Some questions for transgendered DUers.

[ZombieHorde]

If my questions are offensive, it is out of ignorance, not spite. Please be understanding.

-Would it be fair to say that a transgendered person is someone who was born with the mind of one gender and the genitals of the other?

-If someone is a transgendered male, what type of genitalia were they born with?

-Can hermaphrodites be transgendered?

-If a transgendered person is born with male genitalia, and is sexually attracted to men, are they considered straight?

-What types of things do people say out of ignorance that unintentionally hurt transgendered peoples feelings?

-Are any of my questions offensive, and if so, how so?

[liberal renegade]

1. WTF?

[ZombieHorde]

2. I don't understand your reply.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. not transgendered but i can help

Would it be fair to say that a transgendered person is someone who was born with the mind of one gender and the genitals of the other?

sort of. its more a feeling, belief and thought that you were born the wrong gender. my point is there are more differences between sexes than in the brain

-If someone is a transgendered male, what type of genitalia were they born with?

female and they transitioned to male

-Can hermaphrodites be transgendered?

yes. a schoolmate of mine was born hermaphroditic and was corrected to become female. however it was very clear that they should have corrected in the other direction

-If a transgendered person is born with male genitalia, and is sexually attracted to men, are they considered straight?

yes but a lot of trans people identify as queer because they do not feel comfortable w.the label straight.

-What types of things do people say out of ignorance that unintentionally hurt transgendered peoples feelings?

manncoulter

[ZombieHorde]

4. Thank you so much, I was very nervous about asking those questions.

I know that transgendered people get a lot of shit, even here on DU, and I did not want to add to it. Though I still wanted those questions answered because I am so ignorant on the subject.

a schoolmate of mine

I have heard of this happening. My wife and I decided that if any of our children were born hermaphroditic, we would not have them surgically altered.

Is it legal in the US for a transgendered male to marry a woman?

[Duncan Grant]

6. The contemporary terminology is "intersexed".

http://www.itpeople.org/intersexed.php

[ZombieHorde]

8. Thanks for the link, I am learning a lot today. Your patience with me is awesome.

Do you think that intersexed people should be included in GLBT? As in GLBTI.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. it often is. often the term is glbtiq

gay lesbian bisexual transgendered intersexed questioning

[Duncan Grant]

5. Here's a helpful link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=53419&mesg_id=53419

This photo essay might answer some of your questions.

edited for clarity...

[ZombieHorde]

7. That is an amazing slide show, I was not expecting all of the testimonials.

They are inspiring. I bookmarked the page because they need to be reread.

[readmoreoften]

9. Also, it is not uncommon for transmen to date other transmen.

Especially--for some reason--in NYC. In Texas it's more common for transmen to date women (including transwomen), but I do know some transmen who date other transmen.

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Transgendered vs. Transexual

Transgendered is an Umbrella term for people who experience persistent discomfort from their assigned/birth gender. Transexuals are associated with having a brain which is opposite to that of their gentalia. Although since there is no test for Brain Gender of a living person it's not used in defining who is or is not a Transexual. Instead we define a transexual as someone who lives their life in the opposite gender from that which they were born/assigned.

So a Transgendered non-Transexual individual would be one who does not decide to live full time as the gender opposite their birth. This may be due to a lower level of distress associated with living their assigned gender. Perhaps that their brains are not fully one gender or the other but some combination of both Male and Female. Or perhaps just the privledges associated with masquerading as a "normal" individual.

Hermaphrodites/Intersex are frequently Transgendered. Largely because for most of the 20th century they were most all assigned to the Female gender very soon after birth.

Lastly Hetero-Normative culture demands that both partners be non-trans. There is some growing acceptance of Transexuals as being "legitimate" hetero partners. But mostly Transphobia carries the day. So no matter what you call it if there is any degree of transness involved "straight" doesn't really descibe it except for couples living in stealth.