The Canadian National Newspaper: TransMission: Broadcast from Between the Lines

When I was asked to write a column for the “Transgender” section of this publication, I had to wonder if I was qualified for the position. Sure, my own identity as a pansexual, MtF transsexual is considered a “trans” identity, but what about all the other people who identify as trans? Do I have any business speaking on their behalf? It’s one thing to relate my own life experiences regarding my transition from male to female, but another thing entirely to represent a group as diverse as the trans community. How do my personal experiences even begin to illustrate the issues, concerns and problems surrounding such a broad range of people?

In reality, it’s too big for me alone. No one person can adequately represent a community with such inherent diversity, where so many unique voices have so many interesting things to say. However, where I alone cannot succeed, together, we cannot fail. I can offer pieces of my life, my experience, my transition, and you can e-mail me your stories, your questions, and your concerns. Our diversity is our strength, and our voices are our tools; our oppression gives us a common ground, from which we can present a united front.

Many tolerate us, but do not accept us. They recognize our existence, but do not respect our choices. They popularize and sensationalize us, but do not value our contributions. For all who dared to reject the roles expected of them, and stepped outside the boundaries imposed on them, this column is written with all of us in mind. This is my Broadcast from Between the Lines; this is our TransMission.

First, what exactly does “trans” mean? Well, the literal translation comes from Latin, meaning “across.” Someone who identifies as “trans” is usually a person who crosses to the other gender role, right? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Let’s look at some of the specific terms you may or may not have heard, and see how they’ve evolved over the years.

TRANSSEXUAL: This medical term refers to someone who seeks to change their physical sex through surgery or hormones. Unlike “homosexual” or “heterosexual” the “sexual” part of transsexual refers to physical sex, rather than sexual orientation, and the “trans” part refers to a need to cross to the opposite side of the gender/sex binary. According to the DSM, the list of psychological disorders, a transsexual is someone suffering from gender dysphoria (a deep discomfort with their birth-assigned sex) and is diagnosed as having Gender Identity Disorder.

TRANSVESTITE: This term refers to a heterosexual man with a sexual desire to wear clothes of the opposite sex. It is considered a sexual paraphilia, and is defined in the DSM as Transvestic Fetishism.

TRANSGENDER: This term, originally coined by Virginia Price, was first used to refer to any person who wishes to live in the opposite gender role of their birth sex, but does not desire any medical intervention or surgery. Price used the term as a way of differentiating between people who change their physical sex, as opposed to those who change their social gender role. In Leslie Feinberg’s pamphlet, Transgender Liberation, “transgender” was redefined to include anyone who crosses or breaks from traditional gender boundaries, and is now considered to be an umbrella term that incorporates a broad range of sexual and gendered identities.

PRE-OP/POST-OP/NON-OP: This refers to whether a transsexual intends to undergo, or has undergone genital surgery. Inherent in these terms is an assumption that genital surgery is the ultimate goal of all transsexuals; non-op transsexuals have no intention of undergoing this procedure.

TRANS-SENSUAL: This is the term used to describe someone who is attracted to trans people. Also known as “tranny-chasers” or “trans admirers” a trans-sensual person is physically or emotionally attracted to a trans individual. It is not a “sexual” identity, like homo or heterosexuality, but refers to someone that has a particular affection for trans individuals. In general, trans-sensual men are heterosexual, and treat trans women the same way that they treat all women; they find trans women attractive for a variety of different reasons.

PANSEXUAL: I’ve included this term because I use it fairly often when describing my own sexual orientation. Pansexual means a sexual attraction towards all sexualities and genders; in short, it’s an attraction to people, rather than body parts or social roles. The term “bisexual” inherently assumes there are only two sexes or genders; a pansexual orientation expands that to include all other identities as well, particularly trans and non-binary identities.

DRAG QUEEN: This is a gay man who performs drag shows in female attire. This could include singing, dancing and comedy, and it is common for drag queens to impersonate famous singers or actresses. On the other side of the spectrum, a DRAG KING is a lesbian woman that performs as a male. Most drag performers do not live full-time in their drag identities, preferring to live in their birth-assigned sex.

CROSS-DRESSING: A term that refers to wearing clothing typically associated with the opposite sex. One can engage in cross-dressing without adopting a trans identity, or one can identify as trans but not consider themselves a crossdresser. This is a mostly-outdated term that has been replaced by a more modern understanding of cross-gender identities.

SHEMALE: This is a slang term that is usually derogatory, but has become a niche within the porn industry. It usually refers to a transsexual that has breasts, lives full-time as a woman, but has not had genital surgery. Other similar terms include TRANNY, short for transsexual, or LADYBOY, a transsexual of Asian (often Thai) descent.

INTERSEX: This term refers to individuals born with some variation of both male and female genitalia. Some are born with one testicle and one ovary; some are born with a vagina and an enlarged clitoris, resembling a penis, and others are born with fully-functional genitals of both sexes. Intersex individuals are routinely subjected to horrendous mutilation of their genitals, in the name of “normalization surgery” and are often left with significant nerve damage and psychological trauma. The term HERMAPHRODITE (from Hermaphroditus of Greek mythology, the child of Hermes and Aphrodite who was turned intersex by the gods) is considered inappropriate and derogatory, and is no longer used in medical discourse.

GENDER-QUEER/GENDERFUCK: This refers to a person who chooses a gender identity outside of the male/female binary, or adopts a gendered expression combining elements of the two binary genders. Leslie Feinberg, who prefers the pronouns of “hir” and “s/he” is a notable example of a genderqueer identity. GENDERFLUID refers to someone who moves between genders as they please.

T-GIRL/T-BOY: These are slang terms that refer to trans women or trans men, and is an informal term to refer to a transsexual or transgender person. As the brilliant Julia Serano says, “the main difference between t-girls and trans women is that t-girls tend to have more fun.” The contrasting term would be G-GIRL, which stands for “genetic girl.” Other terms you may be familiar with include MtF and FtM, andogyne, woman or man of trans experience, and dozens of others. There are simply too many to list, so if you’d like more details about any of the identities described above (or one that I missed) please send me an e-mail.

So, what does it mean to write a column about “trans” issues and “trans” people? I’m going to take it in its broadest sense; anyone who ever questions or breaks the rigid boundaries of the binary sex and gender system; anyone who moves from one end of the spectrum to the other, or steps outside the boxes entirely; anyone who ever decided that biology was not destiny, and chooses to adopt an identity at odds with their assigned sex. This column is for us, our admirers, and our allies.

Through conversation, we learn; as we learn, we understand; as we understand, we accept, value and respect others. This is the TransMission we hope to achieve; acceptance, value, and respect. This is our common goal, and together, we will not be denied.

Coming up: Goodhandy's Two-Year Anniversary Party on May 24th! A great way to kick off the summer -- check out Goodhandys.com for more details.

Nikki S. is a transsexual from Toronto, attending University of Toronto for Sexual Diversity Studies and working towards her Master's in Counselling Psychology. Her goal is to become a psychologist specializing in gender issues and helping others in the GLBT and Trans communities.

She appears regularly at Goodhandy's as one of the 'Diamond Girl' dancers, and is also involved with several community and political organizations working to improve the lives of transpeople everywhere. Her email is agora_nikki@hotmail.com.

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