Who Gets to Say They’re Transgender?

Every so often we feel it’s important to talk about words. Words are useful for a lot of things, like communication with other humans, but what we’re focussing on today is the way words are used to describe who people are. One of the parts of who we are is our gender, and there are many words that we use to describe our gender identity. One such word is “transgender.”

In the past there have been schisms in the “transgender community” over just who qualifies as transgender. As an editor of several different transgender publications over a number of years I have run several articles on battles between people who are at odds over the use of various gender identity descriptors. Different opinions on who is entitled to label themselves “transgender” have been driving the community apart for decades. The strife has been so bad that at one point in the past the term “transgender community” prompted one trans activist to ask, “What community?”

Yes, community divisions over labels are back, or maybe just still here. You can see that when you look at what’s happening on social media. There are Facebook posts asserting that crossdressers are not transgender. The main message being that crossdressers get to take it all off and be “regular” men (whatever that is) while transsexuals embark on a gender journey features body modification to conform with their gender that exists in their psyche. It’s said that transsexuals can use the term “transgender” since they are permanently crossing the gender border. Since crossdressers are only “part time” they are not entitled to use the word, even if their inner spirit is a blend of masculine and feminine. There is also the unspoken (and sometimes spoken) message that crossdressers are not worthy of the trans term since they are only part time gender-crossers. The word “just” tends to be used with a degree of disdain. As in, “Oh she’s just a crossdresser.” I think we should agree that everyone is not “just” anything. We are complex beings with many different aspects. Calling crossdressers “just…” is not helpful to promoting community.

At TGForum we have always had a policy that anyone who engages in cross-gender activities or has cross-gender feelings falls under the umbrella term “transgender.” It’s what the “TG” in our website address stands for. Any crossing of gender borders, whether part-time or full-time, makes a person transgender. (Or transgendered. But the added “ed” makes many people’s heads explode. That’s another article entirely.) Lately we have begun taking the “gender” part out and using “trans.” Using transgender or trans to describe our diverse community of people makes us a real community and gives us strength. By standing under the transgender umbrella we gain the power of numbers and can support changes that benefit all members of the community.

The specific concerns of a pre-operative transsexual and those of a man who crossdresses for fun on the weekend may not be the same but the way they are perceived by the general population means they are likely to be thought of as the same kind of person. By accepting that we are all in the “transgender community” we can stand against ignorance together. Crossdressers can come to the aid of their transsexual sisters and brothers. Transsexuals can defend crossdressers. After the general public has gotten the message that not everyone is happy with their birth gender, whether they wish to change their gender some of the time or all of the time, then we can move on to educate them further. It may take some time for many to assimilate the fact that there are people whose gender identities range across a whole spectrum. Or that some people’s gender identities shift on that spectrum.

Let’s all stay out of the rain of ignorance by coming together under the big umbrella of transgender. Of course we must remain aware of our different spots on the gender spectrum and we must be cognizant of differing reasons for gender shifting. We are all individuals with our own stories and lives. We are all different in some ways and in some ways we are the same but we should stand together to defend the rights of every member of the transgender community and not deny membership to those deemed “unworthy.” We should avoid splintering the community into many different pieces, each with its own complex definition. Let’s stand together, not in an array of splinter communities.

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Tags: crossdressing, featured, Identity, Transgender, Transsexual

Category: Transgender Opinion