Transgender persons and transsexuals

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Introduction to transgender persons & transsexuals

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The term "LGBT" is an acronym for "Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals,
transgender persons/transsexuals. Sometimes, additional letters
are added, like "Q" for Queer or questioning, & "I" for Intersexual.

Basic definitions:

There is a lack of consensus on the precise meaning of the terms transgender and transsexual.

We believe that the following are common definitions:

• A transgender person is one for whom their perceived gender does not match their birth-assigned gender. Most commonly, they have been assigned a gender at birth based on their primary and secondary sexual characteristics. However at some point in their life -- often during childhood -- they will identify their gender as being different from their assigned gender. Most feel that they are of the opposite gender; some feel that the term gender doesn't apply to them; a few alternate between genders; a few identify as both male and female.
  
  
• A transsexual person is a transgender individual who lives in society as a gender different from their birth-assigned gender. Many have taken hormone medication and undergone sex reassignment surgery so that their body more closely resembles a their perceived gender.

They form a very small minority in the population. However, it is likely that they will be increasingly targeted by transphobes -- individuals who want to discriminate against transgender persons. This is expected to grow rapidly as discrimination against LGBs (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals) rapidly fades and same-sex marriage becomes more widely accepted.

Topics covered in this section:

• Part 1: Conflicting quotations. What exactly is gender?

• Part 2: Cisgendered persons. People who don't fit neatly into the male/female binary system. IRS conflicts
  
  
• Part 3: Various definitions of "transgender." The definition used on this site. Symptoms and detection of transsexuality
  
  
• Part 4: GID in children. Options available to transgender persons. Terminology. Is transgenderism a "disorder?"
  
  
• Part 5: Definition of Gender Identity Disorder (GID). Gender Incongruence. Catch 22. A symbol.

A movie:

Tom Murray produced and directed a video concerning transsexuality. It is titled: "Almost Myself: Reflections on mending and transcending gender." See: http://www.almostmyself.com/

Copyright © 2007 to 2014 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2007-JUN-08
Latest update and review: 2014-JAN-18
Author: B.A. Robinson

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