Transgenders, Transsexuals, and the Whole Gamut

[TimeLord]

I don't personally know any transgender or transexual individuals however their choice is their own and no-one should berate them for that.

 

[icaritos]

Wouldn't date one, but other than that I'm totally cool with it. Each person should have full control over their own identity is what i think.

 

[TehCookie]

I have no problem with them at all.

That being said, I have a difficult time calling someone who is physically a "he" a "she".

I'm glad I'm not the only one, I wish English has gender neutral pronouns.

 

[Outright Villainy]

I have a lot of respect for them, considering the amount of bigoted hate they have to put up with from all sides, even supposedly "open minded" people, shown quite clearly in this thread.

The way society at large treats transgendered folks just shows how far we have to go on the whole issue of being giant fucking assholes; clearly we've a lot of work to do.

Anyway, I don't care. Put it like this: if a great war breaks out where all the transsexual midgets fight the anti-everything-not-heterosexual midgets, I'll stand with the transsexuals.

I may have watched In Bruges again recently.

That was a damn good film, wasn't it?

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

I have my opinions on the matter, and I honestly think that anyone who says they wouldn't be just a little bit creeped out at first is full of shit. I know everyone loves to put their liberal hat on when internet time rolls around, but picture this -

Your son comes home and introduces you to his new 'girlfriend' - A post-op tranny. When we speak about equality and rights and all that stuff, we rarely put the situation at hand into our own gardens. Think on that.

That said, I'd never be so rude as to publicly belittle or demean anyone, and I think it no business of mine what someone wishes to do with their own body. But not in my house.

I wouldn't be freaked out. Of course, I see a "tranny" every time I look into the mirror, but I guess I don't count as "anyone." Or my friends. Or the people I pass on the street who don't give two shits about me.

I don't know, based on personal experience, I do face transphobia a lot, but not to the point where I would say that everybody is freaked out. And I've become pretty good at reading subtleties, so I hope I'd catch any nervous facial expressions.

I feel sorry for these people. Most of them will never be satisfied with their looks, mostly because of how their larynx, hands and bone structure will always betray them. I imagine that makes finding a partner hard, basically you have to rely on fetishists and desperates.

Not my case, but I pass for a woman verrrrrry well. I'm currently in a very happy relationship with a lesbian who considers me just as much of a woman as someone who was born a girl.

Spoiler: Also, everyone have some derpy ponies!

 

[ryai458]

Its bizarre and a little creepy but hey if you want to waste thousands of dollars thats your provocative.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

**puts on a rainbow button**

I support all sexualities, gender identifications, and decisions.

Also, I like to hang out at a club that has a notable trans following. It's not uncommon that I dance with individuals both pre and post op. Good times are had by all.

 

[Nimcha]

I don't mind them, really. I probably wouldn't date someone who is transgender but I have no quarrel being friends with them. But I haven't met many transgender people so far, even though I myself am part of the LGBT umbrella, or whatever you wanna call it.

I do find it a little annoying when people start going on about how gender and sex are scales and all that... I can see why they do that and from what I've seen the male/female distinction isn't as binary as most people think. However in the end, most transgender people do want to be seen exclusively as one gender. This I find a little hypocritical, but I understand where it comes from.

Furthermore there are people who call themselves 'genderqueer' by which they mean they don't feel they belong to any gender. This I think is a lot more destructive, and to me it seems more like just trying to be different for the hell of it. If you don't feel like you belong to any gender then the parts you have between your legs are enough of an indication, I would say. They should at least try to be less offended when someone does call them by their apparent gender.

 

[funguy2121]

snip

I don't try to tell people who they are. When straight people state that all a lesbian really needs is "a good dickin'" and gay or bi people assert that everyone is bi and that we're all just conditioned by society to be straight, I find it very hard not to roll my eyes. Though much of the human experience is universal, why do we have to assume that everyone is deep down just like us, and that any variations that contradict this assertion must be due to some personality disorder or defect? You can be whomever and whatever you want to be. If you want to identify as a frog, it really doesn't bother me, and when medical/genetic science advances to the point where you can actually transition to frog, I'll be happy to support you.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Theres only male and female. Theres no inbetween. The "Transgenders" are just crossdressers with money for fake breasts.

