We really are a small community. Are we considered "tight knit?"

[katiej]

I ran across some stats from the census but can't find them again... the numbers for the US were 700,000 transgender.  What I've seen for percentages is 1:30,000 FtM and 1:10,000 MtF.  When I was trying to figure this out in the 80's the stats were 1:100,000 were MtF.  I lived in a city of 100,000 and so I figured I was it.  I met one woman early in her transition in college and she told me who was cool on faculty and who the surgeons and therapists were.  I never really saw her again after that but that was all I needed.

The 1:10,000 number is way too big.  With 175 million men in the US, that would mean there were only 17,500 MTF's. 

Based on the surgery numbers and census data, it's something more like 2-400,000 MTF's in the US.  So that would mean that the ratio is more like 1:700 or so. 

Psychologists estimate that as many as 5% of people are transgender in some way.  That seems high, but who knows?

It's easy to think that there aren't that many transgender people because we're all hiding.  Before transition, we don't want people to know.  And after transition, more often than not we go stealth. 

[Ducks]

The 1:10,000 number is way too big.  With 175 million men in the US, that would mean there were only 17,500 MTF's. 

Based on the surgery numbers and census data, it's something more like 2-400,000 MTF's in the US.  So that would mean that the ratio is more like 1:700 or so. 

Psychologists estimate that as many as 5% of people are transgender in some way.  That seems high, but who knows?

It's easy to think that there aren't that many transgender people because we're all hiding.  Before transition, we don't want people to know.  And after transition, more often than not we go stealth.

I agree the numbers are under reported, as for ratio of trans per births, I agree it seems ridiculously low and wouldn't meet the 700,000 number in the study from 2011.  I think they're just guessing anyway

[katiej]

I agree the numbers are under reported, as for ratio of trans per births, I agree it seems ridiculously low and wouldn't meet the 700,000 number in the study from 2011.  I think they're just guessing anyway

If the 700k is accurate and represents men and women, it would mean 1:500 people is trans.  The studies seem to all combine SRS surgery numbers and data from psychologists.  It isn't like they're expecting people to indicate trans on their census card.  It's using known data and statistical analysis, and it's relatively reliable.

[Donna Elvira]

I don't think we are a tight knit community at all. The local community here in Adelaide sure has it's issues and recent events here have shown some division..

I have almost nothing to do with the trans community except online. Here, a chat I help Mod and some FB stuff.. Why? Little in common apart from being trans.. And, even then, my attitude towards being trans is way different to most.. So I just wandered off and got on with my life.. I do see others sometimes when I'm out and about, but I don't make a habit of it.. I've gotten lost in a sea of lesbians - which was always kind of the aim..

I'm in a very similar situation, all the more so as I find the French TG community way too shrill, factious and radical for my comfort as an intrinsically very moderate person.  I've had way more contact with the lesbian community with quite a few really fun night's out in Paris.

I'm a lot more comfortable with the tone of the exchanges here, far less political and more about coping with the personal challenges of transitioning. Even here though, I am wary of getting too involved as any small community such as this can easily become very inward looking while I believe our real challenge is to engage openly with the rest of the world.

At work, where I have a very high visibility leadership position (my bio is even on our corporate web site, at last as a woman..), I'm the first trans person most people have ever known and probably ever will know. I see this as an opportunity to change the way people perceive trans people in general ie. away from the drag queen and/or sex worker stereotype which is still very prevalent to the idea that apart from being trans, a trans woman is pretty much like anyone else.

I won't be there much longer but I think people will remember me for quite a while and I hope that there will be more positive memories than negative...
Donna

P.S. All of that being said, I really regret that the TG community is not more cohesive as, in France at least,  I can see just how damaging this is regarding advancement of our basic rights. For example there are a few law-makers who have really tried to get laws passed to make it easier to get a Civil Identity Change (after a promising start, my own procedure  has been going nowhere since last November and I no longer have any idea if and when it will be processed) but since there are a very large number of associations claiming to represent the TG community, who agree on nothing and who are often so radical that they almost sound like sects , these well intentioned law-makers mostly just get abuse and after a while give up... Painful to observe!




 

[Will]

I live in northern Minnesota, and there is a small (dozen or so) group of trans* folk who meet a couple times each month and are very supportive of one another. I've found a much broader support group in the BDSM community, however. There are plenty of gender non-conformists in the BDSM community, and I find that most kinky folk are much less anxious about interacting with trans* folks. Then again, if you aren't kinky as well, then maybe it's a bit too uncomfortable for "vanilla" trans* folks. Lucky for me, I have support from friends in both circles.

[Ducks]

I live in northern Minnesota, and there is a small (dozen or so) group of trans* folk who meet a couple times each month and are very supportive of one another. I've found a much broader support group in the BDSM community, however. There are plenty of gender non-conformists in the BDSM community, and I find that most kinky folk are much less anxious about interacting with trans* folks. Then again, if you aren't kinky as well, then maybe it's a bit too uncomfortable for "vanilla" trans* folks. Lucky for me, I have support from friends in both circles.

Will, I am from northern MN originally - so glad to hear it has gotten better.  Be well!

[Ducks]

I'm in a very similar situation, all the more so as I find the French TG community way too shrill, factious and radical for my comfort as an intrinsically very moderate person.  I've had way more contact with the lesbian community with quite a few really fun night's out in Paris.

I'm a lot more comfortable with the tone of the exchanges here, far less political and more about coping with the personal challenges of transitioning. Even here though, I am wary of getting too involved as any small community such as this can easily become very inward looking while I believe our real challenge is to engage openly with the rest of the world.

At work, where I have a very high visibility leadership position (my bio is even on our corporate web site, at last as a woman..), I'm the first trans person most people have ever known and probably ever will know. I see this as an opportunity to change the way people perceive trans people in general ie. away from the drag queen and/or sex worker stereotype which is still very prevalent to the idea that apart from being trans, a trans woman is pretty much like anyone else.

I won't be there much longer but I think people will remember me for quite a while and I hope that there will be more positive memories than negative...
Donna

P.S. All of that being said, I really regret that the TG community is not more cohesive as, in France at least,  I can see just how damaging this is regarding advancement of our basic rights. For example there are a few law-makers who have really tried to get laws passed to make it easier to get a Civil Identity Change (after a promising start, my own procedure  has been going nowhere since last November and I no longer have any idea if and when it will be processed) but since there are a very large number of associations claiming to represent the TG community, who agree on nothing and who are often so radical that they almost sound like sects , these well intentioned law-makers mostly just get abuse and after a while give up... Painful to observe!

Donna, you are inspirational!  I really believe your competence and accomplished life will serve to break down walls in your country.  It takes people who are not easily marginalized by the mainstream to change the discussion, it isn't only the attention seekers who make a difference.  You Go Girl!!

[JesseG]

There's another reason I've heard for not having a very easily identifiable community: safety.

I've heard this idea sometimes raised among friends: "gay/lesbian people have bars or real-life meeting places, why don't we do that for trans* people?". The answer that usually comes up is "that would be the biggest target EVER". I can't say I agree with this logic too much; after all, wasn't every marginalized group in that position once?

So we meet surreptitiously, online, or only in support groups. Or we usurp gay/lesbian meeting places, where we are a minority and are at best tolerated.