on December 21, 2012 by Cristan
The Life and Times of a Gender Outlaw: An Interview with Leslie Feinberg
http://www.cristanwilliams.com/b/2012/12/21/the-life-and-times-of-a-gender-outlaw-an-interview-with-leslie-feinberg/What follows is an excerpt from an in-depth 1993 article that talks about the spread of this term "transgender." This is the earliest mention of "umbrella term" that I've yet seen. Also, it's worth noting that Leslie states that the usage is coming from the trans community itself. Lastly, I find Leslie's prediction what will become of "transgender" fascinating in that it's completely on target:
Davina: You were born a woman, and you identify as a woman, but you also identify as transgendered, which indicates to me that you have a broader definition of transgendered than do most people. So, exactly how do you define the term "transgendered?"
Leslie: I think that the mass movement will shape the definition of the word "transgendered." I see the transgender community, in a world that defines men as masculine and women as feminine, the two sexes polar opposites, the two genders assigned, I see all of us who fall in between that — transsexuals, ->-bleeped-<-s, androgynes, people who are intersexed, drag queens, drag kings, female illusionists — I would define as transgender.
Davina: So you would consider anyone who crosses established gender boundaries in any way to be transgendered?
Leslie: Yes, but I see the gender community more as defining itself. I would never tell anyone whether I thought they were or were not transgendered. But who I see defining themselves as transgendered, and who I see forging a transgender community, are yes, exactly those people that you're referring to.
