Earlier this summer at an LGBTQ pride event, I overheard a nearby conversation wherein a post-operative transgender individual (post-op TG), categorized by some folks as “trans-sexual” (TS), stated that crossdressers (CD’s) predominated the gender association of which she and I were both members . . . OUCH !
For the past decade, I have considered myself a non-op TG (not striving for sexual reassignment surgery – SRS), so I took special interest when hearing the implication that I, and my peers in the gender association, were merely crossdressers.
Clearly, a TS literally and figuratively has more “skin in the game” with regards to their gender crossing, especially when SRS – sometimes known as “bottom surgery”, facial feminization surgery, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), electrolysis hair removal and/or other medical procedures, such a breast removal for trans-men, are involved. So, it does not take too much imagination to see why a TS would set a high standard for defining who might be admitted into the sorority / fraternity of the transgender.
However, for such a small community, perhaps 0.2% (1 in 500) of the U.S. population, there is quite a bit of diversity amongst transgender individuals. The world got a peek at that TG diversity when we learned that Caitlyn Jenner did not submit to sexual reassignment surgery in order to fulfill her gender identity needs.
Listed below are some varied paths to gender identity I have observed within the TG community:
•TS – transsexual: has surgically crossed the sex divide as well as the crossed the gender divide;
•Post-op TG – same as transsexual, see above,
•Pre-op TG – awaiting SRS, usually on hormones and usually “full time” within identified gender,
•Non-op TG – Gender identification differs from that of sex at birth; not seeking SRS; may or may not be on hormones; may or may not be full-time in their identified gender,
•TV / CD – transvestite / crossdresser: identifies their gender the same as their sex at birth; at times presents themselves in a gender other than their sex at birth; not initially considered transgender, but may be in a “questioning” phase (the Q in LGBTQ) where they later determine that they are, in fact, transgender.
Based on these definitions, which are by no means set in stone, the primary distinguishing characteristic between a part-time Non-op TG and a CD is gender self-identification, a characteristic that is not readily apparent when you stand both individuals side-by-side for a photograph.
I have wondered if a “score card” methodology might aid in transgender self-evaluation, somewhat along the lines of responses to a certain number of statements suggesting one is transgender. So here it goes:
You think you may be transgender when . . .
1. Your sleep dreams place you in a gender other than your sex at birth,
2. Life seems flat when “dressed in drab”, presenting in the gender of your birth,
3. Most of your social life takes place in the gender other than your sex at birth,
4. You wish you had more opportunities to get out in your preferred gender,
5. Your sex partner identifies you and lusts for you as your transgender self,
6. People who know you encourage you to go full-time in the gender other than your sex at birth,
7. When presenting in the gender the same as your sex at birth, you feel like you have this whole other wonderful person inside you that is being denied the opportunity to live life to the fullest,
8. You have been “outed” at work or school and in your family as being transgender,
9. Even when not dressed in the gender of your choosing, your sensibilities and outlook culturally align with those of that gender other than your sex at birth,
10. If you could be a TS at the snap of a finger with no unintended consequences (such as surgical infection, complications from anesthesia, blood clots, increased cancer risk, hormonal imbalance, etc.) you would do it in a heartbeat,
11. (Bonus Question) – Your adult daughter says you talk, walk and look more femme than her mother!
Scoring:
5 to 10: Most definitely transgender,
3 to 4 : Most likely transgender,
1 to 2 : Likely in the questioning phase,
0 : Unlikely transgender at this moment.
So how did I score? I can truthfully answer in the affirmative to all of the statements, including the bonus question! So, do you think I am a TG or a CD???
