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Posts Tagged ‘transsexual’

Are We Really Out of the DSM?

Posted in Information, News, tagged , , , , on December 10, 2012 | 7 Comments »

DSM5As last week went on, the headlines got curiouser and curiouser, but the general theme seemed to be “transgender is no longer in the DSM” and “being transgender is no longer a disorder” – and this was cause for a lot of celebration on Facebook and elsewhere.

But while there are some minor changes in the DSM-5 that might be cause to crack a small champagne bottle, the reality is that “transgender” never was in the DSM. Gender Identity Disorder, the official mental health diagnosis that leads some people to identify themselves as transgender or transsexual, or that leads some therapists or physicians to do so, was in the DSM (and still is, until the new version comes out next year).

And while GID is being taken out of this new edition, Gender Dysphoria is replacing it, with only some minor adjustments in diagnostic criteria. This could be considered a slight improvement, but most people diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria will likely continue to self-identify as transgender or transsexual, or will be identified as such by mental health professionals. GD appears to be basically the same diagnosis as GID – just with a new coat of paint.

“The change in title is positive, there are some minor positive changes in diagnostic criteria, and GD (will) be moved out of the sexual disorder chapter,” says Dr. Kelley Winters, founder of GID Reform Advocates and author of Gender Madness in American Psychiatry: Essays from the Struggle for Dignity. “But most of the criteria, like the old GID, continue to contradict rather than support social and medical transition and describe transition itself as symptomatic of mental disorder. Blanchard’s unconscionable Transvestic Disorder has gone from bad to worse, stigmatizing even more trans and GV people.”

The good news, according to Winters, is the fact that Gender Dysphoria is being reclassified and will no longer fall under the Sexual Disorder category, which she says “represents forward progress for trans and especially transsexual individuals.”

To help sort it all out, here are some recommended posts by Dr. Winters on the GID Reform Weblog:

The Proposed Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis in the DSM-5

Third Swing: My Comments to the APA for a Less Harmful Gender Category in the DSM-5

An Update on Gender Diagnoses, as the DSM-5 Goes to Press

Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis to be Moved Out of Sexual Disorders Chapter of DSM-5

Readers – thoughts?

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Announcing ‘Transgender Studies’ Class at MSU of Denver

Posted in Information, News, tagged , , , on October 22, 2012 | 12 Comments »

Trans symbolSome of you might be aware that I have gone to a once-a-week posting schedule for my blog. I will be posting every Monday for the time being, because there are some things going on in the near future that I will be focusing on.

The most exciting of these developments is the “Transgender Studies” class that I will be teaching at Metropolitan State University of Denver for the Spring 2013 semester. This is not a weekend seminar, but a three-credit, full-term class being offered through the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services as part of their Gender and Sexualities minor. I am not only teaching it, but I am designing the curriculum as well, and I couldn’t be prouder.

If you or anyone you know attends Metro State, please spread the word. This is an important class that is designed for anyone who wants or needs to know more about transgender and transsexual issues. It will benefit future therapists, educators, medical personnel, business people, politicians, and everyone else who takes it. No prior “transgender knowledge” is required, and there are no stupid questions. The class was just approved, so will be listed in the online catalog in time for November registration.

In addition to working on this class, I want to write some more “10 Tips” short books (10 Tips for Parents of Adult Trans Children is now available as a pdf download – see right sidebar) and start on some other projects. So for the immediate future, I will be posting on Mondays only. Thank you so much for your support, and thanks for reading!

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Ten Things You CAN Say to a Trans Person

Posted in Advice, Commentary, Information, tagged , , , on July 16, 2012 | 18 Comments »

One of the most popular items on my blog is “Ten Things Not to Say to a Trans Person.” But I’m sure that non-trans people get tired of hearing what they can’t say. So, in the spirit of helpfulness, I present “Ten Things You CAN Say to a Trans Person”:


1. Good morning!

2. How was your weekend?

3. That outfit/shirt/tie looks great on you.

4. I am so tired of this heat/cold. I hope it rains/warms up pretty soon.

5. Have you seen the latest photo of my kid/dog/new house? Check it out!

6. Where are you from originally? Have you lived in this city long?

7. The traffic on the freeway is a nightmare today! Do you have to drive far to get here?

8. We’re all going across the street for lunch. Want to come?

9. I can’t believe summer/winter is almost over. Where does the time go?

10. Did you see that YouTube video about the snake that ate three baby goats?

Of course, you can adjust these to fit your purposes. And if you are close to this person, your conversations will obviously stray into less superficial aspects of life, such as art, politics, current events, their love life, your love life, Kim Kardashian’s love life, and so on. But use these as a guideline and you will never get yourself in hot water.

