Outreach to the "T"

As a part of the outreach work that I do, I’ve had the chance to talk with many people about the topics of gender and being transgender. Something that I’ve found to be fairly consistent from group to group is that very few people actually know what being transgender really means. For many people they are able to come up with the thought that being transgender means to change genders- they have some idea about the concept of transsexuality. Beyond that basic understanding, most have no knowledge about the wide range of diversity that exists in the trans community (let alone understand what it really means to be transsexual). 

So, in an attempt to illustrate the vast amount of variety that exists along the trans spectrum, I’ve listed here a number of trans identities. Some might be seen as offensive. Note that I didn’t create these terms- I’ve merely paid attention and listed them from experience and from research.

Transgender, transsexual, transfolk, transman, transwoman, transcended, transfag, transdyke, boydyke, byke, MTF, FTM, MTFTM, FTMTF, pre-op, post-op, non-op, crossdresser, drag queen, drag king, intersex, genderqueer, genderblender, genderbender, genderfuck, gender-fabulous, gender-plus, gender-gifted, genderless, gender-neutral, non-gender, omnigender, pangender, polygender, intergender, metagender, bi-gender, third gender, two-spirit, androgyne, neutroid, birl, tomboy, stone butch, en femme, high femme, womon, masculine female, feminine male, otherwise gender variant, etc. (All of these can be explained if needed, just leave me a comment with your contact info.)

A pretty wide range, no? There are 50 different identities listed there that all are transgender. 50. And of those 50, several could be taken further and separated out in a number of other identities. 50+ identities. I’ve read some research that estimates that about 1 in 500 people are transgender. I find that number to be a little off. 50+ identities versus 2 (male and female). That means that less than 1 in 25 are non-transgender (cisgender) identities. So how is it that so few people are unaware of what it means to be transgender?

I think the answer lies in the invisibility that happens surrounding identities that don’t fall under a privileged grouping (white, heterosexual, middle class, Christian, able-bodied, gender-normative). In a sense, if it isn’t heteronormative it isn’t openly discussed unless its to marginalize, criticize, make fun of, or berate the other grouping.

I think its high time the 2 started talking to the 50+ and that the 50+ start talking about their experiences in a way that give positive accounts of our lives (instead of the warped and limited views that are most often shown through the media). Game? Then let’s start talking!