I was just watching a documentary on the Gay evolution to acceptance and the major turning point was the idea of Pride and standing up and saying yes I'm Gay and proud. The Gays have come a long way in how they fit into society because they stood up and said yes we are. Do you think that some of the reason why transgender people have such a mountain to climb in be accepted because we're not stepping up like the Gay movement did and say yes I am.

What worked there may or may not work for trans people. Certainly it wouldn't hurt for us to have a lot more pride in being trans - unfortunately shame and self hatred still seems to be more the order of the day and that needs to change regardless. The petty politics, in fighting, pointless point scoring, bickering and bit¢#iness needs to stop too.

I think that would help for advancement, but I think that advancing medicine would help the most. Some problems with that are that homosexuals greatly outnumber us and yet a more significant portion of our ranks as opposed to homosexuals want to fit the gender binary and aren't proud or happy to be trans. As a member of that group I'm not sorry that I do not like it, and I'm also not proud of it. Being trans isn't an achievement to me, I want to beat it and I think everyone deserves that option if they want it. I don't want to try to convince people who have their minds made up and would rather spend my time and energy changing what is medically possible. Trans medical procedures are still very primitive. If we could change ourselves to the real deal by anyone's definition, our critics would largely be silenced very quickly. Any remaining resistance would have arguments that were completely ridiculous.

In spite of being grouped with gays in the "LGBT" designation, there is an inherent difference between the gay and TG experience. Being homosexual is essentially about expressing what turns you on sexually. Being transgender has nothing to do with that. It's about identity and really has nothing to do with sexual inclinations.

Another difference I see is that while most gays seem eager to be recognized as separate and respected group, most transgenders do not. TG women ideally want to simply be respected as women, not as transgenders (and converse for TG men). I think this fact will always be an obstacle in when it comes to organizing a public movement.

The best thing I've seen so far in increasing acceptance, though, is the public acceptance of celebrity transgenders like Caitlyn Jenner and Andreja Pejic. Trans people are now being accepted as beautiful and cool rather comedy gags. This is real progress.

Being "out" means different things to us as it does to gay people. The further down the gay road they go (dating, marriage, kids) the more out they have to be - it's impossible to hide your gayness from your kids' friends.

The further down the trans road we go, the less out we are. Transition is behind us and we're just trying to live the life of our true gender.

But I agree, that a little more pride couldn't be bad. The world assumes we'll be ashamed. We need to show them that trans is beautiful, intelligent, and competent.

I guess it just comes down to who is willing to be open. I'm guessing that there are quite a few transgender to fill the ranks of openness for whatever reason so there's really no problem for those who choose not to be open. Its just my opinion , but I believe most of us would benefit from openness. the documentary I saw was quite compelling that the major factor for the advancement of Gays in public perception was the fact that they said yes I am. I just have the attitude which I can't seem to overturn  that I'm trans big deal. There is just too much of my life that I presented male to sweep under the carpet. I don't know maybe I'm a closeted non binary .

I say Yes.

I'm transitioning, and I never expect to "pass" as female.  My ability to go out in public, clearly and blatantly MTF, smiling at those who give me dirty looks, fills me with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.  Well... I'm not actually MTF, and I don't claim to represent people like Lyric.  This is the inherent problem with umbrella terms: Lyric is transgendered and wants to be treated as a woman, I'm transgendered and I want to be treated as a person / I don't want my gender to factor into how people treat me.

I'm doing my part to burn down the patriarchy.  Some transbinary people are rather comfortable with the patriarchy, and were unfairly put on the wrong team.  I suspect that the "trans community" will never speak with one voice.

I think the problem will always be sex gay is boy boy they fit the community as does lesbian. trans women who want men inevitably ffail with gay men who don't except, be true to your self rather than be comfortable with yourself. trans is all the issues of gay/lesbian with the extra of not liking are body as the gender we have . So we don't fit the g/l in what they tell them selves.  Pride on the other hand is at its essence a political movement to gather support then change the institutions to be accepted as equally important members of society so pride in who u want to be and be true to your dreams

Honestly, I hate when people take pride in what they are, rather than what they've accomplished. Being trans is just part of my 'throwness,' to use Sartre's term. I want the trans movement to focus on rights, rather than pride.

Pride, just as pride, I see your point, but it's pride as opposed to shame. I'm proud to be me and to have survived. I'm most definitely not ashamed to be trans.

I'm not ashamed to be trans, but I don't equate that as being proud to be trans. I just think we can avoid so much social division if individuals stopped glorifying gender/orientation/race/nationality/etc.

Yeah, this is an interesting point.  So long as being outwardly transgendered is a risky proposition, it takes bravery to step out of the door in the morning.  Taking pride in that bravery, in my mind, is fully justified.

Pride is not simply about being proud of one's sexuality. It's pride of being out when society wants to slam the closet door in your face, or worse, kill you.