I’m sure readers will have more, so let’s hear them!

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Ask Matt: Writing a Trans Character in Fiction

Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Information, Observations, tagged , , , , , on May 3, 2012 | 33 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “I’m an author who wishes to include a trans person in her fictional writings. I fear I know little to nothing about trans people as a whole, however.

“And while I believe trans people should be treated as people, I also don’t want to write a woman as cis and then claim later that she was actually trans.  I’d like to portray this character and what she might be going through in a way that doesn’t insult or demean her as a trans woman.

“When mentioning her and her struggles, is a brief mention of her being born male but saying that she is in fact female enough? Do I need to elaborate or is that enough to make it clear she’s trans? Should I actually have her claim to be trans or is it all right for her to say she is simply a woman?

“People are different, even when they share things in common.  So while I think either approach would be fine, I want to make sure that I’m not portraying trans women in a negative light or reinforcing stereotypes. Any information you can give me would be wonderful. Any books or Internet sources you can offer would be appreciated as well.”

As a writer, I find this a very interesting topic, because there are really a couple of “sides” to this issue. One “side” is that there are not enough authentic trans characters portrayed in fiction – books, movies, plays, and so on – and when trans characters do appear, they are usually there to induce pity or for shock value, titillation, or comic relief. Therefore, any time that a trans character is presented realistically and honestly in fiction, it will likely be to our benefit.

The other “side” is whether or not a non-trans person should be writing about trans experiences at all, even in fiction. The “write what you know” ethos has been around for a long time in author circles, and it is there for a reason. If we get too far out of our element, we can write ourselves into trouble. However, if everyone stuck to the “write what you know” philosophy, we would have no science fiction, no experimental fiction, no horror genre, no historical fiction, and the majority of romance novels (and erotica) would never materialize.

There are people who will say that a non-trans person should absolutely not be writing trans characters, but I believe it can be done – in fact, I know it can be done, because one of my all-time favorite authors, Suzan-Lori Parks, wrote a trans-masculine character in her book Getting Mother’s Body. It was fantastic to be reading that book and discover this trans character who I didn’t know was in there when I bought the book. The character was very well written and necessary to the story, and there was no hint of sensationalism or exploitation. But then, Parks won the Pulitzer (for Topdog/Underdog) for a reason.

I also liked the Anna Madrigal character in Armistad Maupin‘s Tales of the City series, but I am not a trans woman, so I don’t know how trans women perceived that character. I was also just beginning my transition when I read that series, and I haven’t read it since, so I don’t know how I would feel about the character now.

I have mixed feelings about whether or not you should have a trans character in your fiction, particularly because you say that you don’t know anything about trans people. But that’s not the question you asked, so I’m going to answer the question you asked, but I’m first going to ask you an important question that I want you to consider: Why do you want a trans character in your fiction? (more…)

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Ask Matt: What’s Wrong with the U.S. Health Care System?

Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Information, tagged , , , , on January 23, 2012 | 9 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “As a European living in New York, I find the U.S. health insurance system bewildering, to put it mildly. A German friend just had his bottom surgery done (is in the process of – seems to take a lot of steps, including complications) and there is no question that his health insurance would pay for it.

“In addition, frankly, U.S. medical costs are astronomical. So how does the average U.S. guy pay? At an FTM meeting, I heard a strange comment: ‘I wish I were on Medicaid.’ Is that more likely to pay than health insurance? Seems weird. I checked my own insurance and the alternative available through work, and neither of them pay for ‘gender stuff.’

