Article: Definitions of TG

[Carolyn Marie]

Not quite sure how to characterize this article. Kind of TG 101, but very brief. I think the definitions are going to spark some discussion/debate. I for one have issues with some of it, but I'll let you all have your say first.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-tina-bruce/transgender_b_1159312.html

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Robin Winter]

That article was just a whole mess of wrong if you ask me... I can see why you have issues with it.

[Guest Donna Jean]

. I for one have issues with some of it, but I'll let you all have your say first.

Carolyn Marie

Yes.....I have a couple of issues with several definitions there, but, I think I'll keep my opinions to my self.....

Donna Jean

[Guest eliza.d]

the first thing that almost made the whole thing unreadable was the word transgress.

maybe im wrong but i thought that meant to go against a law. never heard it used that way before. it seemed strange.

this person has some of their terminology, ideas all wrong.

i think they were just spouting what they think, while trying to explain something they really didnt know.

icant watch the videos on my droid so i might have missed it in there.

it seems all wrong somehow. i dont really undestand what the real difference is between transgender and transexual is.

i know what i am, but the terminology is baffling.

help me out carolyn marie.

Eliza

[Guest Karen K]

Most of the time, I just say I'm trans. I've alway thought that "Transgender" is the umbrella term used to descride all those who express themselves outside the gender binary. Whereas "Transsexual" is the term for those of us who identify with the gender opposite of our birth sex and progress with changing our bodies to match or gender identity. Am I wrong? Is this out dated?

I know I suffer from "gender identity dysphoria", yet I hear some don't like this term either. So whats correct?

Laura Jane

[Guest Shari]

I'm not sure what point she was trying to make and I disagree with some of it.

Shari

[Guest Robin Winter]

the first thing that almost made the whole thing unreadable was the word transgress.

The word transgress was used correctly, but like you say, because of it's common association with wrongdoing, especially it's use in the bible, it probably wasn't a very nice choice of word to use in this article. It actually just means to overstep or go beyond the boundaries of a standard.

[Guest Mia J]

OK.

First it seems to me she implies that to be a transsexual you need to have SRS which of course no longer true except for some elitists.

Second I don't agree at all with her definition of transgender. She implies that a non op or pre op transsexual is a transgender.

I support the use of transgender as an umbrella term for the range of different gender issues.

Her definition of CD is rather limited but closer than the others.

And to me, DQ will always be where I go for a quick hot fudge sundae!

Mia

[Guest Robin Winter]

And to me, DQ will always be where I go for a quick hot fudge sundae!

Amen!

[Guest GinaInside]

I thought it was at least a good introductory article, and do generally accept the accept given definitions of Transexxual, and Transgender. Some of the terminology may have been out of date, but overall it seemed pretty fair. I have been called worse...

I knew I was a TS when I first heard of them. I have known TS's who are pretty picky though...and for at least one I knew, if you were'nt a full-blown post-op TS like her, you were just a TV. I was uncomfortable with that definition. When I was young, before my injuries, I would have gone full TS, but now accept that TG will have to suffice.

Hugz,

Gina Renee

[Guest eliza.d]

yep, i do think the inferred meaning of transgress makes it a poor word choice. transcend would have been better, imho.

it would figure that would be what i noticed, i was an english major for a while in college and in highschool it was my strongest subject.

im a nerd, sorry.

the whole tg,ts terminology confuses me though.

Eliza

[Carolyn Marie]

My objections to her definitions are twofold: first, she suggests that "transgender" applies to transmen or transwomen who forgo surgery, and there is no reference to the term's use as an umbrella to cover everything from cross-dresser to transsexual to genderqueer, androgynous or inter-sexed. That is the most common use of the term since I've been part of the community. Non-op seems to be the commonly used phrase to describe those not desiring or not able to get SRS. Second, she says that most cross-dressers "care about the clothing." That is simplistic and not true of most cross dressers I know. It is much more than about the clothes.

I find it ironic that she includes the GLAAD definition of the terms along with her own. She should have just posted those, because they are a lot more accurate than hers.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Robin Winter]

Yeah, there was an actual statement claiming that being a cross-dresser had nothing to do with gender identity....

[Guest GinaInside]

I just re-read the article, looking for the items you all have mentioned, and yes there were some flaws and generalizations.

Like Karen, I usually just say Trans, too, and there was no mention of GD. I tend to think Transgender is reasonable, since I don't surgury as realistic for me.

I gree with Carolyn, that there was no need to give the GLAAD definition, and then ad-lib on them. Perhaps the intention was to give her understanding on the topic, in her own words, rather than try and redefine the GLAD definition. And, yes, that did seem a pretty rough generalization about CD's.

While the article has some flaws, I still think it was fair. Afterall, they can wirte all they want, as long as they spell Transgender coerrectly...