For some reason, some people still think transgenders are homosexuals who decide to change their sex. No! You've got it wrong. Transgenders are not homosexuals. Actually, they should be considered as heterosexuals.
First, we need to distinguish between "sex" and "gender". Sex is your biological body, and it is determined by whether you have a penis or a vagina. Gender is a role that you play in the society, meaning how you would identify yourself as a male or a female. For example, a transgender's sex might be male, but his gender is female. He identifies himself as a woman, he believes that he is supposed to be a woman, and he is attracted to men like most women. As many people out it, "Transgenders are those who are born in the wrong bodies." Some transgenders are homophobic, but if they come out and say that, the society will probably look at them weirdly because most people would think transgenders are homosexuals. They're not unless they identify themselves as "gay" or "lesbians".
Homosexuals are those who attracted to same sex. Meaning, vagina for a vagina or a penis for a penis. Many lesbians even complain about "butch" because they think lesbians should be "femme". But we also see many butch-femme relationship and people would think the butch might be a transgender. Um...no, some women like masculinity. Sure they seem like they're playing male gender role, but some of them wouldn't actually change their sex. They identify themselves as females.
So, you see they're different. Try not to call out the wrong labels if you want to categorize someone by their sexual preferences. Then again, why would anyone want to? I don't see how they would affect our lives. Unless you think your children and grandchildren would turn out like them. How is that a bad thing really? It would be nice for people to experience both sides of the coins...and whatever else that's in between. Don't you think so?
I think finally the truth is getting out there. Thank you! I do have to admit though that I am! I am a pre-op MtF transsexual that happens to have a sexual preference for women. I don't identify as a lesbian however. I tend to use the term trans-lesbian. I also tend to use the word 'trannie' instead of transsexual or the more pompous but medically correct term of, person suffering from transsexualism (I don't suffer from transsexualism, I revel in it LOL)
What you will find however is that just like the rest of the community, trans* people use a whole variety of terms as descriptors. Some people find some terms offensive, some don't. Trannie is classic example. I like the term, in fact I think it is wonderfully informal and totally descriptive, but most other transsexuals hate it because of the derogatory overtones of that word. Similarly I don't mind being referred to as transgendered, although I know there is quite a few transsexuals that don't think that is appropriate.
The only thing I truly insist on is that it does not matter what genitals nor chromosomes I may or may not have, who I choose to sleep with, the clothes I wear or any of that other superficial stuff, I have never been a man. I have always been a woman.
Cathii
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Those who know everything have learned little from life.
Oh wow, I never really met a transgender before. I thought I did but they turned out to be lesbians who dress up like men. You're going through the whole procedures? My professor told me that it's easier for Male To Female transsexual than Female To Male because it's easier to cut it off than putting in on...or something like that.
LOL. I would love to make a bet that you have at least talked to someone that is either transgendered or transsexual, you just might not have realised it! :)
The are a lot of TS's and TG's around it just that for the most part they go unnoticed and unannounced. I am part of a rare breed, I don't mind people knowing my history but a lot of post-op TS's just want to blend into the community, live and act like normal people and rarely tell people of their trans* status. Honestly there is so much prejudice out there that revealing your trans* status can get you into a lot of trouble, deny you the promotion you deserve at work etc etc. Besides which, like I said I have never been a man, I have always been a woman, so why would I then tell people that I "used to be a man". See what I mean. We generally call not revealing your trans*history, "Stealth", for obvious reasons. :)
ROFL Well that certainly is one way of putting it and pretty much accurate too!!! As far as SRS (Sexual Reassignment Surgery, sometimes referred to as Gender Affirmation Surgery) goes, a vaginoplasty for MtF's is substantially easier than a phalloplasty for an FtM.
Essentially the male anatomy already contains all the constituent parts for vaginoplasty to make the vaginal cavity, a sensate clitoris, labia etc etc etc,. After all a penis and scrotum are just biological variants of those female anatomical parts anyway.
The problem with phalloplasty is that there is rarely enough donor tissue in the biological female anatomy to simply create a penis. So grafting has to take place, insertion of blood vessels and so many other things besides. There is absolutely no guarantee that there will be any sensation in the phallus, it is rare that there is any natural erectile response and the potential for complications in this surgery are HUGE. As a result there are relatively few FtM's that actually undergo a phalloplasty. If only there was a way to just "swap bits" I would gladly donate mine to an FtM just so that part of their life could be as close to natural as possible.