Technically (to my understanding), transgenders are males "trapped" in female bodies or females "Trapped" in males bodies.

Technically still just male and female, if we go by your logic.

Also, you lack imagination.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

They're weird and creepy. But I'm not gonna be an asshole to them about it. Not up front anyway. I'll make fun of them when they are not looking, of course.
But it's okay! My self-confidence is effectively non-existent, to the point where self-deprecation comes as second nature. Do unto others what you'd do to yourself, eh?
Man, that was lame.

 

[slightly evil]

*shrug*
we're all just people. I dont give a shit
the inner hopppip accepts all people(1)

(1) unless they're dickheads

 

[lSHaDoW-FoXl]

I remember a month or so ago, I was involved in a controversial argument about whether or not transsexualism, or indeed, any non-normal gender identification, was "wrong, selfish and immoral." I argued against that assertion. I have many friends who are genderqueer, transgendered and pre-op. One of my closest friends, a "girl" I consider family, is undergoing the procedure. Naturally, I felt a sense of duty in defending the underdog. I found I was outnumbered. Most were staunch in their convictions, and I saw the whole gamut of insults directed towards the alt-gender community.

"They're pretenders," "They're fakes," "They're self-deluding morons who pay for permanent cosmetic boob-jobs they'll regret for the rest of their lives," "It's economically impractical and contributes nothing to society," etc. Yeah, this coming from the straight heterosexual crowd who waste God knows how much money on pointless junk they don't need.

Hopefully, under more civil terms, I can ask the question... what do you, you wonderful Escapist lot, think about transgenders, transsexuals, genderqueers or other? Do you harbour any sort of prejudice? Do you feel appalled? Do you support their individual decisions to find their own way? What are your thoughts?

Why thank you for implying that I'm a part of a wonderful group of people, I love it when people indirectly give me praise! I'm not really a transvestite/transgendered but I wouldn't mind knowing one. After all, who else gives head better?

But unfunny offensive jokes aside . . .

Before I start my rant I'm feeling kind of lazy so instead of typing transvestite/transgendered I'm just going to write 'tran'. I'm not sure whether it's offensive or not so I just want to point out that whenever I write that word down it's not in bad taste and the intentions behind it are good. It's just a lot quicker to write 'tran' then transvestite/transgendered.

Let me start with your first paragraph on how the bigots say that it's 'wrong, immoral, and selfish.'

First of all, having a surgery to have breasts is probably just as wrong as having a surgery to fix something that's seriously wrong. Because for better or worse you're stil doing something with your body that's against what it is, even if it does save your life.

Well, that argument kind of sucks but I think I got better ones. Such as how on earth could it be wrong? It's not like one person getting a pair of breasts is going to destroy the world. No, if anything it's going to help the healthcare system because it's paying money for a service. And as long as it makes someone feel better about them self does it really matter?

'It's immoral'

From what I read true morality is often judged through whether an ideas contributions out weights it's flaws. And actually, it's immoral to blindly judge someone over having a penis and a pair of tits. Not to mention incredibly superficial. Oh, and lets also not forget it's incredibly self righteous to assume you have a moral high ground when it basically gets in the way of someone elses own happiness. So with that logic, them being self righteous and what not I guess I'll also say the people who're against Tran are also guilty of the sin 'pride.'


'It's selfish.'

Everyone's selfish and the only thing that anyone gives a fuck about is finding their own version of happiness. And more often then not someones idea of happiness ends up fucking someone over. So is it selfish to be a tran? I suppose it is, actually. But given that being a transvestite or trensgendered doesn't harm a lot of people I'd say it's a lot less selfish then around 80% of the choices we make on a daily basis. And I suppose I'll also mention it's incredibly selfish to expect someone to change how they think or act just to fit someone elses beliefs.

