Transsexuality briefing by Lynn LeFey

lynnlefey@hotmail.com
www.oocities.org/lynnlefey/

What is a transsexual?
A transsexual is someone who feels their internal sense of gender and their body do not match. In clinical terms, this is called Gender Identity Dysphoria or Gender Dysphoria.

How is transsexuality different than transgendered, or hermaphrodites?
The word transgendered encompasses all differences of gender, such as transvestites (crossdressers), as well as transsexuals. Hermaphrodites, or people who are intersexed (having both male and female anatomy), are often, but not always transsexual, in that they appear (mostly) as one sex, and eventually change to another. Many transsexuals consider themselves crossdressers before understanding what the root of the desire to dress is.

Are transsexuals homosexual?
Transsexuals MAY or MAY NOT also be homosexual. The percentage of bisexual or homosexual transsexuals seems vastly higher than the general population, perhaps as high as 50%.

How many transsexuals are there… what is the ratio of trans people in the world?
Transsexuality seems to occur about once in every 40,000 people. While early surveys seemed to suggest that male to female (M-t-F) transsexuals vastly outnumbered the female to male (F-t-M) transsexuals, current surveys seem to indicate there is about an equal division between the two.

When are transsexuals aware that they're trans?
Most are aware that they are 'different' at a fairly early age, maybe 3 or 4. At that time some of them are aware that they are actually of the opposite gender. Most transsexuals become clear about their feelings of gender dysphoria at the onset of puberty. Although these feelings may be clear at puberty, for whatever reason (usually the control of parents), it is RARE to see anyone begin to transition genders before moving away from the parents. After that, there are two general age brackets which transsexuals are likely to transition in: The first is just out of high school or college. The percentage of young trans people going through transition is growing, presumably due to the higher availability of information on the subject and support; The second major age bracket seems to be at about 40. These trans folks have tried for years to fit the mould of their physical gender, and eventually are overwhelmed by their need to transition.

What are common problems faced by trans and the rest of the gblti community?
Coming out
While much of the gay community is faced with eventually coming out to their family, it is impossible to avoid this as a transsexual.

Family
Coming out to family has an entire range of possibilities. What I have seen is an early period of shock, followed soon by either deep concern or total rejection. Unfortunately, it is much more likely to be rejection. Fathers in particular seem to have more problems with this than mothers. We all face the possibility of hiding from ourselves, making families of our own, possibly having and raising children, only to discover we are no longer comfortable living in our current relationship. Grown children are often more accepting than parents.

Peers/friends
Again, any number of reactions are possible. My personal experience was that my friends told me point blank that they could have accepted if I were gay, but thought I was insane to seek gross surgical modification to my body.

Discrimination and hate crimes
All of us have the potential of being discriminated against. Discrimination may happen for many reasons by intolerant people. Being homosexual or transsexual is just one more thing for people to use as an excuse to hate.

Legal rights

Partner issues
As with the homosexual community, the trans community is faced with legal problems when partners fall ill or are injured. Several cases have occurred recently because of the difference in laws from state to state, regarding the validity of marriages to transsexual people.

Parental issues
As with homosexuals, visitation rights or adoption rights are sometimes denied on the grounds of our differences.

Breaking gender boundaries
Many effeminate males or masculine females are treated oddly for their actions because they step over the boundary of the male or female, into shady areas, or completely into roles or activity usually reserved for the opposite sex. This is a common problem for both the homosexual and transsexual community.

'Curing'
There will always be groups of people out there that cling to the notion that homosexuality and transsexuality are pathologies which can be cured. I do not believe it can be cured. I believe these are innate to our selves. Aversion therapy, for instance, does not 'cure' us, it simply teaches us to hide who and what we are.

What are problems unique to trans?
While we share many problems and many life experiences, there are some that are unique to being a transsexual that I'd like to discuss.

Harry Benjamin Standards of Care (HBSC)
The HBSC was developed as a set of guidelines for treating transsexuals by the mental healthcare community. Anyone seeking to (legally) get hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery (SRS) needs to be monitored by a mental healthcare professional. Three months of therapy are required before a letter can be written by the therapist to a medical doctor, requesting hormone therapy. An individual must live a year full time in their chosen gender role, under supervision of a therapist, before letters are written for a surgeon to perform SRS.

