i myself have been lurking around this website for years, and i still don't understand. i think it all boils down to the transsexual being the one who has to have genital surgery, while transgender is just the word we use to categorize all gender variant individuals. i've seen non op transsexuals on here, and it makes me question why i *HAVE* to get surgery to be considered transsexual. i honestly feel like the transgender or transsexual identity is used similarly to gang colors on here. there's some "transsexuals" who claim they are not transsexual, but they just are women, if that makes any sense? they berate the word transgender, but they don't claim the transsexual identity either?
in theory, you are technically both transgender and transsexual if you got surgery or want surgery, even though there's some who don't agree, and would scratch your face off for saying it...
so, i really don't understand the importance of these labels. i often use both the transgender or transsexual forums just because i have the right to. all i really need to know is, i am female, and i live as one fulltime. what's in between my legs doesn't define me, so these labels are just totally arbitrary...