Now lets start replying to the statements these people make. And for the sake of comedy lets go ahead and imagine these people take the form of one man, Charlie A. Moron.

'They're pretenders'

Charlie, I like to think that when someone gets a pair of tits those tits are real, not pretend. And hell, if they feel nice does it really matter? Bonus points if they look nice.

'They're fake'

And has that ever stopped anyone from jacking off to a girl with implants? Didn't think so.


"They're self-deluding morons who pay for permanent cosmetic boob-jobs they'll regret for the rest of their lives,"

And you sir are a self-deluding moron who'll pay thousands of dollars to stop someone from paying money on something they want. You're just too stupid to realize that you'll regret it.

"It's economically impractical and contributes nothing to society,"

No it's not. It helps the economy because it's purchasing a service. Besides, how much worthless shit did you buy in just the last year? Yeah, you can shut the fuck up now. And hell, unlike getting a sex change I bet the shit you bought didn't even make you feel better. How's that pack of cigarettes helping your lung cancer?

I don't know a single tran person and I don't even know what's polite and impolite to say to them. But I like to think I'm open minded and I have absolutely nothing against them. They make good material for jokes (P.S - I make Bi/gay jokes all the time but I'm gay/Bi)and they're probably one of the only type of people that give good he- oh, I made that joke already.

Edit - I should have made a joke on how Boys who become girls are like girls minus the PMS.

 

[Togs]

transpeople freak the ever loving shit out of me- Ive yet to meet one that doesnt look off or have some obvious hint that tells what they are, and it just comes off creepy.

I have no idea what you mean by "genderqueer" so Im guessing you mean camp guys and tomboys- I have no particular problem with them, as long as they dont constantly need to throw it in my face as a badge of pride.

 

[Jonci]

Live without regret. Good motto to go by, and for people that feel they didn't get born into the body their mind/heart/soul should be in, do what you need to feel right. Besides, I've known a transgender person or two and they aren't any different from anyone else I've known.

 

[Raikov]

If it helps to make them happy, go for it. Hell, I'd even date them. It probably takes an interesting personality to go through with a gender change. And interesting persons interests me =P

 

[funguy2121]

Transgenderism must be much less prevalent in the UK, as I don't know a single one.

However, while it's not my prerogative to condemn someone for a personal choice, I do feel that many transgenders do take the opportunity for granted. It doesn't empower them in any way and most people would be able to tell that they were transgender, which leaves them open to more abuse.

I have no prejudice towards them (i.e. I wouldn't treat them differently) and being a Liberal I support personal choice, but I would just feel uncomfortable around them knowing that their... peripherals were surgically placed there and that their voice doesn't fit them.

Civilised enough?

I don't know one that I'm aware of either. I'm not sure of the statistics but if you're not including people who simply like to dress in drag, the numbers are probably small relative to the rest of the LGBT.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

But really, in all seriousness,

Spoiler: ....

Okay really this time:

Spoiler: ...

,..I don't hold any prejudices against those of differing gender, ethnicity, or religion. Unless you start preaching to me. Then I'll just walk away. Probably go get an ice-cream. I love ice-cream.

I like this ideology ... I would like to know more.

I've always thought that the best form of treatment you can give someone is the same treatment you'd give everybody who weren't loved ones/colleagues ... or loved ones who are also colleagues.

If everybody gave absolutely no shit whatsoever imagine how easy everybody would get along #.#

I've never understood why people have opinions (of any kind) with regards to sexuality and identity. Both of them are either internalized concerns or personal opinion ... which of course has little bearing on the conditions of others besides how you decide to project that opinion (of which you shouldn't).

Sexuality and identity should be a trivial subject for all but those that seek to explore it. If you don't ... why do you even care?

No harm to society... no foul.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I don't know any transsexuals/transgenders in person, and the ones on here seem to be all right people, so I really have no opinion either way.

Basically, I take the same stance as I do for anyone else. As long as you aren't a dick, I usually don't have a problem with you.