What is "Transgender Pride"?

[Keri Allison]

I ask this because the nature of being transgender is that we want to be a member of the opposite sex. Many of us who end up transitioning, don't really want to affiliate ourselves with being "transgender" or part of the "LGBT" movement unless we're already gay or bisexual to begin with. We are merely men or women, not "transmen" or "transwomen".

So then I ask this. Does anyone actually want to be transgender?

I understand that most gays and lesbians, if given a choice to take a pill that would make them straight, would not do so.

However, for us, if we were given a choice to take a pill that would make us the opposite sex, we would do it. Or better yet, change time so that we are born as a member of our desired sex. So really, transgender people do not want to be transgender. We merely want to be a member of the opposite sex.

So can there really be any "Transgender Pride" if no one actually wants to be transgender?

[SourCandy]

I think...

Nobody wants to be handicapped. Does that mean no one has pride in their handicap? Would a blind person say they have no pride in living their life to the fullest?

I am proud of everyone who has transitioned and look up to them as an example of what I can accomplish, and wish I had known that sooner. Be it in any sense. Transgender isn't a term for a person to me, but it is an action one takes to become who they really are.

That's just how I see it from my limited experience though...

[Jeneva]

Being visible as a transperson is about showing the world that we didn't give up and kill ourselves.  It is showing our in-the-closet brothers and sisters that it CAN BE DONE.

I'm going to speak from the MTF perspective now, but I mean no slight to the FTM, just change the words as appropriate.

Today it is saying to society "#@$ you I was myself and you couldn't keep me down."  I am woman hear me roar 

It saying I am a woman and I am not ashamed of my past.  I will not accept your guilt and shame anymore because I have shed all that baggage and I am just me.

[Beth Andrea]

Being visible as a transperson is about showing the world that we didn't give up and kill ourselves.  It is showing our in-the-closet brothers and sisters that it CAN BE DONE.

I'm going to speak from the MTF perspective now, but I mean no slight to the FTM, just change the words as appropriate.

Today it is saying to society "#@$ you I was myself and you couldn't keep me down."  I am woman hear me roar 

It saying I am a woman and I am not ashamed of my past.  I will not accept your guilt and shame anymore because I have shed all that baggage and I am just me.

Exactly.

The pride a TS would feel isn't the same kind of pride an Olympic gold medalist would feel...it's more about FINALLY being--and accepting--who/what one is, and not allowing other people's bad ideas to affect you.

[Shang]

Being visible as a transperson is about showing the world that we didn't give up and kill ourselves.  It is showing our in-the-closet brothers and sisters that it CAN BE DONE.

This.

When I transition, I plan on still being active within the LGBT+ community.  I don't plan on going stealth though I don't plan on flaunting it all over the place.  I want to help others realize that it is possible to transition if they desire and that they don't have to be stuck feeling depressed over their current situation.  This is partially because I wish I had known about all of this sooner so I could already be in the process of transitioning and it's partially because I just want to help.

[Constance]

For me, transgender "pride" is about not being ashamed about what I am. And if my outness can help make life easier for other transpersons by showing that I'm just like cisgender folks, great. I go to work, to the store, to church. I just live my life much as I did before transitioning. Only now, I have more friends and am generally happier.

I can't say that I want to be transgender. But, it's part of what I am. I don't think that's anything for me to be ashamed of.

And being transgender led me to seek resources (this site included) and led me to connect with things like PFLAG, the GBLT Help Line, Gender Spectrum, the LGBT Center in SF, Our Family Coalition, and the Transgender Parents Support group. These connections have given me help, and the opportunities to help others.

[gennee]

Transgendeer pridee is being happy with who you are. It's an internal feeing that will manifest itself outwardly. 

[Korra]

I'm not really sure there should be such a thing as transgender or gay pride.  There isn't a straight pride, there is just pride in yourself and who you are, that should be enough.

[Sephirah]

There isn't a straight pride

People aren't constantly being told it's not okay to be straight though. So I think it's a slightly different thing.

Imo, Jeneva kinda nails it. It's pride in having the courage to do something that vast swathes of society would rather you didn't, for no other reason than it makes them uncomfortable. It's not buckling under pressure. My view is that it's not about the destination, with regard to how you feel about being transgendered or whether it does or doesn't apply to you. It's about the journey, the steps you take to get there.

[Jamie D]

Being visible as a transperson is about showing the world that we didn't give up and kill ourselves.  It is showing our in-the-closet brothers and sisters that it CAN BE DONE.

I'm going to speak from the MTF perspective now, but I mean no slight to the FTM, just change the words as appropriate.

Today it is saying to society "#@$ you I was myself and you couldn't keep me down." I am woman hear me roar 

It saying I am a woman and I am not ashamed of my past.  I will not accept your guilt and shame anymore because I have shed all that baggage and I am just me.

Ooooo!  A Helen Reddy moment.

[Chamillion]

I wouldn't say that I'm proud to be trans, because I didn't choose to be this way.  But at the same time, I'm not ashamed of it either.  To me, trans pride is being able to accept this part of myself and live the way I want to.  It is showing people that we can live happy and fulfilling lives.

[Jayr]

However, for us, if we were given a choice to take a pill that would make us the opposite sex, we would do it. Or better yet, change time so that we are born as a member of our desired sex. So really, transgender people do not want to be transgender. We merely want to be a member of the opposite sex.

I would never take that pill. I'm proud of being trans and wouldn't change a thing about it.
I believe there's a reason for everything. Being trans taught me more than most of my cisfriends will ever learn in there life time.
I got to experience a different world, meet different people and got to understand a part of the world most never even think about.
As a matter of facts, at times I feel bad for a lot of cis people as they are stuck in their little close minded world.
I'd instantly refuse that pill.

[Keri Allison]

I would never take that pill. I'm proud of being trans and wouldn't change a thing about it.
I believe there's a reason for everything. Being trans taught me more than most of my cisfriends will ever learn in there life time.
I got to experience a different world, meet different people and got to understand a part of the world most never even think about.
As a matter of facts, at times I feel bad for a lot of cis people as they are stuck in their little close minded world.
I'd instantly refuse that pill.

You sir, are my hero.