Trans Terminology: How I Self-Identify Is Not A Matter Of Public Debate

[Natasha]

Trans Terminology:  How I Self-Identify Is Not A Matter Of Public Debate

http://janetmock.com/2011/06/17/identifying-transsexual-versus-transgender/
6/17/11
By Janet Mock

    "My identity as a woman is not defined by terminology just as it isn't defined by what lies between my legs. It lies in the openness of my heart, my mission to be inclusive and my intent to share my story with the hope that it resonates with any gender-nonconforming kid (actually any kid who doesn't quite feel they 'fit in'), whether or not he or she has an intent to have surgery or not. Surgery and hormones and cosmetics will never define my womanhood."

In the three weeks since my public revelation about being a transsexual woman, I've been welcomed with such love and blessings and acceptance. It's overwhelming at times. But...

There has also been an equally overwhelming uproar of anger when I consciously decided to use both the terms transsexual and transgender on my blog posts and various press outlets to describe my personal journey. By using the word transgender to describe my childhood, I've been told from a very passionate group of transsexual women that I "promote the myth that is helping kill" kids because I'm aligning myself as "part of the gay community."