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In the specialized lingo of the Transsexual
there is a myriad of terms to know. Many of my friends have asked me what
something means when we are talking. Here is an effort to collect and clarify
some of these terms for the layman. If there are terms I have missed or
mis-defined please let me know.
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Transvestite: a person who adopts the
dress and often the behavior typical of the opposite sex especially for purposes
of emotional or sexual gratification (Merriam-Webster).
Intersexual: intermediate sexual characters between a typical male and a typical
female (Merriam-Webster).
Hermaphrodite: an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive
organs (Merriam-Webster).
Transsexual*: a person with a psychological urge to belong to the opposite
sex that may be carried to the point of undergoing surgery to modify the
sex organs to mimic the opposite sex (Merriam-Webster).
Transgender: exhibiting the appearance and behavioral characteristics
of the opposite sex. This is often used in describing a Transsexual
(Merriam-Webster).
Cross-dresser: one who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex
(Merriam-Webster).
Homosexual: of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct
sexual desire toward another of the same sex. (Merriam-Webster).
Human Rights Campaign: “HRC is a bipartisan organization that works
to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and
identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans
can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community” (HRC).
American Veterans for Equal Rights: “AVER is a non-profit, chapter-based
association of active, reserve and veteran service members dedicated to full
and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members
of the U.S. Armed Forces” (AVER).
Transgender Law and Policy Institute: “We are a non-profit organization
dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our
society. The TLPI brings experts together to work on law and policy initiatives
designed to advance transgender equality” (TLPI).
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays: “PFLAG promotes
the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons,
their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society;
education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination
and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender
identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of
human diversity” (PFLAG).
International Bill of Gender Rights: “The IBGR strives to express fundamental
human and civil rights from a gender perspective” (Feinberg 165).
International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy,
Inc.:
“A nonprofit Texas corporation dedicated to providing education surrounding
legal rights and employment, medical, family, and general policy for transgendered
persons, and mapping strategies for solutions to problems” (Feinberg 172).
American Psychiatric Association: “The American Psychiatric Association
is a medical specialty society recognized world-wide. Its 37,000 U.S. and
international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective
treatment for all persons with mental disorder, including mental retardation
and substance-related disorders. It is the voice and conscience of modern
psychiatry. Its vision is a society that has available, accessible quality
psychiatric diagnosis and treatment” (APA).
Gender Identity Disorder: “GID, also known as Transsexualism, is a condition
in which the individual experiences persistent discomfort and a sense of
inappropriateness with his or her assigned sex” (Prentiss 171).
Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association: “is a professional
organization devoted to the understanding and treatment of gender identity
disorders” (HBIGDA).
Government: This refers to any legislative body, municipal, county, state or federal.
Courts: This refers to any judicial body, panel, jury, tribunal, court, or legal counsel.
Authorities: This refers to any person within an official capacity and
includes, but is not limited to, firefighters, police, paramedics, and health
care providers.
Civil Rights: This refers to basic assumptions provided by the United States Constitution.
Underground: This refers to anything done in a covert, secretive manner
in order to avoid being in the spotlight of the public eye and avoid unwanted
attention.
* Transsexual may also be spelled Transexual depending on country of origin.
# A key difference to recognize in these different classifications is that only the Transsexual wishes to modify the body
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APA. American Psychiatric Association. Online (2001). 8 September 2002. http://www.psych.org/.
AVER. American Veterans for Equal Rights, Inc. Online (2002). 17 September 2002. http://www.glbva.org/.
Docter, Richard F. Transvestites and Transsexuals: Toward a Theory of Cross-Gender Behavior. New York: Plenum Press, 1988.
Feinberg, Leslie. Transgender Warriors. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996.
Feinbloom, Deborah Heller. Transvestites and Transsexuals: Mixed Views. Delacorte Press, 1976.
HBIGDA. Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association. Online. 21 September 2002. http://www.hbigda.org/.
HRC. Human Rights Campaign. Online (2002). 7 September 2002. http://www.hrc.org/.
Kimmel, Michael S. The Gendered Society. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Littleton, Christie Lee. "The Christie Lee Littleton Story." Online
(2002). 14 September 2002. http://christielee.net/main1.htm
Lorber, Judith. Paradoxes of Gender. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1994.
Merriam-Webster. "The Language Center." Merriam Webster Online (2002). 15 September 2002. http://www.m-w.com/.
PFLAG. Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays. Online. 18 September 2002. http://www.pflag.org/.
Prentiss, Courtney and Richard McAnulty. “Gender Identity Disorder
in the Workplace.” Rpt. in The Psychology of Sex, Gender and Jobs: Issues
and Solutions. Ed. Diamant, Louis and Jo Ann Lee. London: Praeger, 2002.
TLPI. Transgender Law and Policy Institute. Online (2002). 20 September 2002.
http://www.transgenderlaw.org/.
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