Although many of us don't need labels for ourselves and we can each define ourselves how we choose, I do see value in labels for education, understanding, and communication purposes. Lesbian, gay, and bi sexual are all labels and in my opinion they are clear and for the public its relatively simple to understand what each one means. Also terms can be helpful for less self understanding people who are looking to understand thier identity and are seeking to find and relate to people with similiar experiences. I think transgender is an excellent umbrella term and the reason its being portrayed in the media as only encompassing ts is because nobody from the rest of the spectrum is visible and out there clarifying as far as famous people anyway. Its like having the term "beer" and if budwieser is the only company advertising then soon everyone starts to think beer is budwieser. In order for that to change then coors, labatt, corona and all the rest have to come out and say "hey, I'm beer too". Its easier said than done and I am only slowly coming out but if some of us feel that we fall under this term and want to be recognized as such then we have to claim it.