Hormones
Male to female transsexuals are given an androgen inhibitor which stops the production of testosterone. Then gradually they are given estrogen and progesterone to bring them to levels equivalent to normal women. This causes breast development, softening of skin, heightened emotional response, loss of body hair (not including facial hair), and other minor changes.

Female to male transsexuals are put on testosterone, which will make them cease menstruation, grow facial and body hair, deepen their voices, and add to the ability of gaining muscle mass.

Both M-t-Fs and F-t-Ms are chemically sterilized, in M-t-Fs permanently after about 6 months, in F-t-Ms for the duration of testosterone use.  Information on permanent sterility in F-t-Ms could not be found.

Electrolysis
Since facial hair does not stop growing for M-t-F's, they must undergo hundreds of hours (between 200-400 on average) of electrolysis, where the hairs are removed by thermal, electrical, or a combination of the two. There are other methods of hair removal, but electrolysiss is currently the only method of PERMANENT hair removal. For M-t-Fs, this is the single largest expense in transitioning.

Transitioning on the job
When a transsexual finally reaches the point where they wish to live full time in their chosen gender role, they must deal with their company and coworkers. A high percentage are let go and are forced to find employment elsewhere, with only work experience as their previous gender, making employment prospects difficult.

Voice therapy
F-t-Ms voices are deepened by testosterone. M-t-Fs voices are not changed by hormone therapy. This can be corrected by a skilled voice therapist and practice. In some cases, individuals are still not happy with the results, and seek surgical modification of the vocal chords.

Elective surgeries

Cosmetic
This ranges from facial feminization for M-t-Fs (nosejobs, chin and jaw modification, trachia shaves, brow ridge reduction, cheek enhancement, etc) to breast augmentation. Most cosmetic surgeries are seen only for M-t-Fs.

Oophorectomy/hysterectomy, orchiectomy
While hormone therapy will balance hormone levels in preoperative transsexuals, the removal of the ovaries or testicles makes hormone therapy more effective and less strain on the liver, as hormone doses can be decreased. F-t-Ms will also (usually) seek out a hysterectomy. Without this operation, the risk of cancer or other problems seems to increase as they age.

Radical mastectomy
For F-t-Ms, it is very desirable for breasts to be removed. Before this time, many go though uncomfortable binding methods to hide their breasts.

LAVA? Voice modification.
As mentioned earlier, some M-t-Fs seek out voice modification. Several methods exist, but none are perfectly safe or have uniform results.

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

F-t-M
There are several options available for F-t-M transsexuals. Unfortunately most are not completely favorable, and tend to be prohibitively expensive. The most common surgery will allow the F-t-M to urinate while standing, and can be coupled with cosmetic surgeries and implants to create a scrotum and testicles.

M-t-F
The standard for reassignment for M-t-Fs is a very well developed two-part procedure, with good visual results, and usually leaving the individual with full ability to orgasm. This is the one place, in my opinion, that M-t-Fs have serious advantage over F-t-Ms.

Legal Issues of Gender

Name change
Many transsexuals will seek legal name change before sex reassignment surgery. This is usually done when the individual goes full time. While this is usually a simple procedure, there are occasionally judges which rule against name change, not understanding that it does not change legal gender.

Gender change
Legal Gender change can be tricky, or impossible. Even with a court order from the state in which you reside, getting birth certificates and other documentation may be difficult or impossible. As was mentioned earlier, some states do not recognize the gender change, and this may make marriage difficult.

Life after SRS or full time
Some transsexuals remain politically active in the gblt community after transition. Some decide to simply go on with life, leaving the experience of transition as a thing of the past. This is known as 'fading', or 'ghosting'. Some find the memories are too painful and no longer wish to think about it. Some transsexuals make clean breaks from their 'old' lives, giving up careers, family, friends, etc. It should be noted that people in transition often look to people farther along for mentoring, or advice on what to expect. Many post-operative transsexuals act as mentors, and in this way, continue a chain, and support the younger TSs in transition.

Cost of transition
Lots! J Transition will cost over $40,000 most likely, in either direction, and may excede $100,000 depending on elective surgeries or the form of SRS chosen.

What is the 'lingo'? … list of transsexual terminology