What a shame, we're not using Nova.

Well, something akin to Neo or Nova would work well for transsexuals in particular because our transformations give us a new life. I like Neo, but it reminds me too much of the Matrix movies, which I just don't like. But I think Casorce's onto something good with the concept of newness. What about the word for "new" in other languages?

Somebody mentioned that the concept of the chrysalis was popular once in trans circles. I thought briefly about "Chrysalid," but that smacks of the John Wyndham novel The Chrysalids (not coincidentally titled Re-Birth in the U.S.). But still, how many people would even think of that? On the other hand, the word is pretty unwieldy.

I dunno, but it's fun to speculate.

I agree! It's fun to speculate.

Quote from: Dianna on April 09, 2010, 07:48:12 PM
What a shame, we're not using Nova.

Hey girl!  Don't count it out!  It's the best (from this girl's eye) suggested yet.

That's good then.   I think people don't like letting go of the older words.

Julie Marie you said:

Quote from: Julie Marie on April 09, 2010, 11:42:39 AM
As far as the poll, let's see - from memory - we have Nova, Halcyon, Gappy, Trans, Tranquil.  What have I missed?

It does not matter whether you have a poll or not there will be no consensus on this issue, because the gender spectrum around here is wide and varied.  However, I suggest the following option in the poll when it is put up 'none'.

As I said before I will not use any new term, because as Miniar said, the word 'gay' is used as a derogatory and negative connotation and I constantly hear the word 'gay' plus many others mentioned in a negative way.

Kind regards
Sarah B

I could say "you're a great person" in such a way that you'd feel obligated to shower after I said it.  It's not the word, its the implications behind it.

Quote from: Sarah B on April 10, 2010, 12:52:15 AMAs I said before I will not use any new term, because as Miniar said, the word 'gay' is used as a derogatory and negative connotation and I constantly hear the word 'gay' plus many others mentioned in a negative way.

You can stand in defiance against anyone using a label to define you but you cannot stop them from doing so.  Labeling is as old as humans.  It isn't going away any time soon. 

If you can't beat 'em, manipulate 'em.

Instead of abandoning the word for it's negative connotations, lining up a new word to be treated as negative as well, I still think the solution, in the long run, must be to do the hard thing, and change minds.

Yes, catchy phrases can be used, but most of the work is merely being "loud" enough.

People don't differentiate between hearing something said often, or hearing something said by many people, so all we got to do is find a way to tell the truth in a catchy manner and then tell it over and over and over and over until it sinks in.

Well, I'm in a situation where I can correct the person that says anything derogatory and that includes words that are far more insulting than just the 'gay' term and as you say, "If you can't beat 'em, manipulate 'em".  Well I have been doing that for the last 5 years.

One of the solutions to the problem and this will not happen over night, is to treat each person with the dignity, kindness and respect they deserve and the best way to do that is to lead by example. 

Standing in 'defiance' to another label to define me and others, yes you are right, I am standing against the 'new label'.  I did not go through all what I have been through to have another 'deogratory' term applied to me and others, to define who we are.  We have a derogatory term that is applied to us constantly and that word is 'Female'.

You cannot stop people from taking opposite sides, doing so is as old as humans and taking sides isn't going away any time soon.

Kind regards
Sarah B

I had a conversation about my transition today with someone who has, in his own slightly inept way, been very supportive of me. It's not something I generally talk about, but there was a particular reason for it today. During our conversation, he mentioned that he had recently (and by complete coincidence) spoken to a therapist who works with gender issues, and that the therapist had been able to speak about trans issues much more eloquently, not only because of his knowledge and familiarity, but also because of the language he used, the words, the vocabulary. My friend had a great deal of trouble even talking to me (for example, about other people he knew about dealing with the same issue I had), without tripping over his words.

Coming up with clear words that effectively express what we need them to express in some way that feels natural helps us if only because it helps our allies. Changing minds is important, but we can't do enough of that alone. We absolutely need allies. And we need to give them the words that they can feel comfortable using in repeating the message.

