Hi, I am Eva Cassini Stark, and I am a "shemale".
I wrote this in response to this situation I have been following closely between the TG Porn Industry and a select few who plan to bring about "change". This select few, but particularly, one individual, does not understand the grasp of the situation as a whole. To learn more about "this" in particular, I suggest reading Steven's latest blog post about the word "Shemale".
http://grooby.com/groobysteven/uncat...e-shemale.html
Here is my view on it. A bit long, but informative. I stand with Steven of Grooby, and Bob of Bob's Tgirls.
As a free thinking, pro-science transgender girl, as someone in the trans community, and as someone who is in the adult film industry, I find it absolutely silly and ridiculous to get offended by words.
Shemale, tranny, transgender, transsexual, trans, tg, ts, are all terms that have described me and the rest of the transgirls and transguys in the community and the industry for years. I, and many others, do NOT take offense to these words. What I personally take offense to is being labeled/called something I am not. Like for instance, I am not a transvestite/crossdresser/TV.
Transvestite/Crossdresser/TV - All of which mean, one who dons the clothing of the opposite sex for mainly sexual pleasure, as a fetish or a lifestyle. These words in them of themselves are NOT offensive. They merely describe. Transvestite or "Transvestit", from Latin trans- ‘across’ + vestire 'clothe', dates back to the 1700s. Crossdresser is much more recent, but is simply translates from the word "Transvestite" and is used as it's synonym. TV is simply an abbreviation of TransVestite.
Just as "TG" is short for Transgender. Just as "Tranny" is a playful short synonym for Transgender/sexual.
I honestly do not want a "new term" that only we can use or for use of education. It would be ridiculous and redundant, as we already have words to describe us. We have "Transgender", we have "transsexual", we have their abbreviations "TG" and "TS", and we have "Shemale", "Tranny", "Transgirl" and "Transman". Those work just fine and are not offensive at all.
The ONLY people I KNOW who get offended by these words, are people who are NOT them, and a select few who are, whose only plan is to bring attention to themselves by means of a ploy constructed by this so-called arbiter, who is using their campaign to stop the use of these words, only to market themselves and sell their DVD. Everyone is so scared to offend with words, and they shouldn't be afraid. They are ONLY words and words are ONLY a mix of sounds uttered from our mouths to come together to communicate and describe the universe and all in it.
What is there to gain for being offended by words? Absolutely nothing.
What helps the community realistically, are actions.
When one allows words or labels to control them, then that person loses a sense of self.
My quality, actions, personality, work ethic, honor, and how I treat people define me. Labels, names, terms, and such like Tranny, Shemale, Trans(whatever), Ladyboy*, TS, and TG are ONLY words to describe, and if you give them power, they will overpower you. One shouldn't let words control who they are. Life is way too short to have anger, disdain, and despondency for words.
The only words that would offend me, and many transfolk who I know (in and out of the adult industry), would be words that incorrectly describe and define me. Words of which that contradict who and what I am.
I am Eva Cassini Stark. Correct.
I am in transition. Correct.
I have both male and female sexual characteristics. Correct.
Being that I am in transition of my physical body from male to female (gender/sex), I must be a transgender/transsexual. Correct.
Tranny is a shortening of Trans(gender/sexual), which has no degree of hate in it of itself. Correct.
The only way for it and other aforementioned words to be used in a hateful manner would be to spout it out with hateful and harmful intentions and actions. Correct.
Shemale is not a shortening, nor is it really a synonym. There is Male. There is Female. Females are referred to as "She", a pronoun to describe a female in simple present tense.
The "wo" and "fe" in woman and female, respectively, delegate a distinction between man/male and woman/female. So using "She" in front of male to create the word "Shemale", really is the exact same thing as Female. It is a slang to describe a transgirl. And it's a great marketing word to distinguish the TG porn from GG porn (GG- abbreviated porn slang for genetic girl (female)). There is no negativity in it unless it is used in a hateful and harmful way. And even still, would you prosecute the word uttered or the hateful person's actions that coincide, only by happenstance, with using the word? I vote the latter!
*Ladyboy is a word I don't typically use to describe myself, as I am opposed to the boy portion. But in the Indian dialect of Kuwi, boy actually means girl. So with that simple fact about Lady-"boy", one must understand that language is ONLY sounds that we utter out of our mouths; and albeit words and language are fun and interesting, words, names, and language really do not matter.
"Eva Cassini Stark" and my interaction with others identify me.
When I am out in public and I mingle with people, I tell them I am transgendered and if they don't understand that, I will use "Shemale". They react with awe and tell me they never would have guessed. That or they are fans of mine. So they already know.
Those who get hung up way too harshly on words bring hardship onto themselves. Fighting a "Word War" is frivolous and ridiculous.
Here's a "hypothetical". Just because someone would have to call you a female or whatever you prefer, due to a hypothetical political correctness law, it still would NOT negate that person's hate, disgust, and distrust for transfolk. It would be like wearing a facade. They would be lying to you and themselves.
Words carry no weight.
Actions do. Specifically, positive and ethically right actions. Having "Integrity".
When people show initiative to bring enlightenment to those who do not understand what it is to be transgender, THAT is what will help us. Not fighting against words.
Imagine...If there was a day of the year, mandated by law, in which EVERYONE was not permitted to speak any words and would not be able to write anything, under penalty of death. No communication of any kind at all, except for gestures.
Do you honestly believe the hate will stop? I sincerely implore you to think hard about that, as the hate will not cease. Only in a fairy-tale or Disney movies would this work.
I have no intentions of belittling what those who came before me did. I do not mean any disrespect. They have shed some light on transfolk but not at all enough. Still today, there are many misconceptions about transfolk and also an abundance of hate, disgust, and distrust toward us. On television, we are jokes. Across the country, there are still horrible hate crimes committed against transfolk. Around the world, there are countries where one would face bludgeoning, imprisonment, and/or even death, if it was uncovered that they were in fact trans. We are very far from being treated with respect as anyone else who isn't trans.
Grooby (Steven at the forefront) and it's affiliates ( PORN companies, for dick-sakes!), have taken long and hard strides to help the trans community. Yes, they make "Shemale" and "Trannydude" Porn, BUT, that does take away from their positive moral goal to bring about peace and understanding to all, to help transfolk. I speak for Grooby and their affiliates, only because they have treated me with respect, courtesy, and shown great generosity.
Fighting against words will not get us where we want to be. Actions will. These folks with their plight with words is folly. Put that energy to better use and go out and speak up for us. Educate what and who we are. I have a platform that I have built WITH the help of Grooby and it's affiliates, which allows me to reach lots of people. Any chance I get, and there are many, I try to educate and help others understand us.
I simply implore anyone to see what and where our true battles lie. Which is why one should not focus on words, but focus on actions of those for and against us and the science of trans, to help make our society more accepting and respectful towards transfolk.
