Hello, a couple questions....

[Elvaanish]

I am a college student doing a research paper on Tran gendered persons, and I was hoping to use some first-person information/experiences. I myself am a member of the LGBT community, as a male homosexual, so I am hoping to do your stories justice and present some of the experiences you go through in an effective way.
Here are some questions/prompts for directions I was hoping to go.

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings?

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced?

3. How has your family reacted?

4. What would you say is your largest support system?

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational?

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you?

7. How much does an operation cost? Is it currently a goal for you? How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over?

Thank you so much for your time, if there is anything else you wish to include, please do. I would love to hear your stories.
You can email your responses to Elvaanish@hotmail.com
~Thomas Anderson

[Sheila]

I maybe cynical on this, but why don't you go through all of these posts and you will get all of your questions answered. We are a diverse community that one size does not fit all. This is a research paper, so do research. I'm sorry if I sound not too happy, but these are just regular questions that you should know, being in the GLBT community. T- meaning transgender.
Sheila

[Elvaanish]

I maybe cynical on this, but why don't you go through all of these posts and you will get all of your questions answered. We are a diverse community that one size does not fit all. This is a research paper, so do research. I'm sorry if I sound not too happy, but these are just regular questions that you should know, being in the GLBT community. T- meaning transgender.
Sheila

I apologize. I have been reading these boards all morning, and they have proved most useful. Admittedly, many of my questions covered ground I can gather a large-scale picture of a typical scenario without asking directly. However, I was hoping to get some direct communication, with regards to how they related to those subjects on an individual basis. Generally, posts would only talk about an individual in relation to one or two of the topics. I have been communicating in a one-on-one basis with a poster on these forums and it has proven quite beneficial.
Just because I am a member of the GLBT community does not necessarily mean I am fluently acquainted with issues effecting transgender people, Being a member of the "G", a young one at that, does not effluent my repertoire of knowledge with that of the "T", as you put it. If I offended you, be assured it was unitentional. I am merely trying to increase my knowledge on the subject.

[cindianna_jones]

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings?

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced?

3. How has your family reacted?

4. What would you say is your largest support system?

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational?

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you?

7. How much does an operation cost? Is it currently a goal for you? How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over?

~Thomas Anderson

Thomas,

I think that you'll find that the answers to your questions don't lead you into new territory.  Let me cover them briefly in a general sense:

1) Most discover different feelings about their identity early in life.
2) We face a lot of discrimination. Some less than others.
3) Most families have a hard time with it. Many of us are sent packing. Some are lucky and are fully reintegrated.
4) Support as you know comes from many sources. These you are already familiar with. The big difference is that we tend to be harder to find and get to know. That's because we are terrified of revealing our secrets.
5) These are not static and sometimes change. There is also the asexual aspect of transsexualism. Many like me have no desires for sex.
6) There is legislation meant to protect us in some states. In many cases we rely on gay related laws to protect us. We are grateful to the gay community for all the work they have done.
7) Costs are fairly subjective. It depends on what you have done. Typical costs can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars.

Now... you could fill in the details, but you'd have a pretty boring paper. It's been done so many times before.  I don't know how far you are into this thing... but why don't you step back and make this paper really interesting?

There is a situation going on in Florida right now. A TS named Susan Stanton is facing a grueling situation publicly with her job. You could write about the external forces that are set to work against TS people. How do we react. How does the community react? Why? What are the fundamental forces that make people react the way that they do?

You could write about marraige of TS people. You could weave in the current controversy being waged in many states concerning gay marraige. This could be particularly interesting.

There is some research into why TSism occurs. But there is no interest in pursuing this further. Why? That would make a good paper.

You could write a paper about religion and TSism. "The making of an atheist." How otherwise religious people are discriminated against and eventually dispose of their faith.

Or... why are heterosexual men so attracted to men becoming women? I find this one fascinating.

There are a number of things that you could do. Now that I've spent all this time writing this message, I hope that you consider something out of the ordinary. I'd be happy to help. You can contact me here.

Cindi

[Elvaanish]

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings?

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced?

3. How has your family reacted?

4. What would you say is your largest support system?

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational?

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you?

7. How much does an operation cost? Is it currently a goal for you? How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over?

~Thomas Anderson

Thomas,

I think that you'll find that the answers to your questions don't lead you into new territory.  Let me cover them briefly in a general sense:

1) Most discover different feelings about their identity early in life.
2) We face a lot of discrimination. Some less than others.
3) Most families have a hard time with it. Many of us are sent packing. Some are lucky and are fully reintegrated.
4) Support as you know comes from many sources. These you are already familiar with. The big difference is that we tend to be harder to find and get to know. That's because we are terrified of revealing our secrets.
5) These are not static and sometimes change. There is also the asexual aspect of transsexualism. Many like me have no desires for sex.
6) There is legislation meant to protect us in some states. In many cases we rely on gay related laws to protect us. We are grateful to the gay community for all the work they have done.
7) Costs are fairly subjective. It depends on what you have done. Typical costs can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars.

Now... you could fill in the details, but you'd have a pretty boring paper. It's been done so many times before.  I don't know how far you are into this thing... but why don't you step back and make this paper really interesting?

There is a situation going on in Florida right now. A TS named Susan Stanton is facing a grueling situation publicly with her job. You could write about the external forces that are set to work against TS people. How do we react. How does the community react? Why? What are the fundamental forces that make people react the way that they do?

You could write about marraige of TS people. You could weave in the current controversy being waged in many states concerning gay marraige. This could be particularly interesting.