Besides the medical issues there is also the cost factor. In Thailand, the surgeon I will be seeing charges around the $20k mark for the procedure itself and he is one of the most expensive surgeons in Thailand. All up the trip to Thailand, accommodation, surgery, medical after care and everything else, including a few sight seeing trips will cost me around $40k. Although in places like the States and Europe the cost can be as high as $100k. Now thats a lot of money !!!!
Sadly a phalloplasty starts at around the $100k mark for just the surgery, and then there is so many other costs associated that it is unlikely that an FtM undergoing this procedure will get away with anything less than $150k for something that I would call a less than satisfactory result. Still it is irrelevant as to whether an FtM has had phalloplasty, they are still men and a lot more manly than I ever was I might add too!!!
But surgery isn't the only concern, in fact surgery is a long way down the track from a lot of other concerns like transitioning, passing, social acceptance etc etc etc.... In some areas FtM's have it easier ( like facial hair, it is so much harder to remove for an MtF than it is to simply take testosterone and have it grow as is the case for FtM's!) and in some areas it is much easier for an MtF (such as taking oestrogen and progesterone to make breasts grow for an MtF, where as most FtM's have to have a double mastectomy to have them removed).
So my plans include a trip to Thailand in about 4 months time for FFS (Facial Feminisation Surgery) ie to remove the brow ridge, realign the jaw, have the hairline altered and a few other small things. Then in around 10 months it is back to Thailand for SRS. So I guess you could say I am "going through the whole procedure"! :)
Cathii
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Those who know everything have learned little from life.
Oh My God, I love Thailand! I'm Thai but I haven't been back there for years. Tell me when you're leaving, maybe I can get my grandmother to make a deal for you if you need a hotel. It's called Riverside Bangkok hotel. (advertising) Haha. Anyway, wow. Thank you so much. I've learned something new everyday from progressiveu. Thailand tansgenders are so hot. They have pageants and everything. They are very beautiful Females who used to be males. Seriously, it's unbelievable over there. They put a woman like me into shame. And I thought to myself, "They're the people who deserve to be women!!" Okay, maybe it might sound creepy, but those females make me want to turn into a lesbian.
Actually, Cathii, I must correct you in regards to phalloplasty. I have had that proceedure. What you are repeating are the popular misconceptions that are incorrect.
There has never been a problem in finding donor tissue in a biological female body for phallo. It can be harvested from many areas: thigh, abdomen, pubic area, forearm. The area used depends on the surgeon & the condition of the potential donor areas (i.e. scarring, lack of blood supply).
The fact that phallo is insensate is also incorrect. The degree of sensitivity depends from where the tissue is harvested, yes, but there is naturally-occuring sensation. In addition, there is a new product just out that allows for full erotic sensation & a good deal of tactile sensation. Complications now are mainly with creation of the urethra (fistuals/strictures) & are usually not difficult to fix (albeit frustrating, as is any complication no matter how small); if one does their research well, they can find surgeons who have a history of few complications to reduce that possibility (but it can happen with the best of them).
The reason that transmen don't often get phalloplasty is true (but changing). Anti-phallo sentiment is one; they hear the misinformation, believe it, search for other options without researching beyond word-of-mouth. Second is cost; surgery alone can cost between $60,000 - $150,000+ for surgery alone (depending on what the man wants, not counting travel/accomodations/time off work). The third reason is that phallo is done in stages over years (myself, 2 years and counting, over 10 procedures so far). Some are comfortable with their birth genitalia.
In the last 5 years alone, there have been amazing improvements in the area of phalloplasty. This is leading to improved results & decrease in cost.
I wish you the best in Thailand. I've been there twice over the past two years as support for women who were getting their surgery from two different surgeons.
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"Freedom is an expensive thing." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is a great article.
Thank you for enlightening me... I definitely did not know this, mostly because I never stopped to think about it!
I was hoping to educate some people who have been thinking the homosexuals and transgenders are the same. Some transgenders might get offended if they hear people calling them homosexuals. Then again, it's not like we ever stop those people who lack knowledge from opening their mouths.
As long as you correct people in a way that is respectful and polite, I think it's the right thing to do. Clearly, if somebody brings up the subject in the first place, they are comfortable talking about alternate sexual orientations. If they take offense to learning something new, then that's their problem!
some transgendered people are attracted to members of their new sex? Then are they considered to be homosexual?
~Violinstef
I think you missed the point here. Trans* people are not a certain sexuality simply because they are trans*. They can be hetrosexual (ie an MtF dating boys), homosexual (ie an MtF dating girls although I prefer the term translesbian myself), bisexual or even asexual. Surprisingly not a lot of people understand that.
Cathii
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Those who know everything have learned little from life.