Interesting article on transwomen that may help you find your true self...

[Allyson Michelle]

I recently saw an article on transgendered women. About the fact that there are multiple categories/levels of transsexuals. Now, according to the article, the "Harry Benjamin Syndrome" type transwoman is supposedly less respectable than a real transwoman. Studies have proven that true transwomen react astonishingly similar to a genetic girl going through puberty when they are having HRT. These other types, the term coined by Jack Molay as "crossdreamers", are genetic males that basically convince themselves that they are truly a female in the brain. So much that therapists cannot even tell the difference and still allow them to transition. I believe this is the case for me. I never felt that I had a female brain because I was into boy and girl stuff, I just want to be a girl so badly. Bad enough to permanently alter my body to do so, but not for sexual reasons. Why you may ask? The God's honest truth is I don't know. I truly have absolutely no idea why I feel this way. I think that emotionally, I identify with women more than men. Heck I'm still a virgin, because all of the females I befriend see me as one of the girls. I dress and act masculine, but i am emotionally in tune with them. Like they can come and talk to me about their feelings for another guy, and I give them advice. I'm kind of a traitor to my own kind as it were.

The way I feel is be who you want to be. If you are a "crossdreamer" or a true transsexual, then pursue your dreams of becoming your true self.

If you have never read the blog I can post a link to it. It is a very interesting blog by Jack Molay.

http://autogynephiliac.blogspot.com/2010/08/hbs-1-harry-benjamin-syndrome-part-1.html
(I am not aware of any nudity on this site, but it may have suggestive language. I'd say about a PG-13 rating on the site)

[jenna_woods]

Thanks for shareing, that was very interesting, and I am sure it will be very helpful for many,

[Inna]

Yes, I am familiar with such studies and surely it is a part of fluid condition to which a 2 sentence long definition can not encompass. Fluid is the best synonym I can coin, applicable to our Gender situation. There is a, in my opinion, ground breaking Therapist, Dr. Carl bushong. (http://www.docbushong.com/default.asp) who theorizes one gender identity disorder but almost infinite variation within such disorder. Most importantly we should look at our selves as one big family rather than separatists trying to point the finger at one another with "because I am better that you" demeaning mentality. After all, all of our anxiety comes from publics misunderstanding and lack of knowledge.

[Nicole Erin]

Oh gyod, now I am confused again.

So, if someone like me might not be hung up on wanting SRS so bad, cause I don't care what is there as long as it works, am I a crossdreamer or TS or what?

This whole debate about who the true TS are is about ridiculous.
Somewhere on this site someone had the SACK to say that some people are not even "true CD"

I mean like people who get a bilacter orchedectomy (sp?) do they not realise they won't have anything to scratch for the rest of their lives each waking morning?

My only regret is that I don't have one crap to give what someone says about being a "true TS".

[Allyson Michelle]

I'm not trying to pick sides here, I'm just sharing an article on an interesting subject. In my opinion, kinda like what Dr. Bushong said Alexia, there is one big tree of gender disphoric folk, but multiple leaves on the tree. all are, in one way or another, females (or males) in the mind and/or soul. I just thought this piece was crazy, that there are so called "true TS" that shun the so called "crossdreamers."

We are all fibers of the same cloth, and most of society sees us all as abominations anyway, so why do we tend to separate within the same category? We should band together and not have hostility within our tribe. Its almost the same as homosexuals saying that TG folk make them look bad. Pftttt... what a crock of poopie!

:2c: on my own thread post!

Ally

[TerryTerri]

IDK, I think some of this is too much 'thinkin' about it. I like the way my ex-wife puts it: "it is what it is."
Yep, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
I know my tendency is to overly complicate everything and I definitely wrestled mentally and emotionally with several of these issues. In the end, looking at FACT based evidence (what did I do, what did I say) finally put all those "am I?" and "am I not?" questions to bed. Yep, I'm transgendered. Too much there to deny. Now then, how I feel about it and what I plan on dong about it are different issues. The basic issue, Am I transgendered. Well, Yes I am!