There is some research into why TSism occurs. But there is no interest in pursuing this further. Why? That would make a good paper.

You could write a paper about religion and TSism. "The making of an atheist." How otherwise religious people are discriminated against and eventually dispose of their faith.

Or... why are heterosexual men so attracted to men becoming women? I find this one fascinating.

There are a number of things that you could do. Now that I've spent all this time writing this message, I hope that you consider something out of the ordinary. I'd be happy to help. You can contact me here.

Cindi

Wow, thank you so very much for your post, it was filled to the brim with excellent ideas. I am still in the research process of this paper, so I do think I will redirect my energies somewhat.
I felt like the direction I was going was somewhat dry, this was exactly what I needed.
I'll get back to you once I've done some more reserch. 

[katia]

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings?

when i was 6 or 7 years old

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced?

none.  i pass very well.

3. How has your family reacted?

dad was the hardest to convince, yet he's slowly assimilating the news, [still ]


4. What would you say is your largest support system?

my self-esteem

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational?

preop transexual lesbian.  i don't like men.

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you?

no

7. How much does an operation cost?


last time i checked, about $17000 w/dr bowers

Is it currently a goal for you?

yes; it'll get done this year.

How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over?

years.  i started when i was fifteen, took hormones for years and now i'm under the care of an endo. i've been under [supervised hrt] for two years now. over? dunno.  i hope so.

[Melissa]

Or... why are heterosexual men so attracted to men becoming women? I find this one fascinating.

You know, I was actually looking at that yesterday.  The consensus seems to be the fact that we appreciate our womanhood and celebrate femininity more than women who are born females and take it for granted is what makes us more attractive.  I'm sure there's other reasons too, but this one sounded the most logical to me.

Melissa

[Krisstina]

Or... why are heterosexual men so attracted to men becoming women? I find this one fascinating.


Cindi

Cause men are horn dogs and will due a whole in the wall if they think its gonna be kinda good!



Cheers
Kristina

[Elvaanish]

Or... why are heterosexual men so attracted to men becoming women? I find this one fascinating.


Cindi

Cause men are horn dogs and will due a whole in the wall if they think its gonna be kinda good!



Cheers
Kristina

Heh, too true. But you do have to wonder if there is something deeper there as well, Melissa's suggestion sounded plausable... Kind of an interesting topic, pity there isnt more information avalible on the subject.

[JaneX]

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings? I suspected since early childhood, took care of it when I became an adult

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced? http://groups.msn.com/EqualrightsforGenderCorrectedpersons  This is a blogg I maintain of my current and past issues, it is pretty self explanatory

3. How has your family reacted? With Disenfranchisement, confusion and marginalization

4. What would you say is your largest support system? My Self

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational? None of these Dummy, I am legally and medically the gender I corrected too...LOL The use  of "post - operational " is simply a definition to use to deny a person their rights to full inclusion to the corrected to gender.  You would not apply the term post operative sight corrected person to a man or a woman, who has had laser surgery to correct a vision problem, would you? The term post operative is a clear example of the most basic denial of inclusion so far visited upon men and women who correct their gender. You have a lot to learn if you believe that sexual orientation is relative to a discussion on gender, you certainly are a student of questionable background knowledge to formulate this type of question. Or do you believe transitioning Transsexuals are a subset of the cross dressing or transvestite community....ROTFL

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you? This is a good question, I have conformed ninety nine percent of my records, the only possible document that could out me is fingerprints, there is also blood work issue, but I am thinking a bone marrow transplant will address that issue eh! However even with all the conformed documents if someone was able to legally suspect or actually prove I had corrected my gender than I would immediately loose my status as female and than simply be a post operational (your word) person and than exposed to many discriminations without any legal protections as to the position from my detractors that a corrected to woman is still but a poor imitation of female and so not female.

7. How much does an operation cost? Is it currently a goal for you? How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over? How much do you have my initial cost were less than five thousand, but some men and women spend up to more than sixty thousand dollars

[Maud]

I am a college student doing a research paper on Tran gendered persons, and I was hoping to use some first-person information/experiences. I myself am a member of the LGBT community, as a male homosexual, so I am hoping to do your stories justice and present some of the experiences you go through in an effective way.
Here are some questions/prompts for directions I was hoping to go.

1. When did you KNOW/understand your transgender(al?) feelings?

2. What kinds of discrimination have you faced?

3. How has your family reacted?

4. What would you say is your largest support system?

5. How do you identify yourself? As a heterosexual or homosexual? Pre and post-operational?

6. Is there any legislation where you live that is supportive/discriminatory against you?

7. How much does an operation cost? Is it currently a goal for you? How long does the process take, from one gender to another, physically? Is it ever really over?

Thank you so much for your time, if there is anything else you wish to include, please do. I would love to hear your stories.
You can email your responses to Elvaanish@hotmail.com
~Thomas Anderson

1) 17 was when I first thought "I am transexual" I knew I was different and that my life would not be miserable if I was born female when I when I was about 3-4.

2) Not much really, nothing springs to mind

3) Well but it's been stressfull, they knew something was up from day one

4) Friends and others I talk to in real life, there's nothing like talking about these things in person but these days I stand on my own two feet.

5) hetrosexual pre-op MTF.

6) I live in the UK, people can legally withold services but the law is mostly on our side

7) £0, again I live in the uk it's on the NHS, if it wasn't on the NHS it'd cost me about £8k, from start to the point where I'd consider it all mostly behind me probably about two years but it's not like you can just put a stamp on that kind of thing like it's over.

[Ricki]

Expert eye witnesses have spoken i can add nothing but a tg hug 
ricki