Difference between transgendered and a crossdresser

[Sara Jessica]

I think it's reasonable to understand yourself as transsexual but not transition. Based on my experience however, I have some doubt in my mind about it that is hard to erase... All the ts people I know are either transitioned, desperately trying to, or miserable. Despite myndoubt, I don't begrudge anyone that is suffering the life of a woman that lives as a man, and I think if transition doesn't happen, for whatever reason, you have the right and the responsibility to mitigate the gid in any way you can...

Which is precisely how I live my life. And the story still unfolds and hopefully will continue to do so for many years. This is not to say that my life isn't peppered with moments of absolute joy along with miserable despair. Maybe it's my optimistic nature. Maybe it's because I've been self-aware for so many years and am at a level of acceptance which allows for some semblance of equilibrium in trying to navigate this middle path. Or perhaps 2012 has in store for me much more than I could ever imagine when it comes to my gender issues. My point is two-fold. I know many people who are so similar to myself that it is almost scary. I am here to say that it is possible to be TS and still stay on a middle path...and be reasonably content, and even happy, provided there are outlets for expression of the person, the woman in my heart.

Saying there is some kind of tg umbrella does not make it so..So arguing the tg umbrella is somehow necessary to communicate assumes the idea that there is one....I argue that there isn't (or at least it doesn't include transsexuals), and so that it actually hinders communication... If I am job hunting, and a person thinks of me as similar to a drag queen, need is say more?

The TG umbrella exists for better or for worse, even if only in academia for purposes of categorization and discussion.

What I don't get is that there are members of the LGB community who abhor the idea of T being included. The exclusion of others in our community by the transitioned TS crowd smacks of the same exclusionary behavior.

If I offend some people with what I say I'm sorry but sometimes the truth opens some very raw emotions.

I belong to a distinct and separate group that exists outside that catch all phrase term "transgender".

There will no longer be a co-opting of the TS/IS community by others that think they require rights where rights are not needed.

Those under the transgender umbrella already have rights bestowed upon them due to their male privilege.

Simply revert back to your male selves like you do and your rights are guaranteed.

Those that live full time don't have those rights yet there are those that demand to be included in what little protections we have fought and bled for.

People under the transgender umbrella will not understand what pain from discrimination is until they go full time.

It took me five years of mostly hell to be where I am and I'll be damned if I remain silent while people that have no Idea what the TS/IS community goes through cry and whine because the truth is spoken.


Julia

I'm sorry but Julia was right when she said that if you are transgender, but not transsexual or intersexed and you want your rights back put your other gender back on and enjoy them. The challenge regarding the umbrella term is when it comes to spending time on serious legislation and social awareness programs to improve the lives of those who wish to live in the gender they see themselves as whether that be pre-op, post-op, whatever! Is an openly identified Male that enjoys wearing clothes for whatever reason obligated to the same protections as someone with a medical condition that is trying to live their life comfortably in an opposite gender role. If the answer is yes, where do we draw the line? See now why the umbrella term only serves to confuse things?

What makes both of you so bold to think that everyone under the proverbial umbrella is trying to take on the same rights as you?

In an earlier thread this week in the CDers forum, someone was discussing having to defend themselves at work for being outed for wearing a bra under shirt and tie and being threatened with his job for doing so. Everyone was screaming LAWSUIT!!! I dont think so. I think this is on a totally different playing field when compared to someone trying to transition at work or seek new work to start there transition. Or even being outed and loosing your job years after your SRS. This is just a small example of the huge differences.

I don't know the thread you are talking about but I seriously doubt the idea of a lawsuit in this case has anything to do with the TS side of things. Instead, it has more to do with dress code but either way, it could very well bleed into other aspects that do in fact affect how things develop in society for those who are full time transitioning. Hmmm, I think I'm seeing how that umbrella thing works. There can easily be an interrelationship among the groups which are present that goes beyond gender expression and/or identity to socio-political ramifications, whether by way of legal issues or changes in anti-discrimination laws.

I am not anti CDers, or fetishests, or whatever. I have some CD friends and love them to death. Its simple though, some of our challenges are similar, but most of our challenges are totally different.

Gosh, this sounds just like those oft-used expressions, "I have friends who are (insert any ethnic minority)" or "I have many gay frends" and these are often followed by a phrase beginning with the word "but..." Do you realize how utterly divisive this is? And then to say some of our challenges are similar (thus making a case for said umbrella), and most of our challenges are totally different. Like that's a newsflash, again making a case for the continuum which resides underneath that umbrella.

So back to the original theme of this thread. Im sure you can see there are some pretty big differences based on what you have read in all the posts so far. I only have one thing to ask of CDers. Be mindful of the actions you take when you are in public. Because most of the public doesn't know the difference, they associate you and me together as one.

Part of this is nearly verbatim to what I have said in the past, and how I live my life, even though I am not one of the CD'ers you are directing this at. I am 100% mindful of the actions I take when I am in public. I acknowledge that I represent a community and know very well that while I can choose to remove most aspect of my feminine presentation at any time, there are others who are unable to do so. But the Muggles have no idea where we as individuals stand underneath the TG umbrella (darn, there's that concept again) as long as we're perceived as being TG. This goes for the fully transitioned woman to the CD'er who is out and about.

What you do at home, work and play as a CDer does have an effect on me, because it effect how others view the (and i will use the umbrella term here) "Transgender" population. If you let us do our work the result will be a better world for you too!

Could this be any more hypocritical? You have used the umbrella term and/or concept when it suits your point, yet you reject the concept. Which is it?

And could you be any more condescending? Let us do our work and the result will be a better world for you too!?!?

My goodness.