Gender Spectrum

1
Gender Spectrum

• Gender, sex and life on the other side
• Ruth Chambers and Jessica Cole

2
Ruth Chambers

• I am a transvestite / cross dresser
• try to be as feminine as possible
• cross dress once or twice a week
• married with children
• family know about Ruth
• North West Regional Organiser for
  The Beaumont Society

3
Jessica Cole (Jess)

• I am a trans woman
• Husband, father, soldier, engineer, international
  businessman, sportsman
• Gender transition in 2001
• Multiple surgeries and treatments 2003 - 2005
• Legal gender recognition 2005.
• Degree in Contemporary Arts - Masters Degree in
  Law - Dip. Gender, Sexuality Human Rights
• Currently undertaking a creative PhD exploring
  diverse transgender identities through fiction
• Charity worker, academic, lecturer, activist,
  writer.

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Trans community

• Based on best estimates, in the UK today -
• over 2 million people cross dress and,
  reportedly, 1 in 10 wives live with a Cross
  Dresser
• Official estimates are 5000 UK post operative
  transsexuals (Gov. figures but assumed to be
  under-estimated).
• Other figures estimate up to 35,000 are, or will
  be, transsexual based on current population
  figures
• (Gay Liberation experience/informed
  extrapolation)

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Trans community

• Most Trans people are heterosexual
• Trans people are often normal parents with
  children
• Most Trans people are employed and live
  productively in society.
• Crime rates amongst trans people are low
• Most Trans people do not cross-dress or
  transgress gender norms for any sexual purpose
• The need for secrecy often leads to isolation,
  loneliness, guilt and fear for the future.

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WHY/WHAT ?

• There is no known definitive explanation -
  however
• All foetuses are initially female.
• Apparently physical and brain sex are
  separately set in gestation through hormonal
  effects triggered by genetic factors.
• Gender identity, whilst heavily influenced by
  socialisation, is believed to be finally fixed as
  late as 6 years of age, normally in-line with
  brain sex.
• In trans people their core gender identity (brain
  sex) does not accord with genetic sex and the
  physical development of genitalia/secondary
  sexual characteristics - and thus their birth
  assigned gender role.
• It may be that gender dysphoria is an intersex
  condition
• There is no cure for this condition - only to
  bring self-perceived gender identity and
  physicality into concordance

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MtF FtM

• Although the perceived cross-dressing phenomenon
  is mostly associated with males to females,
  Gender Dysphoria also affects females to males
  (FtM)
• However, as women have greater dress and gender
  freedom in modern Society, there are few FtM
  TV/CDs, other than in the lesbian community.
• FtM sex change genital (bottom) surgery is far
  more complex, less satisfactory (and more
  expensive) than MtF. Many trans men limit
  themselves to 'top' surgery and hysterectomy,
  others do not enter the medical system at all and
  are excluded from estimates of numbers.

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TS TV/CD

• TS Transsexual / Trans man / Trans woman. A
  person whose gender-identity is not congruent
  with their physical sexual characteristics and
  consequent birth assigned gender role.
• TV / CD Transvestite / Cross Dresser. A person
  who feels compelled to put on the clothing
  normally worn by the opposite gender. - The two
  terms are not universally defined.
• TG Transgendered. A generic term for gender
  transgressives

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GD RG GG BG TF

• GD Gender Dysphoria. The name applied by the
  medical fraternity for the condition experienced
  by a TS. (See DSM IV)
• RG Real Girl (sometimes GG for Genetic Girl or
  BG for Biological Girl), used to differentiate
  those designated female at birth from Trans
  women.
• TF Tranny-Fancier. Used to identify a person,
  normally a gay-male (but not always), who is
  sexually attracted to TV/CD and pre-operative
  Trans - women.

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Fetishists

• These tend to be a highly visible and sexually
  active part of both the Trans and non - Trans
  communities.
• Some indulge in rituals, such as fetish dressing,
  female dominance - or in more extreme forms such
  as bondage and SM.
• However, fetishism is not directly related to
  Transgenderism - but may be linked to it in any
  individual, as for homo, bi or hetero sexuality

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The Gender Spectrum

• Many Trans people believe they can be anywhere on
  the spectrum
• Some believe they can move anywhere on the
  spectrum and that their position is contextual
  and fluid - that there is no linear progression
  in gender

TV
TS
Fetishist
CD
Goth
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The sexuality matrix

