Otherwise known as
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Transsexuality
And Some Things You Probably Didn't
Q: What is transsexuality?
A: Well, the simplest answer is transsexuality is the feeling that you were born in the wrong body. In my case, that means that, although I was born female-bodied, internally, emotionally, and psychologically I feel male.
Q: Doesn't that just mean you're a lesbian that can't take the discrimination?
A: Surely you jest. As a transman, I face the very real possibility of far more dangerous forms of discrimination than I would were I truly a lesbian. Nevermind the fact that, by definition, to be a lesbian, I would have to identify as female.
Q: But how do you know that this is who and what you are?
A: How do you know that you are who you are? You just know. Same thing.
Q: So just how common is this sort of thing?
A: That's kind of a tough one to answer, since they don't include a TS box on the national census. But, there are some theories that one in 1,700 births will result in some form of transgenderism. And some studies have claimed that one in 30,000 male-bodied persons is transsexual, and one in 100,000 female-bodied persons.
Q: TransWHATerism??
A: Transgenderism is a generic catch-all term to refer to transsexuals, cross dressers, gender pirates, genderqueers, and anybody else who doesn't fall neatly into the general binary gender system that society is so comfortable with.
Q: Binary gender system?
A: The idea that there are two genders, no more, no less, period. Researchers have shown that rather than being a set quantitative value, namely two separate genders, gender is a fluid continuum, and we all fall on it somewhere. For most people, that means that they are female or male. For some of us, it means a whole lotta headaches.
Q: Okay, so just how does someone end up like this?
A: Well, nobody "ends up" like this. Like hair color, eye color, dominant handedness, or sexual orientation, gender identity is just one of those things that's hard-wired in us from birth. Nobody's sure exactly why some of us are born transgendered, but there is a prevailing theory. During the 6th week of pregnancy, a hormone wash occurs that triggers the fetus to develop either male or female. At this time, the genitalia begin to either form into boy or girl parts. However, for reasons that aren't even remotely understood yet, in some fetuses while the physical changes take place, there are still parts of the brain that do not follow suit. So, while most babies will develop into "normal" men or women, there is that small percentage of us who don't.
Q: So why bother with all the hormones and all? Why not just keep going as usual?
A: Let me put it this way. Imagine that, every day of your life, you woke up feeling like an imposter. Like you were wearing someone else's body. Imagine that, every time you looked in a mirror, you felt like you were looking at someone else through your own eyes. Imagine feeling like you couldn't stand being in your own skin. That's what it feels like. By administering hormone replacements (testosterone or estrogen, depending on whether or not the individual is male-to-female or female-to-male), we begin to feel at home in our own bodies. Chemical, emotional, and physical changes occur that bring our bodies more into line with how our brains perceive us.
Q: But isn't it just some kind of mental disorder, like schitzophrenia, that could be dealth with by counselling and not all this radical hormone replacement and surgery and such?
A: Not exactly. Although transsexuality, or Gender Identity Disorder (or even Gender Dysphoria), is still classified as a "mental disorder," it is not recommended that patients attempt any kind of "reparative" therapy. It has been found that those of us who are transsexual benefit greatly from hormone replacement, and are able to function very well, and very successfully, in our preferred gender, and as such the recommended treatment is hormone therapy, sometimes coupled with Gender Reassignment Surgeries.
Q: So what's to prevent Joe Blow from deciding that he's transsexual, starting all these hormones and such, and then changing his mind later, and regretting his decision?
A: There are protocols that we all have to follow to try and prevent just that sort of thing from happening. An organization called the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association distributes a set of guidelines for practitioners who treat patients with GID. The Standards of Care is a list of things a person must do, in a fairly specific timeline, to prove that they are indeed transsexual and are a candidate for transition.
Q: So if the hormones make you feel better about your body, why the surgeries?
A: Well, safety is a big reason. A number of us are at risk every day because, although the hormones allow us to blend into society somewhat better, our physical selves can still "give us away." There have been many cases where transmen have been given away by their breasts, or transwomen have been outed by a bra-stuffer of some sort slipping. Those are just examples, mind you. And yes, there are ways for transmen to hide their breasts somewhat. But, depending on the guy and how top-heavy he is, that can be a pretty tall order, so for most of us, the first stop on the surgical tour is a double mastectomy, known as chest or top surgery. During the procedure all the breast tissue is removed, the chest is contoured into a more male-appearing shape, and in many cases the nipples are removed, resized, and grafted back onto the chest in a more male location.
Q: OUCH! Isn't that a little drastic?
A: Perhaps, but for a number or us, it's the only way to deal with the situation.