[michellesworld]

Oh gyod, now I am confused again.

So, if someone like me might not be hung up on wanting SRS so bad, cause I don't care what is there as long as it works, am I a crossdreamer or TS or what?

This whole debate about who the true TS are is about ridiculous.
Somewhere on this site someone had the SACK to say that some people are not even "true CD"

I mean like people who get a bilacter orchedectomy (sp?) do they not realise they won't have anything to scratch for the rest of their lives each waking morning?

My only regret is that I don't have one crap to give what someone says about being a "true TS".

Humans have a knack for trying to label and categorize everything, as well as make things absolute. 'You are either A or B, nothing in between'. The reality is, while we do share common themes, it's very hard for somebody to completely fit a category. We still categorize due to evolutionary baggage, and for plain convenience. For instance, people used to assume that you are either Gay, Bissexual, or Straight. But the Kinsey Institute did a first of it's kind study, and found that sexuality is based more on a spectrum, rather than those 'absolute' 3 categories. So while it may be convenient at times to categorize individuals, it is irresponsible to exclude those who don't fit completely. We need to realize that spectrums describe individuals better than categories.

[Empress Lainie]

Dr. Bushong is my hero and where when I read his treatise on the web, he could have been writing only about me.


Oh yes, I am definitely HBS, I actually feel like a teenage girl, for the first time in my life I enjoyed living, shopping for clothes, jewelry, rings, necklaces, bracelets, anything that sparkles, women's mags, intimate conversations confidentially with other women, but then I knew that before I read the article.

I do not like the fact that we transwomen and transmen are lumped with "sexual orientation" terms in the word "transgendered" as is commonly used.

I am a transwoman and will only use the term transexual to describe myself in the very very rare times I do, as other than just "woman."

I think they are WRONG is saying that there are no HBS people who can be lesbian or bi, why should they be an exception to the general choices of other humans?

[Laurie Ann]

Interesting academic study but as with many such studies it is done in a vaccum without real life inputs. They all attempt to put things wrapped nicely with a pretty bow. We all know labels are designed to put us under a designation. I am a ts looking forward to surgery to be what I have known to be my true gender. It has nothing to do with shopping, jewelry or anything else it is to change me through hormones and surgery to who I truly am

[Myojine]

im not gay, its easy to see im obessed with female genitalia and a spefic sort of cloth underclothes that covers them...
all you have to do is find the Ecchi folder on my computer and its quite clear...


well in retrospect... after i transistion ill be a pretty average lesbian...with a panty fetish
meh what can a girl do

[Rianna Humble]

I must admit, I did not have time to read the whole blog, or the original article being commented upon, but it does seem to me that this is another example of one person deciding that their experience is the only valid experience out there.

There are a few minor points which may be valid in some circumstances - e.g. the people who are content to continue to behave like men but wanted the surgery for some other reason - but that is no reason to condemn everyone who does not conform to the original author's stereotype.

As others have commented, the article seems to dismiss the idea that there might be trans folk whose sexuality is different to that of the original author. Should one presume that people with different sexualities are not true people?

Once again, I find myself saddened by someone concentrating on putting down those who are different to themselves rather than celebrating that which unites us in diversity.

[JamieLH]

I just thought this piece was crazy, that there are so called "true TS" that shun the so called "crossdreamers."



Wow. Now I'm even more confused.

What if there is some truth to this?
Maybe I've just been "crossdreaming" most of my life. Is that so bad?
It's been a very nice "dream" :) (But dreams sometimes come true!)

[Melody Moore]

Wow. Now I'm even more confused.

What if there is some truth to this?
Maybe I've just been "crossdreaming" most of my life. Is that so bad?
It's been a very nice "dream" :) (But dreams sometimes come true!)
I believe in your case & my case that we really don't fall into the category of just being a 'crossdresser' because ours is a real gender identity issue and not some sexually based fetish. and I believe this is what sets us apart as true transsexuals. I also know that other true transsexuals hold a lot of fear for crossdressers because of the affects of HRT. I was told recently by my local transsexual support group that if you are not a true transsexual your body will reject the hormones.

