibitions making them engaged in more risky behavior. It is very important to protect yourself I cannot express this more!!! There is no reason to be going around and having unprotected sex with people you do not know, and sometimes know. Be 100 percent certain your partner is safe and in open relationships communication is key If you love and care for your partner you wouldn't expose them to that kind of risk as well.. But HIV isn't the only sti to look for, people forget about the other things... so be careful, stay healthy, eat healthy, and I hope the world becomes vegetarian and save the animals but that's not gonna happen.. lol..

[EvonRose]

It would doubtless help a lot of people if it could be established that gender isn't a binary state, male or female, but instead a continuum. Those who weren't able to declare themselves fully male or female might feel less out of place.

Does anyone know what proportion of mtf transsexuals who are living as women go on to fully transition and have GRS? I would expect it's a fairly high percentage but the question then is does the minority that's left lend any credence to the continuum argument?

Only about 11.6 percent of transsexuals get the full srs...

[freew]

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