“At the same time, they have known me as none other than ‘he,’ my documents are in ‘he,’ and even my birth certificate, due to arrive shortly, is in ‘he.’ So if ‘he’ lacks a body part, or the hormones, surely that is no longer gender alignment.”

As an American living in the United States, I find the U.S. health insurance system bewildering as well. In my experience, the bottom line with U.S. healthcare is that most insurance companies will pay for as little as they can get away with, regardless of what medical situation you are in.

However, an increasing number (a very small, very slowly increasing number) are starting to cover some or all aspects of transition. But most do not, and most policies have specific exclusions when it comes to anything related to transition – one thing insurance companies don’t care much about is “gender alignment.”

In a capitalist society, it’s pretty much all about money. Anything that costs money and doesn’t make money is suspect and is examined under a microscope to see how paying for it can be avoided. In addition, and this is my opinion only, I believe that there is an unspoken concept of “morality” underlying many of the decisions that are made about various goods and services that businesses offer to the public. (more…)

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Ask Matt: So Are You Single?

Posted in Ask Matt, Commentary, Information, Observations, tagged , , , , on January 5, 2012 | 37 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “So are you single?”

Yes.

Short question, short answer. But if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I can’t just give a short answer to anything. I think being single is an important thing to talk about, because relationships, while a primary concern of many people in general, are a particular concern to those in the trans community.

At this point in my life, I’m single by choice, and there are a few factors involved. Probably the most influential of those is my tendency to be a loner by nature. As I explain in this post that I wrote for Womanist Musings last year, lonerism is highly misunderstood, because we’re often seen as antisocial, maladjusted, or just plain stuck up.

I am none of these things, but I am probably a classic Myers-Briggs Introvert, someone who gets his or her energy and who rejuvenates by being alone. This is a personality trait that a lot of people don’t understand, and it can lead to others feeling rejected when the loner needs to be alone.

Another influence has been my pre-transition versus post-transition experience of the world. As a female, I was unsure of who I was or what I wanted, which makes sense when you are a person struggling with trans issues, because you aren’t who you are. But I had a tendency to live through my male partners, because my real goal was to be like them. And I needed that male energy, so I was not without a partner from the age of fifteen to the age of forty-two, when I started my transition. (more…)

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Ask Matt: Coming Home to One’s True Nature

Posted in Ask Matt, Observations, tagged , , , , on September 22, 2011 | 53 Comments »

A reader writes: “How does one who generally has presented as femme find their male identity? How does one ‘come home’ to their true nature? I – and everyone else I know – have always presented as masculine or butch, so we always saw our maleness for the most part.”

This is a tough question, and the answer will be different for every guy who had a more “traditionally feminine” presentation prior to transition. For me, because I was so very feminine, the external process of transition seemed to trigger and support the internal, rather than the other way around.

When I was preparing for transition, I honestly thought that I would become a “traditionally masculine” person once I got to “the other side.” Even before I cut my hair and stopped wearing makeup, I started shopping in the men’s department for clothes (terrified that someone would guess my secret, which was utterly ridiculous – it would be like Barbie worrying that people would think she was trans if she put on a pair of jeans).

Clothes might seem like a pretty superficial gauge of who we are inside, but for many people, they are an important means of self-expression, and they reflect who we are not only to the outside world, but to our inner soul. Although I had dated many men as a female and seen their clothes not only on their body, but wadded up on the bedroom floor, I still didn’t have a clue what a guy should wear.

I started out with khakis and polo shirts, and even with my long hair and makeup, I felt more “guyish.” I couldn’t throw a football to save my life, but there was something about the clothes that started an inner transformation. I still wasn’t there yet, though. I cut my hair, I stopped wearing makeup, but the thing that actually sealed the deal was a wallet. (more…)

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Ask Matt: Why Take a Risk with Transition Surgery?

Posted in Ask Matt, Observations, tagged , , on September 5, 2011 | 17 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “I am currently a transvestite, and I am wondering why anyone would risk possible infection or complications involved with transgender surgery. I would be interested to hear what you think.”

I definitely have an opinion on this (don’t I always?), but in this case, I believe that my opinion is backed up by some pretty substantial research findings and at least one significant legal finding.

