Quote Originally Posted by Sarah Charles
The issue I'm seeing seems to be the adoption of the term Transgender to mean nearly the same as Transsexual while at the same time making Transvestite and Crossdresser refer to more of a fetish behavior. We can do all we can to define these terms as they fit within our forum, but when we turn outside it seems they are doing what they will. As you read the story and comments, it turns out it isn't the media that is doing this, but it is the GLBTQ community. It seems that we need, one way or another, to enter that wider discussion and stake out some territory that will maintain a place from which we can spend time teaching something other than definitions.
[SIZE="2"]In my mind a transgendered person is more like a transsexual than one who crossdresses for pleasure, but I’m basing that assessment on a definition I once read, stating that a transgendered person lives as the other gender, 24/7, but does not entertain the idea of SRS. If that is incorrect, I welcome any responses from TG or TS individuals, but that definition makes sense to me. With that in mind, a MtF crossdresser, who is largely concerned with one’s tactile or physical pleasure, is definitely NOT the same as a TG. In my case, I don’t live as a woman 24/7, and I cross over and cross back according to the whim of the moment, i.e. how I’m feeling. It would be an insult to all TG’s everywhere to proclaim “I am transgendered,” when, compared to what other TG’s do, I am not like them at all (except that I also wear women’s clothing)…


In this context, I would say the GLBTQ community you are referring to isn’t too far off base. It may be painting with a broad brush to call all CD’s purveyors of fetishism, but, if I may say so, the shoe fits. The more dedicated CD who is less fetishistic and is moving towards a TG lifestyle is the “betwixt and between” person here, but, for the sake of expediency, certain types of behavior may need to be clumped together with the idea of longed-for tolerance in mind. However, “staking out territory” sounds a lot like male behavior, and there is no wider discussion I wish to enter into at this time – I’m here, on this site, because MtF crossdressers understand other MtF crossdressers (by and large), and, since I‘m solitary, a group cannot or will not be able to speak for me under any circumstances. I’m on the queer periphery, and that’s where I wish to stay, away from the other “community” that is embarrassed by my existence… [/SIZE]