So bearing that in mind, I am also worried for Myojine after what she just said...


what a croc of shit
im not gay, its easy to see im obessed with female genitalia and a spefic sort of cloth underclothes that covers them...
all you have to do is find the Ecchi folder on my computer and its quite clear...


well in retrospect... after i transistion ill be a pretty average lesbian...with a panty fetish
meh what can a girl do

[Myojine]

I believe in your case & my case that we really don't fall into the category of just being a 'crossdresser' because ours is a real gender identity issue and not some sexually based fetish. and I believe this is what sets us apart as true transsexuals. I also know that other true transsexuals hold a lot of fear for crossdressers because of the affects of HRT. I was told recently by my local transsexual support group that if you are not a true transsexual your body will reject the hormones.

So bearing that in mind, I am also worried for Myojine after what she just said...

im not quite sure as to why your questioning. after i fell into my own little world and had my own accessabilities, i felt free to explore my sexuality and its extent.
I found what i like and thats that. and as i said before in my message back to you, my need/want to be a girl came at a very young age(3~4 years old)
and while you may think it a weird thing, there are girls who have same attractions as males. i mean not every girl is straight and i most definately am not attracted to males.
i dont crossdess just because its a sexual thing, in fact its not for me. i dont have a haze over my eyes either where i have a false notion that life would be so much more easy and better if i were a girl
no bullshit, i understand what females have to go through, and even if(EXAMPLE I UNDERSTAND THERES ALOT MORE)periods suck or whatever the case maybe, i dont care, its not because i have any sexual attraction towards being female, its simply becuase i wanted to be born a female, not made into one.
and yes im and going to be depressed from thinking that
and there will be people who detest me for it
"she is a guy who had surgery thats not a girl"
but i can assure you i am not a straight guy who has an over sexual desire.
I know a couple of Genetic girls who have the same "fetish" as i described.
So im to think its not as uncommon as someone else believes.
Whats wrong with me being outward and confindent with my sexuality? At least i know what i want.

[Melody Moore]

I was questioning Myojine because your statements indicated otherwise, I just didn't want you to end up disappointed
and to be sure about what you really want. Your private messages have since then have proved otherwise.

So good luck with it all and I hope you find your peace & happiness soon.

[JamieLH]

[QUOTE=MelodyN;2235521]I was told recently by my local transsexual support group that if you are not a true transsexual your body will reject the hormones.QUOTE]

How true do you believe that is? Are there studies supporting this?
If there is some truth to this, then it's another example of how powerful and important the brain is!

[Ingrid1999]

If you could do what you wanted to do, wear what you wanted to wear, play with who and what you wanted to play with, and act he way you wanted to act. From the first time you wanted to do what the other girls or boys were doing what would you have done?

Thats who you are.

Just Be.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

"true" transsexuals? crossdreamers? Autogynepheliacs?
bah humbug

here's one...maybe we are transcrossgenderalitites I will let you know when i decide what that means...maybe i'll interview a couple transfolk in a bar and write a book...(oh sorry, thats been done already)

i'm happily into transition and i have all kinds of sexual thoughts ...have i learned those thoughts in place of what should have been plain ole female sexuality, or was I just releasing the anxiety of unwanted testosterone, or were those thoughts an integrated part of my gender identity?

is my brain female or does my male brain think i'm female?? whats the difference? if there is a difference, what does it mean??should i be treated differently in either case??

....ummmmm.....been there, worried about it for my whole life....not anymore....

my advice? forget the whole question it will only drive you nuts...and when you say things like I'm not "just" a crossdresser, and its not a sexual thing (and therefore i'm set apart), you are either making an irrelevant distinction or you are putting your "form" of transsexualism above someone else that may have a huge sexual thing about it..

It's one thing to say that if HRT is not for you, and you try it anyway and don't like it, you stop.

That's not your body rejecting it because you are not a "true" transsexual..that's absurd....LOTS of not trans people take all kinds of hormones all the time..

[Faith_G]

Thank you Kaitlyn! :happy: