Transsexual vs. Transgender: What’s the Difference?

[Natasha]

Transsexual vs. Transgender: What's the Difference?

http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2013/01/03/transsexual-vs-transgender-whats-the-difference/
1/3/13
Jillian Page

"My therapists frowned upon the "transgender" word; we were not allowed to use it in one-on-one therapy or group therapy. As far as they were concerned, I was a woman. They did use the word "transsexual" once in a while because I was transitioning and I wasn't legally a female yet. The documentation they gave me to carry in case I was challenged by the police or other authorities stated I was a transsexual in transition, and that I was to be treated as a woman.

I mention this because there is a lot of confusion about the "transgender" word, even amongst trans people. The media is the worst offender when it comes to mislabeling women who have transitioned. The media love the "transgender" word, and work it into headlines whenever possible. Even some dictionaries have it wrong, but I suspect that will change in time."

[Annah]

see, that's interesting. My therapist never liked the word "transsexual." Even the DSM V is incorporating "transgender" along with "transsexual."

I have to admit, I don't like "transsexual" much either. For me, you have homosexual (same gender love), Heterosexual (opposite gender loving), bisexual (both gender loving), Omnisexual (any gender loving), asexual (no gender loving)...based upon the logic and definition of these words I believe they chose "transsexual" poorly. Because if we went with the flow of the previous words and terms then that would surmise "transsexual" is (switched gender loving). Hence, why my doctors stayed away from it.

But all in all it's just a word. I go by female. If i had to chose one for medical reasons, I would chose transgender.

If someone else chooses transsexual, that's cool with me.

I think the important thing is not to laud a particular label over anyone's heads. Let each individual decide which is best for her or him.

[Cindy]

Interesting.

My psychiatrist letter that is required to change my passport says.

"Cindy is a genetic male who has gender identity disorder. She is having appropriate medical and psychological support for this. Her gender identity is female and I fully support that her passport correctly identifies this."

No mention of TG or TS has ever been mentioned in any of my consults.

[Annah]

In my opinion that's the best descriptor, Cindy

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

I would have thought, those of us who have 'transitioned' [post/pre or non-op], are neither...It was just a medical condition I once 'suffered' from...

Besides these terms are [and no doubt always will be for some] 'interchangeable'...

Metta Zenda

[Henna]

In my native language (Finnish), the word transsexual (transseksuaali) has actually been replaced by the word transgender (transsukupuoli), in order to avoid the mistakes, that this is connected to your sexuality.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I thought "transsexual" was just supposed to be a type of "transgendered".

[Elspeth]

I mention this because there is a lot of confusion about the "transgender" word, even amongst trans people. The media is the worst offender when it comes to mislabeling women who have transitioned. The media love the "transgender" word, and work it into headlines whenever possible. Even some dictionaries have it wrong, but I suspect that will change in time."

There's a very good point in this from a legal perspective. The more we (and our caregivers) assert that we are simply now the sex that our own gender identity has always been (speaking of those who seek full legal status changes as women or men) the less grounds for legalized discrimination exist, in most countries.

As other threads have pointed out, even the words most commonly used to describe us often have varying definitions, and in some cases have been rejected since, for instance, people might presume that the condition has something to do with sex acts rather than identity. In most cases, if you could bring a case based on sex discrimination, rather than on some other subcategory of emerging civil rights activism, the stronger your case is likely to be, as long as one can get legal authorities to accept that's what this is all about.  I kind of expect the whole row over same sex marriages will eventually get resolved when some landmark case involving intersexed individuals, or a transwoman or transman winds up in the Supreme Court (speaking just about US legal precedents at the moment). Eventually judges are going to realize that they are making a huge mess by wading into this question, and they will either back out or get out of the marriage business altogether. I don't think the second option is likely, considering governments are run my lawyers and lawyers make a lot of money from handling divorces.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

Interesting.

My psychiatrist letter that is required to change my passport says.

"Cindy is a genetic male who has gender identity disorder. She is having appropriate medical and psychological support for this. Her gender identity is female and I fully support that her passport correctly identifies this."

No mention of TG or TS has ever been mentioned in any of my consults.

My therapist is the same never uses the trans terms mainly just says what yours did

[Emily Aster]

see, that's interesting. My therapist never liked the word "transsexual."

Mine prefers transgender over transsexual as well.

I have to admit, I don't like "transsexual" much either. For me, you have homosexual (same gender love), Heterosexual (opposite gender loving), bisexual (both gender loving), Omnisexual (any gender loving), asexual (no gender loving)...based upon the logic and definition of these words I believe they chose "transsexual" poorly. Because if we went with the flow of the previous words and terms then that would surmise "transsexual" is (switched gender loving). Hence, why my doctors stayed away from it.

I don't like it either. I really does seem to mean what it's intended meaning is, but it creates a bit of a negative idea in peoples minds. It makes people think that going through a transition has something to do with sex rather than that you're changing your sex to match your gender.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

see, that's interesting. My therapist never liked the word "transsexual." Even the DSM V is incorporating "transgender" along with "transsexual."

I have to admit, I don't like "transsexual" much either. For me, you have homosexual (same gender love), Heterosexual (opposite gender loving), bisexual (both gender loving), Omnisexual (any gender loving), asexual (no gender loving)...based upon the logic and definition of these words I believe they chose "transsexual" poorly. Because if we went with the flow of the previous words and terms then that would surmise "transsexual" is (switched gender loving). Hence, why my doctors stayed away from it.

But all in all it's just a word. I go by female. If i had to chose one for medical reasons, I would chose transgender.

If someone else chooses transsexual, that's cool with me.

I think the important thing is not to laud a particular label over anyone's heads. Let each individual decide which is best for her or him.

I hate the terms why cant we just be called female I have nothing wrong with that because to me thats what I am.