Truly Trans? A Call for Unity
Brynn Tannehill — 30 August 2012

http://outservemag.com/2012/08/no-true-transsexuals-a-call-for-unity-and-sanity/

A few years back, when I was just starting the transition process, an older trans woman was trying to convince me what path I should take. Get this surgery. You don't need that one. Your sexual orientation will change anyway once you've had Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).

I described this odd and frustrating online exchange with a friend of mine who transitioned years ago. She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's the trannier-than-thou crowd. Don't pay any attention to them." She was right. Too bad that one cannot seem to escape some level of the "trannier-than-thou" mentality no matter where you go in the trans community.

It seems counter-intuitive that a group, which seeks nothing but acceptance for its diversity from greater society, and even within the LGB community, can be so divisive because of its diversity. Other LGB people should be familiar with the phenomena, which is not unique to the trans community. Similar tropes permeate the entire LGBTQ population. Gay men versus lesbians. Bears scare the twinks. Bisexuals are just a step to gayville. Log Cabin Republicans are self-haters. All of these statements are judgemental and unhelpful. But the variations within the trans community have incredible subtleties that can create the greatest divides.

I just re-read this article in OutServe.

Brynn hit the nail squarely on the head when she wrote:

Here's the secret though: there is no such thing as a "true transsexual." My sexual orientation should be irrelevant to everyone but my partner. It is none of anybody's business what I have or don't in my Hanes-her ways—and has zero impact on my day to day interactions with others.

Sadly, some of these types lurk here.. I've come to the conclusion they must be sad, bitter people.

I love this article.  I literally get hate mail from the trannier-than-thou crowd attacking me for not being trans* enough.  I once wrote and published an op-ed calling for unity in a local LGBT newspaper.  In response, a doctor who is a well known trans* activist, started making phone calls and telling people I was severely mental ill, and another activist called accused me of character assassination (even though she wasn't even mentioned in my op-ed)l wrote a rebuttal against unity, and published a multipart series of articles attacking the other trans* organizations in the state.  All because I stood up and said it would be great if we could all cooperate and get along. 

I hope this author's experience is not similar to mine.  But I fear it will be.

I think it needs to be emphasized; "true transsexual" is an antiquated and misleading term.

We are a diverse group of people, each with our individual needs.  A six-point scale developed over 50 years ago is inadequate today.

Quote from: Thing on January 23, 2014, 09:19:37 PMBrynn hit the nail squarely on the head when she wrote:

Here's the secret though: there is no such thing as a "true transsexual." My sexual orientation should be irrelevant to everyone but my partner. It is none of anybody's business what I have or don't in my Hanes-her ways—and has zero impact on my day to day interactions with others.

I agree, and I still am stymied by this irrational urge people have to conflate sexual orientation with gender identity.  Somehow this standard (trans equals gay or trans MUST equal straight) only gets applied to transsexuals and, ironically, most often BY transsexuals.

As a community we eat our own, and those who don't stand for that nonsense get crucified.  No wonder some turn their backs on the trans community when they get to the point where the support is no longer worth the headache.

Unfortunately the "real transsexual" attitude is damaging to those of us whose symptoms different from the classic "trapped in the wrong body" feeling. For decades I figured that since I didn't hate my genitals, didn't crossdress, and never felt like a woman (still don't), then I'm not transgender.

Made my discovery that much harder.

Quote from: The Post-Trans-Rebel. on January 23, 2014, 10:24:25 PM
Sadly, some of these types lurk here..

Yep, just finished reading a thread where that very sentiment was expressed.