sexual orientation

[DanielleA]

I am kind of straight with a but... I like men and openly vocalise it . Sometimes I see a woman that attracts me but that is rare. Even though I am looking for a man to have a relationship with, I am still open minded and would consider a girlfriend if the right person came along. It just depends on the emotional connection.

[Trillium]

Pre-hrt I considered myself pansexual, now I'm only attracted to men but I'm not against light fun with women so I consider myself heteroflexible

[kast]

Bisexual with leanings toward men. Pre-transition I was also bisexual but more into women and femininity in general (so, feminine guys were nice too). Going on T made me feel more sexually open-minded and then swayed my attraction heavily toward masculinity. A lot of the time I feel almost gay, but I do have occasional attraction to women. The 'types' of people I find attractive has also shifted, and now I really like very masculine men.

[ExplorerX]

I like guys and girls and everything in-between, and I like being a girl and (sometimes) being a guy, so I guess that qualifies me as pansexual...??

I was recently with a transguy, and he mentioned that he was curious about people who were attracted to transguys as well as transgirls.  For some reason he thought it was strange...I had never really given it any thought.  I guess what it comes down to is that I am a very sensual and sexual person, and I enjoy getting intimate with people I like, regardless of the combination of the bits and pieces. 

As long as the person I am with is happy and comfortable with themselves, then I am comfortable with them however they are.

[awilliams1701]

100% into girls so I put gay. Nothing fluid about my sexuality. I have a certain curiosity about what it would feel like to be with a guy post-op, but I'm too grossed out and repulsed by guys to actually go through with it.

[amber roskamp]

A very difficult question, I think.

In times past the one's predominant sexual orientation (heterosexual/homosexual) was referenced (i.e., in the journal-literature) with re: to one's "natal" birth-sex (i.e., perceived primary sexual characteristics), regardless of whether one was transsexual/transgender, pre-op/post-op, or what.  I'm inclined to think that this practice was merely one of convention/convenience in communication.  By the old convention if a mtf grew up liking women they were deemed to be heterosexual, and that label/referent was retained regardless of transition or lack-thereof.  [Don't know if that convention has changed.]

Nevertheless...yeah, I think ts/tg sexual orientation is rather fluid.

I consider myself a lesbian. I go by how I identify/how I am inside. not with how I was assigned at birth. it doesn't make sense to base your orientation on a gender you are not. I really don't think that many trans people who like people with the same gender would think of them self as straight (example trans women dating a cis women would be a homosexual couple). So if journalist and other writers consider a trans women straight if she like cis women then I think they need to reeducate themselves.

[LoriLorenz]

I ID as asexual right now... I lurve the human form, and as a birth female have had boyfriends, but am not interested, etc.

[Clhoe G]

I put straight because I'm not into cis women, only men...
O crap, I should have put bisexual because I probably would date another pre-op girl 

[Illuminess]

Okay... I've been on HRT for nearly a month now. My skin is looking better and getting softer, I've got breast soreness, and an overall feeling of relief and content; but I am noticing that I feel a bit less restricted in my attractions. Not physically, just emotionally. Masculine shape still has no appeal to me, but I feel more willing to connect with certain male friends in ways testosterone must have been shielding.

I have a very close friend, Hector, and we always share everything with each other. He's never felt like he had to hold back crying around me, or not talk to me about intensely emotional subjects. I'm not becoming romantically interested in him, but I do feel far more "sisterly" like I want to comfort him instead of just being that available ear. It's fascinating. I wouldn't say it's scary, but it's definitely — how should I say — queer. 

The girl in my brain is finally getting some hormonal "leg room", and is already feeling mischievous with my overall wiring. It makes me giggle then run away to hide under the sheets like I'm playing hide-and-go-seek with myself, peering out wide-eyed with playful paranoia and silly squeals. I feel like my cells are coming alive from some 33-year dormancy.

[Damara]

I put straight.. I've never found women sexually arousing/attractive. But I love women and the female form as a beauty..

[Lady_Oracle]

I put gay transition just strengthened my attraction for women.

[judithlynn]

I voted bisexual. I am actually only attracted to women. I have been all my life. Even after 2 years nearly on HRT. But I feel in my ideal I would be happiest in a relationship with either a Gay woman or another younger trans woman who I could support and look after.
Judith

[mystique]

I'm mtf and bi but more geared towards guys(60%-70%), as in I am attracted to girls but also are jealous of them the same time if they are prettier/sexier so it feels sort of weird. So far I've only dated men, but I'm open to woman/trans woman as well.

[jeni]

I identify with gay (i.e., I am attracted to women).

It seems possible to me that I will end up bisexual. I can almost imagine being attracted to men, so as I start to feel and see my body as more female maybe that will get stronger. I think it's extremely unlikely that I'll lose my attraction for women, though.

[amber roskamp]

its funny im the one who made this poll and I didn't even put queer down and that's like the best one to describe me....

[synesthetic]

queer/bisexual; i'm about equally comfortable with both labels. i tend to be attracted to women more than any other gender, though.

[Illuminess]

As I was trying to explain my transition to my house mate I said that I was still attracted to women, essentially making me gay. That's a tough thing to compute, because a pre-op, gay trans woman isn't exactly homosexual. Maybe homogenderous? He said "well, I don't really see you as gay" and I'm pretty sure he was thinking physically, not emotionally.

Even before transition I was far more attracted to the "dyke" or "female androgynous" look and personality when men are supposed to be attracted to high femme aesthetic and personality. I like the strong, passionate and fierce woman who is more socially engaging versus the sweetly domestic "girl next door" who sits quietly when around your friends. So, I'm a male-bodied lesbian woman quite literally; not a "non-homosexual transsexual" as coined by the vacuous Dr. Blanchard. I just can't not consider myself queer. Sexual orientation and gender identity are psychological, if not neurological. I may have been a straight male to the world, but that person is long dead.

[Lady_Oracle]

I consider myself a lesbian. I go by how I identify/how I am inside. not with how I was assigned at birth. it doesn't make sense to base your orientation on a gender you are not. I really don't think that many trans people who like people with the same gender would think of them self as straight (example trans women dating a cis women would be a homosexual couple). So if journalist and other writers consider a trans women straight if she like cis women then I think they need to reeducate themselves.

well said Amber!

If me and my gf were ever called a straight couple, it would definitely not sit well with me. Like thats invalidating my gender by saying that 

[Randi]

I have always been gynephilic, woman loving.  Now, after years of estrogen I find myself slightly attracted to men.  I was in a water aerobics class with 20 other women and one man.  The man was bearded and fit and wearing a speedo.  His bulge was obvious.  Despite all my intentions I found myself attracted to him.  I seriously don't want to desire men, but it seems that estrogen has changed me in ways I never intended.

Randi

[Bran]

Bisexual, and I anticipate I always will be though, who knows? 

My favorite take on sexual orientation and transition is from Matt Kailey.  He distinguished sexual orientation from cultural labels, and identified orientation as towards women, men, both, neither, non-binary people or any possible gender combination.  Society labels that as straight, gay, or bi based on your perceived gender, but "straight" or "gay" isn't the orientation itself.  Its just a descriptor, a label.  Kailey was a "straight" woman who transitioned and became a "gay" man (his own language), but his orientation didn't change-- it was always to men. 

Being bi makes the language considerably easier, I have to say.