When you identify yourself as a transvestite, I’m not sure if you’re using the current U.S. definition, which refers to a man who wears women’s clothing for sexual gratification, or an older definition that would today refer to a crossdresser, a man who wears women’s clothing to express a female or feminine side of himself. If you are not from the U.S., transvestite might have an entirely different meaning for you.

Regardless, I would venture a guess that your gender identity is predominantly or always male. Therefore, it would be just as difficult for you to understand the need for genital surgery as it would for anyone else whose gender identity is in alignment with his or her physical body.

The medical and the legal systems in the United States have determined that genital surgery is a medical necessity for many trans people. Without it, they risk death through suicide or a life so miserable that death would be welcome. For people who need surgery, any possible complications are absolutely worth the risk. (more…)

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Ask Matt: Petitioning for Name and Gender-Marker Change

Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Information, tagged , , , on August 29, 2011 | 8 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “I’m just starting the process to get my name and gender marker legally changed. I was born and live in Colorado. I’m going to use the court system in a county that hasn’t seen a petition of this type, at least that I’m aware of. I will not be using a lawyer due to finances, so I’ve been asking everyone to help prepare.

“I currently have the name/gender marker petitions on separate forms. Do you think that would be considered as two separate filing fees? Should I combine them onto a single form? In regards to the name change petition, what would you recommend I put as the reason for a name change? Can you recommend any documents and/or reference materials I can include with the forms to help educate the judge and increase my chances of having my petition granted? I’m more worried about the gender marker, as I don’t believe the name change should be a problem.”

I got my name and driver’s license changed in Colorado a long time ago (before 9/11, which changed a lot of stuff), so my experience is not current. I am going to enlist reader help here, and not just those readers living in Colorado, because this question comes up a lot for people in other states as well. So if you live in Colorado, please add your experiences for this state, and if you live somewhere else and want to respond, please identify your state and let people know of your experience there to help others in your state with the same questions.

My understanding is that the state of Colorado does not legally change gender (through the court system), so if you are talking about getting your gender marker changed on your driver’s license, you do not do that through the court, but through the DMV. There is a form that you must fill out at the DMV and have your physician complete as well. Information about that form is here. (Thank you, Crystal Ann Gray and Karen Bachman!) (more…)

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Ask Matt: Coming Out When People Don’t Have a Clue

Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, tagged , , , , on August 15, 2011 | 7 Comments »

Question MarkA reader writes: “I have a hard time coming out as trans to people. I would rather be called by female pronouns and the wrong name than deal with the awkwardness of the conversation and all of the explanations I’m afraid I’m going to have to make.

“Part of the problem is that I have no idea how to bring up the topic. I mean… It seems like it would be a little awkward to blurt out ‘Oh, by the way, I’m trans. Please call me ______ and he from now on.’ But that’s the only thing I can think of to do.

“So I guess my question is how do you come out to someone? And in particular, how do you come out to people who might have no idea that trans people even exist? (I am part of a guild that is attended by ladies in their forties through nineties who usually grew up on farms, and I have no idea how to explain it to them.)”

Many people think of “coming out” for a trans person as coming out after transition to people who know you only as your “transitioned” self. But that is only one type of coming out, and coming out prior to, or in the early stages of, transition to those who only know you as your assigned birth sex is another type of coming out, and it has its own difficulties.

It is particularly difficult to come out to those who have no idea what “transgender” or “transsexual” mean. There are many non-trans people who equate “transsexual” with “drag queen” or “a man in a dress,” and that’s about as far as their “knowledge” extends. There are others who don’t even have that (utterly incorrect) framework, and the word does not even conjure up a picture in their head.

But farmers and small-town residents often get a bad rap. The women you speak of might be more savvy than you think – when I went to my 30-year class reunion in a very small (population 12,000) Iowa town that still has a very rural reputation and a lot of farmers in and around the area, I was completely accepted by my classmates, even those who had remained in the town. They were adults, they were knowledgeable about the world, and they were quite open-minded. That doesn’t mean that everyone will be – but give them a chance. (more…)

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