what GID has to do with....

[Jen61]

....Drag Queens ?

Are Drag Queens Transgender ? Transsexual ?

[Rebekah with a K-A-H]

This is so, so easy.

If you identify as a drag queen, you're a drag queen.

If you identify as transgender, you're transgender.

If you identify as transsexual, you're transsexual.

None of these are mutually exclusive terms.  None of them are of necessity inclusive.

That's the beauty of the right of self-determination of identity.

[Re: Joyce]

My understanding is that Drag Queens love to dress up as men portraying women.  The following morning, they are delighted to go back to being men.  It's an act or a show for them.  One whom I know personally views it as a way to entertain and make money.  He's very good, but he's a guy and makes no bones about it.

      Transgenders are those who like to dress up, but don't care to follow it through with surgery or permanent changes to their body.  If they can live, even part time, as female, that's good.   They like their male bits and want to keep them.

       Transsexuals despise their male parts and want them gone.  A Transsexual is one who seeks permanent, physical changes to their body in order to bring their body appearance in line with their mental identity of being female.   They want no part of being a male.

      This is an over-simplification, for purposes of a quick explanation.   There are many degrees in between.  This is what I've been told.

[Jenny_B_Good]

While I like Joyce's take on the intellectual, I feel WonderDyke says it perfectly!

Be who you want to be....

[Padma]

It's confusing because transgender can be used as an umbrella term that includes anyone who has non-"standard" gender identity or expression. So in its broadest usage, that sometimes includes ->-bleeped-<-s and cross-dressers (and it also in that context includes transsexuals, where defined as those desiring definite physical changes). In the end, it's safest (and most respectful) to ask each individual how they prefer to describe themselves, rather than assigning a label based on what we think it means, and whether we think it fits.

Personally, I avoid the "I am" labels when it comes to trans, and just say I'm going through a gender transition .

[Jennifer.L]

dispies is a little harsh.  There are some that hate what they have.  but theres a bunch of us that jsut see boy parts as, well a deformity.  you know it's jsut something toat doen't go like that and I gonna fix it.  Like if a boy developed breasts from a hormone inbalance.  IDK  I don't hate the junk, it jsut gets in the way and is where I want something else to be.

I look at my self as a TG on the way to TS

[A_Dresden_Doll]

This is so, so easy.

If you identify as a drag queen, you're a drag queen.

If you identify as transgender, you're transgender.

If you identify as transsexual, you're transsexual.

None of these are mutually exclusive terms.  None of them are of necessity inclusive.

That's the beauty of the right of self-determination of identity.

Oh baby, I love it when you get all succinct on me. Anytime ANYONE brings up what makes someone a real X, where X is what the ->-bleeped-<- you want it to be, I'm going to re-post this. Jen, if you want to troll, could you at least be entertaining while doing it? I don't think that is asking for much.

[Mahsa Tezani]

....Drag Queens ?

Are Drag Queens Transgender ? Transsexual ?

I've met a few. Sorry they aren't as "trans" as you.

Amanda Leopore for an example.