Somewhere in the USA. The concept of Transgenderism (the so-called “crossing of gender”) was coined by Charles (Virginia) Prince (a full time cross dresser) over 30 years ago. Originally it was intended to describe those who like Prince, wanted to assume the female role full or part time, and did not desire to be a physical woman, and did not intend to undergo SRS. In recent years the definition of the term has changed to become a social construct, to mean those individuals who assume a gender or sexual presentation other than the one they were assigned with at birth.

 

As a result if this, Transgender, has become a catch-all description for people as disparate as drag queens, she-males, cross dressers, so called “non-op” transsexuals, pre-op transsexuals, and even post-op transsexuals, who aren't even transsexual anymore. This definition is wrong, due to the fact that it forces transsexuals, whose condition is biologically based, into the same category as those whose behavior is psychologically, and in many, if not most cases, fetish based.

 

Unfortunately, in recent years, Transgender people (especially of the activist variety), have become increasingly visible in public, and as a result have exposed the general public to their view that “we are all kissing cousins.” It is human nature to generalize things. So, since most Transgender people are considered to be weirdo’s, and fetishists by the general public, by default transsexuals are also considered to be the same thing. It doesn't matter that our condition is not even psychological in nature, Joe Public assumes that we are “one of those “Transgender weirdo’s”, so we're viewed as being sick in the head. In spite of the fact that the vast majority of us are not deviant, just want to get on with our lives, and be productive members of society. Throw in the fact that many who are NOT transsexual, claim that they are, even though they are really Transgender, and they you just add fuel to the fire of people's perceptions that transsexuals are just another type of transgender weirdo.

 

The transsexual term becomes unusable for people with a legitimate medical condition. Hence the reason why many transsexuals are discarding the term, and adopting the term HBS (Harry Benjamin Syndrome).

 

Lumping people with HBS into the transgender camp has terrible consequences for them. They are viewed as having a psychological problem, and are told to either get over it, or “see a shrink” to have it fixed. As a result, the proper medical treatment of hormones and surgery become more difficult, if not in some cases impossible to obtain. Jobs can be denied (after all you're one of those weirdo’s). The denial of the right of marriage in some states and countries (due to the belief that “assigned with one sex at birth, means you are always that sex”, results in the refusal to change birth certificates) is also reinforced. This creates the possibility of revoking this right in other states and countries, where people with HBS are considered to be transgender, since transgender people are almost never considered by the general public to be any sex other than the one they were assigned to at birth.

 

Spend time in jail if you are considered transgender, and you will end up being put with men, running the risk of rape, and other forms of serious body harm. Being considered transgender does me, a woman born with HBS, more harm than good. It creates the probability that I will be viewed as “born a man, always a man.”

 

It does not matter that I had the corrective surgery 3 years ago, because as a transgender individual one’s sex never changes from the one you're assigned at birth. It also creates the nasty corollary mentality, of “gee, why can't you just live with what you have, and be happy with it like a cross- dresser, she-male, or drag queen does?”

 

As a result of concern over the problems mentioned above, there is a growing attitude among people with HBS, to divorce, and separate completely from the LBGT community. We want to send a clear message to the public that we are NOT a bunch of TGs. We DO NOT get off on fetishism, and DO NOT act like guys in dresses. HBS is NOT about sexual preference or behavior. It is about the body and mind being in synch.

 

All we want is to be treated as the Women (or Men for that matter) that we are. This WILL NOT happen if we are considered transgender. NOTHING can be gained politically for people with HBS by being lumped into the transgender category and allying with the LBG.

 

Readers with questions or comments can contact the author via the Contact Form. TS-Si.org will forward your views directly to her.

 

 

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