I think one of the most damaging perceptions about transsexuals is that some people think all transsexuals are prostitutes or work in the sex industry and liking a transsexual is seen as a kind of sex fetish.

The other thing that is damaging is that perhaps transsexuals can be invisible for those who pass as women. When one is invisible, one's lose a sense of power as a group of transsexuals who seek recognition and want to raise awareness (but there's more power for the individual who wishes to live a private life)

The their damaging thing is that people have this idea that all transsexuals are middle aged married people with kids. I am not trying to offend anyone but I think it goes back to the issue of invisibility. Those who pass will not speak out, and those who don't have more at stake to speak out because perhaps they have less to lose since they have to face discrimination in a more horrible manner. This results in an incorrect picture of what  transsexuals are like.

At the same time, I am not saying that being a passable person will necessarily generate acceptance from society, but I think the main issue is really the sex ridden images of the transsexual porn industry and the lady boy phenomenon in Thailand. There is nothing worse than being think of as a sex objects or a fetish, it is totally an impediment to gain any dignity or respect as a person of value.


I think I would rather be misunderstood or make people wonder why I transition than to be thought of as a sex fetish.


I guess I just want to say transsexuals/transgender people should be smart and get educated and prove everyone that we are not dumb or morally perverted people. I also think it would be important to tell people who matter to us about who we are because i think coming out is one of the most important political/social act.

Quote from: asiangurliee on May 27, 2007, 11:42:48 PM
This results in an incorrect picture of what  transsexuals are like.

Which is one of the reasons why I do not hide. (The other is I have no desire to shuffle into another closet. An to be fair, and in the same category, I am not all that shy of my 'otherkin'ness either; I am, however, (mostly) prudent. (See fear below, lol) )

An I am an exceedingly boring person on the outside; (By design; I fear the butterfly nets! lol) But the image I portray is one of odd normalcy. No high heals, no fishnet stockings, no gaudy makeup, just ... boring! Ok, so maybe 10 earrings isn't quite boring but ^*meh*.

Quote from: asiangurliee on May 27, 2007, 11:42:48 PM
I think I would rather be misunderstood or make people wonder why I transition than to be thought of as a sex fetish.

But isn't that exactly what is going on? Being misunderstood I mean.

Perhaps if you blatantly mentioned that this isn't fun and more of a survival matter that they might understand better? That perhaps the situation you were in was so unbearable you would do very much to try and find happiness. Transition is, after all, an act of desperation. An for many of us a last ditch effort for survival.

Quote from: asiangurliee on May 27, 2007, 11:42:48 PM
I also think it would be important to tell people who matter to us about who we are because i think coming out is one of the most important political/social act.

I tend to tell people (any person) shortly into the conversation. If they can't deal then the conversation (and indeed the social contact) is a waste of both of our times; however, most conversations I have the topic is relevant in passing. (Namely how <expletive> weird life is )


^*grin*

Just sand in the wind...

I grew up in a redneck town so the town's folk didn't like anybody that was different. They would say dagnabit what in tar nation is wrong with that boy, but what they really wanted was to avoid the subject and maybe it would go away. There was an oppressive fear that if you were willing to learn about Tran sexuality then it was because you had an unhealthy interest in things that were "not normal." They had a tendency to overreact to what they didn't understand.
    However back then when hardly anything was known about gender modification every time the subject would come up a certain story would be told, "Did you hear about that guy who was at this party and was making out with this girl and when he reached down her pants it turned out that she was a dude!" The reactions would always be of utter repulsion, dread and disgust. I don't know if I'm right or wrong about this, but from my view point it seemed that this one story had as much to do with the bad perceptions about Gender variant people or anybody even remotely like that girl as anything I have witnessed so far. Because of this story, Transsexuals were thought of as sick liars who would do or say anything to sexually victimize their prey.
  Who is to know if the story is true and if it is, what the characteristics or  motives of the "make out girl" was, but if it was a true account I think this is an excellent example of how a little honesty could have gone a long way toward making a bad situation a lot better.