Transsexual vs. transgender

[SW_PA_Couple]

What defines a transsexual or a transgender person? We were recently called to a meeting to be told that a work associate of ours had taken a medical leave of absence and that “he” was going to return to work as a “she”. Our esteemed human-resources manager used the word “transsexual” several times but I suspect incorrectly. So, dear members of The Swingers' Board, what is transsexual and what is transgender

[JustAskJulie]

Just did a search on Google and came up with this

According to what it says... your boss used the correct term. Transgender is a "feeling" that you were born the wrong gender. Transexual is acting upon that and living as a gender other than what you were born.

[TNT]

The following was taken from transsexual.org and Wikipedia.



TRANSSEXUAL (Gender Dysphoria) : A transsexual is a person in which the sex-related structures of the brain that define gender identity are exactly opposite the physical sex organs of the body.

Put even more simply, a transsexual is a mind that is literally, physically, trapped in a body of the opposite sex.

IN A NUTSHELL: Transsexuality means having the wrong body for the gender one really is.

TRANSGENDER : The term transgender was coined in the 1970s by Virginia Prince in the USA, as a contrast with the term "transsexual," to refer to someone who does not desire surgical intervention to "change sex," and/or who believes that they fall "between" genders, not identifying fully, or strictly, as either male or female.

Transgender identity includes many overlapping sub-categories. These include transsexual; cross-dresser; transvestite; consciously androgynous people; genderqueer; people who live cross-gender; drag kings; and drag queens. Usually not included, because in most cases it involves a paraphilia and is not a specific gender issue, are transvestic fetishists.

Many people also identify simply as transgender, although they may fit the definition of any of one of the specific categories.

The extent to which intersex people (those with genitalia or other physical sexual characteristics that are not strictly either male or female) are included in the transgender category is often debated. Not all intersex people disagree with the gender they were assigned at birth. Those who do may self-identify or be identified as transgender.

Although some transgender people have had medical sex reassignment therapy, also called sex reassignment surgery, others have not, being quite happy living as they are. In other words, not all transgender people are transsexual, but all transsexual people are transgender.



Clear as day isn't it? Seems to me your HR manager used the correct term.

Teresa

[Spoomonkey]

I think it is cool that they did that. As personal a choice as such a thing would be, it is something that might be noticed upon your peer's return to work. At least it gives everyone a chance to sort it out before having to face it - cutting down on the shock that someone might feel.

My only question is - I kind of thought that someone going through this surgery was required to live as the opposite gender for a time before the surgery.

Spoomonkey

[HappyPeople]

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

My only question is - I kind of thought that someone going through this surgery was required to live as the opposite gender for a time before the surgery.

Spoomonkey

I have a transsexual friend and she is going through hormonal treatments and working up to having surgery one day. She does live as a woman except at work because it is difficult for her to integrate into the workforce as a barely passing transsexual. It's likely that this person has been living as a woman everywhere except at work which is completely normal for transexual/transgender people.

[SW_PA_Couple]

OK, I appreciate all of this information. Looks like the HR manager was correct. And I learned a new term, intersex, which I suppose might or might not apply to Bob (not his real name). The training, quite rightfully, did not get into that kind of detail. Yes, I do work for a very progressing corporation. They were one of the first to offer, for example, health insurance and other benefits for an employee's same-sex domestic partner. Bob has not been living as a female. After the leave-of-absence, she will be working in a different company office about twenty-five miles away. The people at the other office have also received training. The stated intention of the reassignment is to facilitate the transition.

[TNT]

Originally Posted by SW_PA_Couple

Yes, I do work for a very progressing corporation. They were one of the first to offer, for example, health insurance and other benefits for an employee's same-sex domestic partner. Bob has not been living as a female. After the leave-of-absence, she will be working in a different company office about twenty-five miles away. The people at the other office have also received training. The stated intention of the reassignment is to facilitate the transition.

For your company. It's great that they are progressive enough to understand/accept and help an employee like this. Hopefully other companies will follow their example.


Teresa