• Most TV/CDs are heterosexual
• Some are bisexual
• Some are gay
• Some consider themselves lesbian when en femme
• TSs can be of any sexuality (and possibly fluid
  over time)

Heterosexual
Bisexual
Lesbian
Gay
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Gender Recognition Act

• Became law in July 2004
• Britain now has the most progressive legislation
  of its kind in the world
• Definition of "man" or "woman" no longer
  dependant on genitalia
• Marital/Human Rights issues
• The Civil Partnership Act

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The Law

• Most police forces now have an officer dedicated
  to LBGT issues
• The police forces have a code of practice to deal
  with Trans people should the need arise
• It is NOT against the law to dress as a woman
• It is NOT against the law to for a TV/CD or
  pre-operative trans woman to enter a ladies
  public toilet - but..
• any complaint against the T person might be
  based on 'importuning' or 'causing an affray' due
  to public complaint
• its safer to use the ladies than to enter the
  gents while cross dressed !!

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Public Reaction

• Most people ignore us, but the rule for Trans
  people is don't look back - and certainly dont
  argue!
• Some people, women especially, are curious
• Some people make fun of us - call us names,
  deliberately expose and embarrass us.
• Some people abuse us and assault us - through
  "religious intolerance", "homophobic disgust" or
  aggression related to drunkenness.

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Religion

• There are certain fringe Christian groups out to
  "save" Trans people just as there are groups to
  "save" homosexuals.
• The Metropolitan Community Church actively
  supports Trans people (see contact list)
• There is strong opposition to homosexuality in
  Islamic cultures, as the Qua'ran is specifically
  homophobic and religion is treated with greater
  importance.
• However, many Islamic cultures accept
  transsexxual people providing that transition is
  from one clear gender to the other.

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Some Hints

• Transgendered people are customers and tax
  payers.
• Many are intelligent, highly motivated and
  courageous individuals who have faced terrible
  obstacles and huge costs just to be who they
  feel they are, without harming anyone. Some are
  idiots - just like real people!
• They may be someones parent or partner - and
  are definitely someones child.
• Generally if someone is dressed and presenting
  themselves as a woman, they wish to be treated as
  a woman (or as a man in the reverse case)!
• If in doubt ask how a person wishes to be
  addressed

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Empathy Workshop 1

• Decisions faced by a TV/CD
• Do they come out to their partner / girlfriend ?
  - issues ?
• Do they come out to their immediate family ? -
  issues ?
• Do they come out to wider family / community ? -
  Issues ?
• Do they come out at work ? - Issues ?

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Empathy Workshop 2

• Decisions faced by a TS - pre and post op
• How do they identify as Transsexual ? - issues ?
• How do they come out to their immediate family ?
  - issues ?
• Ho do they come out to wider family / community ?
  - Issues ?
• How do they come out at work ? - Issues ?
• How do they deal with not being accepted in the
  gender they feel they are?

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Summary

• Transgenderism is generally not sexual in itself
  - it is about gender identity, presentation and
  role.
• It is not a lifestyle choice to be gender
  dysphoric but the condition does entail lifestyle
  choices.
• How a person looks is not always how they feel.
• Transsexuality is very rare - Crossdressing
  isnt.
• Both fall within the broad spectrum of
  transgendered
• TGs are generally law abiding citizens and are
  acting within the law in expressing gender
  non-conformity.
• Surgery to alter genitalia is not required for
  legal recognition of gender change.
• The costs of gender transgression/transition are
  high.
• For many of us perceived gender transgression is
  a joy
• We are human beings!

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Contacts

• Ruth Chambers
• email ruthchambers2003_at_yahoo.co.uk
• web www.liverbird.tv
• tel [phone] (1 pm to 9 pm)
• Jessica Cole
• email jessicacole_at_btinternet.com
• Beaumont Society
• 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX
• web www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
• tel [phone] (24 hr info line)
• Press For Change web www.pfc.org.uk

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Contacts

• Gender Trust (Transsexuals only)
• PO Box 3192, Brighton BN1 3WR
• email info_at_gendertrust.org.uk
• web www.gendertrust.org.uk
• tel [phone] (Mon - Fri 9 am - 5 pm)
• Northern Concord
• PO Box 258, Manchester M60 1LN
• email JennyB_at_northernconcord.org.uk
• web www.northernconcord.org.uk
• The Metropolitan Community Church
• PO Box 19 Manchester M34 3XF
• email revandy_at_mmcmanchester.co.uk
• web www.mccmanchester.co.uk/trans.htm