We have a serious problem with the ways we describe gender-variant people of any sort, including the most binary-identified ones, whose history at least is certainly gender-variant in the perception of the broader culture. It's always easier (linguistically speaking) for the bigots, but we need to give our allies a fighting chance. The old words fail, not because of the connotations bigots have attempted to attach to them, but because they don't feel natural to our allies.

As I've mentioned above, I like "trans" as an umbrella term. I also "gender-variant" and "gender-variant identities" as an even broader umbrella, to include even people who don't necessarily identify as trans in any way, but transgress the bounds of societal gender roles. For specific people, descriptive phrases, especially verb phrases: "she transitioned when she was twenty"; "he is not medically transitioning; only socially"; "he sometimes wears pleather miniskirts to parties"; "she is not trans-identified, but her sexuality is very masculine."

These are all things I've actually said about people I know. I'm not being not catchy; just clear, respectful, precise, concise, and stylistically simple. Okay, perhaps I'm overstating my case. In any case, those are things we should be looking for in how we discuss trans issues. For that reason, I'm not really sold at all on the various neologisms floating around.

Alyssa, I do agree with you to a point but there's an acronym sales people use when teaching the newbies how to make a sale - K.I.S.S. - keep it simple stupid!

It's not intended to be insulting to the trainee but rather to drive home the message that most people need to be spoon fed little tidbits if you want to keep their interest.  Give them too much at one time and you'll lose them.

Those of us in the community have had a lot of time developing our own vocabulary, complete with, sometimes, very precise definitions.  The need to be so precise is indicative of how complex this subject is.  Gays & lesbians get confused.  Therapists get confused.  Even we sometimes get confused.  So for those who know nothing about it, we need to walk them through this taking baby steps.  Using words and terms we've developed over time with someone who knows little or nothing about the subject will only result in most people becoming confused, and we'll lose them.

Simply put, there is no such thing as a gender binary - male & female with nothing in between.  It's a myth.  Yet billions of people believe it's very real.  To most, it's all about the genitals.  But it doesn't take a lot of brain cells for someone to grasp the concept that there are many people who are not happy trying to fit into gender stereotypes.  Question them enough and I'll bet most people will eventually say they don't like this or that about the stereotype they are supposed to fit into.

This certainly won't happen overnight.  It will take decades, unless we have a lot of resources behind the effort.  But if each and every one of us took the time to explain, in the simplest of terms, that we are all unique and part of our uniqueness comes in the form of gender variations.  However, to get them to begin listening to us, we have to first defuse the bomb, the thing that brings about confusion, fear and anger, e.g: she-male, ->-bleeped-<-, transsexual and even transgender.  And one simple way of doing that is creating and defining a new term that is perceived as harmless and therefore nothing to fear.

A conversation starter, so to speak.  Maybe those who are uncomfortable with certain definitions will take the step to ask 'yeah, just what's up with that?'. To be able to use a word or description that is that step away. Just one of the many different ways to bring enlightenment. There is no description, word, magic potion, etc. that will work. None. But a few or more different approaches just may work, and doing nothing has already failed. It's not an attempt to take trans anything away from being used. The words are valid for what they are, no real reason to stop using them. But adding something that may open the door of enlightenment, even a little, is much better than keeping it locked so those who haven't a clue, can't come in and do harm.
In my humble thoughts, does such a word exist? Anybody have an idea? Aww, what the hell, anyone want to throw out a term, word, description? Who knows what might happen?

Well, Venus, the Roman Goddess, was known to take on several different forms.  As Venus Felix she was the bringer of good fortune.  As Venus Victix she was the bringer of victory.  As Venus Genetrix she took on the role as the mother of the founder of Rome.  As Venus Vericordia she was the protector of chastity.

But she also dabbled in gender stuff too.  As Venus Barbarta she was a bearded crossdressing Venus who is called on to repel unwanted husbands and suitors.

And as Venus Castina she was called upon by men who feel they have a woman's spirit housed in their body.

Of course any derivation of Venus, Barbarta and/or Castina would have to lose the female identity associated with Venus if it were to apply to both MTFs and FTMs.

It was Venus Castina who is said to have changed an army of Sythicians who had pillaged her temple into women. 

That Venus was quite the little minx, wasn't she?