Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

First and foremost, I would like to give a huge shout out and hug to member cuddlebug. Thank you so much for your help and patience, it was a great experience to learn and work with you.

:heart:

 

 

 

Here is some information to help others here in the community better understand our transgender members. By no means is this fully inclusive of everything there is to know however, it should provide a good starting point to helping understand the matter.

 

What does transgender mean?

 

Let's start with the basics. Transgender is a term for someone who identifies as a different gender than assigned at birth. Generally speaking there are three different ways to look at it

  1. A (transgender) woman who was thought to be a man at birth but identifies and lives as a woman. Male to female or MTF.

  2. A (transgender) man who was thought to be a woman at birth but identifies and lives as a man. Female to male or FTM.

  3. The third category is more of a gender spectrum than an actual gender; non-binary, gender queer or gender fluid.

             Note: not all gender fluid, non-binary or gender queer people are trans, many do not identify as one gender or just float on the gender spectrum.

 

Misconceptions

 

Understand that trans people are not different than anyone else. This is very important.

 

Forget what the media has "taught you" about the trans community. It is likely that you have walked by, interacted with or conversed with someone who is trans while at work, on the subway or in the bathroom without even realizing. Despite media's too typical picture of a drag queen or some caricature of a woman with too much make-up, trans people are just looking to live their lives.

 

Not everyone undergoes surgery or hormones. It is a personal decision. Emphasis on personal, it is totally inappropriate to ask someone if they have had surgery, if they are going to and what they have between their legs. If someone chooses to tell you that, it is their personal decision.

 

Being trans does not mean nor make someone mentally ill, this is a silly, outdated and quite ignorant belief. While some in the community are mentally ill or have mental disorders, that is simply because mental illnesses and disorders have no boundaries and can affect anyone.

 

Sex, Sexuality & Gender

 

  • Sex ~ A person's sex refers to a person's anatomy. Hormones, organs and chromosomes fall under this category.

  • Sexuality ~  Sexuality or Sexual Orientation is who you are attracted to.

  • Gender ~ A person's gender is more related to behavior and the way one views their outward physical appearance.

Gender and Sexuality are completely different entities. Just because someone lives and identifies as different gender from birth, does not define their sexuality.  Gender does not define Sexuality.

 

Pronouns

 

If you meet someone who is trans, regardless of where on the spectrum of change they may be, be respectful of both their name and preferred pronoun. If you are unsure of what name or pronoun to use, ask them, off to the side. Bare in mind that the English language does not reflect the gender spectrum. Our understanding of language has been on a model that only recognizes Male or Female pronouns.

 

Please be aware that if you know someone who is transitioning, this is a huge adjustment period for everyone.  Please be kind, understanding, and most importantly patient and keep an open mind and heart. They can use and deserve all the support in the world.

 

More Resources

Trans Lifeline ~ Primairly for crisis but for anyone struggling, hotline for America and Canada

The Treovor Project  ~ Offers both hotline and online chat for anyone in crisis

More ways to be an ally ~ Ways to be ally

  • Like 20
  • Love button 1
×
×
  • Create New...