One thing I’ve noticed is that when people start asking questions about transsexuality and what it means to be a transsexual person, it helps acceptance a huge amount. So, with the wonders of technology, I’d like to create a space for those questions to be asked.
Leave a comment here with a question and I’ll try to answer it from my perspective. Just a note: If it’s too personal (for example, sex related), I may reply directly and not publish the answer. I know this isn’t ideal, but this is a personal blog and I don’t want everything published. If the question’s abusive, it will just be deleted, of course!
So… Ask away! 
What is a transsexual person?
Transsexualism is where someone identifies with a gender which is not the same as that expressed by their body and the sense of stress is so strong that they need to change socially and to change their bodies to match the gender they identify with.
Why are some people transsexual?
It’s not known at this point why some people have an internal gender different from that of the gender expressed externally. A body of research is being built which points to transsexual people having brain structures which match that of their identified gender. However, it is still early days and there is a great deal more research to be done.
Is transsexualism a psychological disorder?
In some countries it is still treated as such, just as homosexuality is, but this is thankfully disappearing as the medical community realises the depth of the dysphoria and the lack of success psychiatric treatment has on the condition. However, with the stresses of living with the condition, psychological support is often a useful tool to help with the transition, so part of the standard treatment is to have regular contact with a psychiatrist. This also helps to sort out those that suffer from similar symptoms from another source… Whilst it is rare for people to go far into transition without being transsexual, some have and it is important to help these people find the right course of treatment before any non-reversible steps are taken.
Is transsexualism related to homosexuality?
There are heterosexual transsexuals and there are homosexual transsexuals, but there is no link between the two. Transsexualism is a question of gender, homosexualism/heterosexualism is a question of sexual orientation.Whilst sorting out the right path to follow, many transsexuals who are attracted by the sex opposite to their identified gender live in the homosexual communities, but that’s a natural aspect of being in a relationship with that sex.
Is transsexualism related to transvestism/crossdressing/transgenderism?
Not necessarily. It’s very dangerous to pigeon-hole people into these different categories since there can be so many reasons for people being part of the trans world (using ‘trans’ as the umbrella term). Some people just find it pleasing to be able to express the part of the other gender they have ‘inside’ them. Some find a sexual aspect to it. Some feel themselves as being the gender opposite to their body’s expressed gender but express this through transvestism as a means of surviving whilst maintaining a life in their assigned gender.The reason I say ‘not necessarily’ above is that some trans people (I’m tempted to say ‘quite a few’, especially when it comes to trans women) live a dual role, partly in their body’s expressed gender, partly in the gender they identify with, until they are able to accept the need to transition, which has some very strong barriers (especially the social barriers). These people may identify with being transvestites/crossdressers during all or part of this period of their lives.
What sorts of transsexuals are there?
There are essentially two types of trans people, depending on the ‘direction’ of the transition: Male to female trans people (referred to as MTF people, trans women and transsexual women) and female to male transsexuals (referred to as FTM people, trans men and transsexual men).Aside from that, there are about as many ways to approach being a trans person as there are to any other part of the human condition!
What is “gender dysphoria”?
Gender dysphoria is the term for what one suffers with should one have discomfort with the physical gender one’s body expresses. It can range from light or temporary discomfort which can be assuaged by expressing oneself through crossdressing to the point where one’s physically expressed gender is completely at odds with one’s internal gender (as is the case with a transsexual person).
What does “cissexual” mean?
Cissexual is the ‘opposite’ of someone who is transsexual, meaning that it is someone who was born with a physically expressed gender which matches their internal gender. It’s a phrase which is coming into use as transsexuals fight against natal men and women (cis men and cis women, I suppose) who discriminate against us. From a trans woman’s point of view, the strongest cissexism comes from certain bigoted radical feminists who insist on treating us as men.
Why do trans people often refer to ‘allies’?
Transsexualism doesn’t fit into the world-view of all so many people and this means that there is discrimination from all angles. Some gay men view trans women as just gay men trying to legitimise themselves. Some lesbians view trans women as men hiding as women. Some radical feminists view trans women as a threat on their gender-free ideal world and as men hiding as women. That’s why amongst pretty much all these communities, trans people value those who are there for them. Allies are hugely important to us and it’s surprising how few people will stand up make clear their support for us… It’s a tough thing for them to do and it’s hugely appreciated!
A bit of terminology
cis person – A person who has a physically expressed gender in alignment with their mental gender. Sometimes referred to as a natal man or a natal woman.
cissexism – The discriminatory belief that being a trans person is inferior to being a cis person.
transphobia – An irrational fear of trans people often expressed as extreme hatred and discrimination.
trans panic – A phrase used by the defence in several court cases where cis people have been accused of violent acts against or even murder of trans people. The defence used is that the aggressor acted with severe violence upon discovering the person they were with (in a romantic or sexual situation) is a trans person. The idea that the discovery of being with a trans person justifies violence or murder is a sad commentary on the state of today’s society as is the fact that this has even been accepted in some court cases.FTM – A female to male transsexual person.
MTF - A male to female transsexual person.transgender – Used either as an umbrella term for transsexuals and other gender variant people (including crossdressers/transvestites and gender queer people) or, more commonly nowadays, in a distinct way only referring to the latter, recognising that transsexualism is a different issue.
transsexual - Someone who has gender dysphoria to the extent that they feel the need to transition and live in the opposite sex, to the extent of taking hormone treatments and having surgery. Some people do not include non-op people (people who don’t want to have an operation) but I find that a bit difficult since I’ve known several non-op people who change their minds.
WBT or Woman Born Transsexual – A nice term for a postoperative trans woman. I like it because it makes it clear that the person is a woman who has had a condition which has been treated.
trans person – A transsexual person. Transperson (without the space) is increasingly being seen as being demeaning.
trans man – A transsexual man, also referred to as an FTM person or an FTM transsexual. Transman (without the space) is increasingly being seen as being demeaning.
trans woman – A transsexual woman, also referred to as an MTF person or an MTF transsexual. Transwoman (without the space) is increasingly being seen as being demeaning.
tranny – A highly offensive term for a trans person. Though it is sometimes used within the trans community (usually ironically) it should never be used by a cis person.
LGBTTQQI – This is what is currently the full spectrum of gender identity and sexual orientation categories and stands for the following:
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bi
- Transgender
- Transsexual
- Queer
- Questioning
- Intersexed
Of course, it’s rarely used in full since it is rather unwieldy and is often abbreviated to LGBT. I use LGBTT (a change in late 2009) to indicate that the transsexual experience is distinct from the transgender experience, but I do wish there was a nicer word to use which didn’t require leaving out parts of the community to make it less unwieldy. I know how I feel when people just talk about LGB when they mean the whole community and I’m sure that Queer, Questionaing and Intersexed people feel left out when I only use LGBTT.