Change in sexual orientation ????????

[placeholdername]

Well you can still look at it as a behavior instead of placing it in the context of the behavior of the majority. Basically don't refer to it as "deviant" sexual behavior, and just call it all behavior.

In any case what I'm proposing is that an FTV can adopt into their schema of turn ons etc. more than just clothes, but also behaviors, and even attitudes. My understanding is that if it can be perceived, or more specifically believed to be perceived, then it can be fetish-ized.

The core of my question though is if it can happen for FTV's, then can it happen for TV's as well? Assuming it can I think it opens up a lot of interesting possibilities by further eroding the current borders in the trans community. What I think I see is a form of acquired GID (you know like the old joke, "What's the difference between TV & TS?"), as opposed to that which one is born with. Of course there are differences between them, but it seems like they would share common emotional ground, while differing in their method of arrival.

I think I agree with you, but I think we should stop using terminology that doesn't mean anything.  TV (at least now) simply refers to the act of cross-dressing, although in the professional community the word TV has fallen out of favor and people pretty much use the word 'Cross-Dressing' instead, since it means the same thing and has less negative connotations associated with it.  FTV specifically refers to an intense sexual arousal in response to CDing or the thought of CDing.  According to wikipedia:

"There are two key criteria before a psychiatric diagnosis of "transvestic fetishism" is made:[1]

   1. Recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviour, involving cross-dressing.
   2. This causes clinically significant distress or impairment, whether socially, at work, or elsewhere."

Which is the dumbest thing ever because I think many of us (but not all of us) technically fit into that description.  I definitely have intense sexual fantasies involving being desssed as a woman (at least at the start... ) but of course my GID encompasses more than just that.

So we should really drop using the term TV here, since that falls under CD.  FTV is one of those archaic diagnoses that hopefully will eventually be removed from the DSM/whatever, like homosexuality.

[Dorothy]

Interesting... if that theory were correct, would it not make sense that all women who've gone through menopause or have had their ovaries removed and now lack estrogen turn lesbian? in the same turn, as men age and testosterone levels drop will they all become gay?  Mones changing people's sexual orientations is a trans myth. I think people are born with their sexual orientation intact just like the colour of their hair & eyes.

Sometimes peeps sexual orientation appears to change, but what's really happening is that their true sexuality's finally emerging, kinda of when you're coming out of the closet & denial's no longer a part of your life.

[Barbara]

when i i'm dressed and out in a bar or lounge i am gay (i want men).when i am in guy mode(ie.. work or whatever), i feel straight.

[Michelle.]

As Elton John said,  "I'm bi-sexual, whenever I want sex I have to buy it."
No, I don't really buy sexual services. But at this point in my journey I don't know where I'll end up as far as sexuality goes.

OK... I'll be "straight" with everyone, well actually thats I'm a straight, but not as an arrow, girl putting on hold looking for a man.

[imaz]

Never had any change in sexual orientation whatsoever. Always been Bi with a preference for girls.

[chrysalis]

I think I agree with you, but I think we should stop using terminology that doesn't mean anything.  TV (at least now) simply refers to the act of cross-dressing, although in the professional community the word TV has fallen out of favor and people pretty much use the word 'Cross-Dressing' instead, since it means the same thing and has less negative connotations associated with it.  FTV specifically refers to an intense sexual arousal in response to CDing or the thought of CDing.  According to wikipedia:

"There are two key criteria before a psychiatric diagnosis of "transvestic fetishism" is made:[1]

   1. Recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviour, involving cross-dressing.
   2. This causes clinically significant distress or impairment, whether socially, at work, or elsewhere."

Which is the dumbest thing ever because I think many of us (but not all of us) technically fit into that description.  I definitely have intense sexual fantasies involving being desssed as a woman (at least at the start... ) but of course my GID encompasses more than just that.

So we should really drop using the term TV here, since that falls under CD.  FTV is one of those archaic diagnoses that hopefully will eventually be removed from the DSM/whatever, like homosexuality.

Terminology is the biggest headache when it comes to any of this because nobody can agree on anything and it makes it very hard to even communicate an idea when we can't even agree which words mean what. This is compounded by the fact that our understanding of this area of human thought and behavior is rapidly expanding so it is hard to draw conclusions when the conclusions themselves are being perpetually rewritten.

I dislike the word ->-bleeped-<- as much as you, but I use it here in its classic sense for the sake of argument, and also out of laziness. Personally I think there is a difference between FTVs (FCDs if you will) and TVs/CDs. While on some level a Transperson feels more correct when having sex in the appropriate role (as you pointed out), the description of FTV you quoted, as I understand it, refers to something different.

FTV is not an I.D. disorder, like your GID is. So while technically yes you fit into that category, you also mention that your GID encompasses much more than that, and that is where the difference arises between you and an FTV. There is obviously some of the inevitable overlap in groups, however that doesn't make FTV archaic (aside from having TV in the title), just rather out of place when grouped with I.D. disorders.

The DSM is always a tricky read because they use very small definitions which end up making the disorders described seem very wide in scope.


Anyway...

To drastically simplify my question I'm asking what the differences are between a TV/CD and TG, or even a TS. The follow up question is are these states fixed, or are they subject to change throughout life?

I've been mulling over the implications of a 'yes' to the follow up question, & here again is that question I've been pondering for weeks, but unable to find a solid answer to...

If these states are subject to change, then is that to say that a CD effectively can become clinically indistinguishable from a TG or TS?

[Jaimey]

If these states are subject to change, then is that to say that a CD effectively can become clinically indistinguishable from a TG or TS?

I think it comes down to self awareness more than a change in identity.  I think through cross dressing, one can discover that they are TG or TS.  Which I suppose answers the original question as well.  Instead of sexual orientation changing, it's our awareness of our sexual preferences that can change.