Maybe not so much the same as Gay pride, but we can benefit from visibility and educating others. For some of us that's an option, others it's not. It depends on each individual's area's and their own feelings of the matter. I try to be fairly open about being trans* with people I know where I live. I'm the only trans* women most of them have meet, some actually know trans* men, I just take my time and answer any questions patiently. Everyone treats me with respect and decency though. I've been told that I'm so feminine they wouldn't have known if I didn't say anything though, the main reason I tell people is because my wife lives in the same apartment area as my son and I, so questions of his Father came up and I tell people I'm his Father.

I experienced something interesting a couple of days ago. I don't know if it was done intentionally to break the ice on the subject , but it did seem to come out of nowhere. I was in the coffee shop I started to go to a lot and the guy behind the counter who I really don't know much yet out of the blue ask me if I knew who Kristen Beck was and we started to have a long conversation about transgender.  I'm guessing it was just to break the ice because I started going in there everyday awhile back. I live across the alley from the shop. It's still pretty obvious when I'm not totally all guns that I'm trans.

But being transgender isn't something I'm proud of; it's something I have to live with - I don't want to be transgender. While the community needs awareness, I could never say that being trans is something I enjoy. It's not something I would wish upon my worst enemies.

There's definitely some pride to tap into, but it's not intrinsic to the transgender experience. How people deal with it is the awe-inspiring part. Not as much transgender pride as transgender strength. We're stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place, and that some people can succeed in that kind of situation is a testament to the human will. That's worth acknowledging. Can't think of a good slogan for it though... "Transgender Perseverance" doesn't quite sound as nice.

I can understand people's view of being seen as different from the " natural born gender " I'm just weird I guess because I like the concept of being trans. I've live with it since I was 4 years old so it's just a natural part of my identity. My identity is totally interwoven in the trans concept. I really wouldn't feel right any other way because its just who I am. Everyone needs to find their own path to health however that path expresses itself. As far as the topic goes  it's just the Gays were successful in changing societies perception because of the sheer numbers willing to be open and stand their ground. Like at Stonewall they stood firm and fought back by say there's nothing wrong with who I am , I'm the same as you.

Hi .

From what iv seen form many trans people is they need to stop acting like little kids who don't know any better and grow up and become mature and have a life that's inkeeping with who they say they are , I know many children who would think are those people yes many trans people are they for real ....

You wont acceptance then prove your worth it and worth having acceptance given to you .
I get told oh....society wont accept  trans people , oh I wonder why ,  have they and you looked at their selfs and your self  and thought is there something wrong ,.

Why is there a perception from people  that says  whats going on here , are they real people or just play acting . and dressing in womens clothes .

They and those I know and you are you wonting others to say you need some one to do something about it . Well whos prepared to as I,ll say get off your backside and do something about it ,

I did and got off my backside and went on TVNZ Cambell  live and Closeup and did interviews  Papers as well Nation wide , and the net . then I took meetings and talked to people and explained  about why are we different  My heading was . Whats it like  to be different and live as a normal woman .

When we live in the real world of people and join groups of interest go to meetings get on commitees do voluntary  work and just be part of the local communitys around us  and show we are just normal people that just happen to be born a little different then people will see,  whats all this fuss about any way ,   get known tell your life story show the world you know,    im not......... so different after all .........

I did not ask to be on commitees I was told your on , do I really wont to help in the kitchen  nope I was asked /told we need you here , im a Brass band member of 4 bands and our Youth Orchestra ,  and im on Parade tomorrow  with our Brass band, 

am I that different then  , you see you wont acceptance then what are you going to do about it I,v given you some idears and what I do , its up to you to fill that place reserved for you and you alone.
no point saying what do I need to do ,

I was born different  age 10   I accepted that I have lived with that for 68 years yes intersexed  okay ,,SO WHAT,,    im alive have a life worth living have family and enjoy life to the fullest it does not mean im perfect  disabilitys  disavantages  dyslexic and a lousy writer yet I can stand in front of over 3 Million people and tell my story  can you or will you  okay then just to a few people then , call me what ever you like weird  a nutcase  insane crazy , or what ever ....you can never say I have not done my part to tell and show others ....... we are well wroth the effort of getting to know who we are and what we can give to others ,

....................................We Have ..................................

......JUST SO MUCH TO OFFER....... CAN WE NOT JUST DO IT  ......IF I CAN WITH ALL MY ISSUES AND DISADVANTAGES   YOU SURELY CAN.......

...noeleena...

Homosexual people can be together by love, but transgender people are basically introspective and can be easily scattered by individualism and jealousy. Also transgender people are too diverse to be under the same umbrella. Nevertheless, transgender people can have common goals, and seek them through a social movement for public education.

barbie~~

 I like to see the political posts Pride is a movement when someone else can't stand and be public we can work together and help them to be ok with who they are not an easy path for some but then the reward is all the better when they've been true to who they are inside

If it means I have to out myself than no. I've spent too much time and money and suffered too much to not be seen as a women. I'm not sure how to be "out" anyways. I'm not going to volunteer my life to the general public and I'm not the trans poster child. I just want to go about my business and live my life like every other person out here. Seems like I've said that before. I already have to put up with the fact I still need a trache shave and my voice needs a lot of work.