Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Male? Female? Yes. No. Maybe.
Transgender identities cross a fluid spectrum, causing confusion for some, freedom for others

By DYANA BAGBY
SEP. 26, 2008

http://www.southernvoice.com/2008/9-26/news/localnews/9205.cfm (http://www.southernvoice.com/2008/9-26/news/localnews/9205.cfm)

Cole Thaler is a gay man. But, he explained, he was "assigned female at birth."

Confused?

Many people who fall into the traditional gender binary of male or female, including gay men and lesbians, acknowledge they sometimes can't quite grasp the wide variety of gender identifications included in the so-called "LGBT" community.

For once some good reportage giving an adequate account of the great diversity under the big tent of so-called transgender. It brought out that while many are gender-fluid or genderqueer, many transsexuals are not fluid but feel we belong in one half of the binary. And that not all transsexuals are necessarily certain about their gender from the age of 3, but come to understand themselves gradually. Too often I see articles that look at one person and then write as if that individual's viewpoint speaks for all so-called transgender people, which can really distort the public's understanding of what is really going on, and perpetuate stereotypes. Lazy journalists. This one was better.

But again the spectre of third-gender identity on passports. I have much fear that if that is put into effect, all transsexual people will be forced to use that and given no choice to identify as men or women. What Americans aren't aware of is that Nepal uses the Hindu gender classification, in which we are all "third gender, neither man nor woman," and I emphatically reject that being imposed on all of us against our will. There should be some way to accommodate androgynes, to be fair to everyone, but not at the expense of my womanhood.

Quote from: Hypatia on September 28, 2008, 11:51:04 AM
But again the spectre of third-gender identity on passports. I have much fear that if that is put into effect, all transsexual people will be forced to use that and given no choice to identify as men or women. What Americans aren't aware of is that Nepal uses the Hindu gender classification, in which we are all "third gender, neither man nor woman," and I emphatically reject that being imposed on all of us against our will. There should be some way to accommodate androgynes, to be fair to everyone, but not at the expense of my womanhood.

I agree with you. People should be free to choose what best describes their own sense of identity.

In my country you can get a - for sex on your passport (which I find emensly suitable). The intention is that it was supposed to protect  pre-op transexuals so that they can't be accused of lying about their sex if their genital condition becomes known in another country.