| How long has transgenderism been around? The idea of a being having characteristics of both sexes predates the human race. Cave paintings and artifacts found in Cro-magnon and early Homo sapiens settlements show transgendered figures. It is difficult to say to what extent transgenderism was found in earlier societies. Men wearing skirts and bright green eyeshadow would be considered transgendered in modern society, but in some parts of Egypt, skirt-like garments and eyeshadow were worn by many men. How many transgenderists are out there? There are no actual statistics on the numbers of transvestites, transsexuals, or intersexuals in the world at large. Due to the nature of transgenderism, a accurate count cannot be made. The estimated ratio of MTF transsexuals to genetic males is between 1:2000 and 1:80,000. The estimated ratio of FTM transsexuals to genetic females is between 1:2000 and 1:125,000. Researchers estimate that the percentage of men who have crossdressed is quite high, perhaps as high as 50 percent. Female crossdressers are comparatively uncommon (crossdressing meaning someone who dresses in male clothes and attempts to look male.) There are numerous other unverified statistics floating around in the world, such as: less than 1% of all people saying they are transsexual ever have SRS 7-12,000 sex changes have been performed in the US, half of them MTF there are 4 times as many MTF transsexuals in Europe as there are in America 90 percent of all transvestites and transsexuals live in large cities Are all transvestites gay? Are all transsexuals gay? Most transvestites are heterosexual. Tapestry Magazine did a survey on the sexual orientation of its transvestite readers, and found that 75 percent of them were heterosexual. There are several groups exclusively for heterosexual transvestites that have very large memberships (tri-ess, etc). Many psychologists say that transvestites are in the same proportion of gay to straight individuals as the non-transvestite segment of the male population. The MTF transsexual population is roughly 50 percent oriented towards males. The FTM transsexual population is more oriented towards females, but many FTM's have relationships with gay men. ging from disbelief ("It's just a phase") to anger and disgust. Some parents will be upset at the prospect of no grandchildren. Many parents who cannot deal with their children simply tell the child to leave the household. You should remember that your child is going through an incredibly rough time, and needs your support now more than ever. Above all else, remember that you are not alone. Many other people have gone through what you are going through right now. It is okay to feel angry, disgusted, or sad; those are natural emotions to feel. It is not okay to feel guilty, unworthy, or ashamed. You have done nothing to justify such feelings. There are support groups for children of transgenderists, spouses of transgenderists, girlfriends and boyfriends of transgenderists, and parents of transgendered youths. What is "a bisexual" ? A strict definition of a bisexual would be someone who has romantic and/or sexual relations with other people of more than one sex. However, since not everyone has necessarily had the opportunity to act on their sexual/romantic attractions, some people prefer a looser definition; for instance, that a bisexual is a person who - in their own estimation - feels potentially able to have such attraction. This could be anyone who has erotic, affectionate, or romantic feelings for, fantasies of, and/or experiences with both men and women. A bisexual may be more attracted to one sex than the other, attracted equally to both, or find people's sex unimportant. The strength of their attractions to men and women may vary over time. Is there a difference between "a bisexual," "bisexual," and "bi"? Yes. Definitions for "a bisexual" are suggested above - all relating to attraction and behaviour. "Bisexual" (and the short form, "bi) is sometimes used as an adjective, to describe a bisexual person. However, many people who exhibit bisexual behaviour do not identify as bisexual; and other people may identify as bisexual for reasons other than those suggested in the narrow definitions of section A2. In other words, bisexual identity and bisexual behaviour are not necessarily the same thing. So the word bisexual is being used in two different ways here. Some argue that if bisexual is to mean anything, it must have a strong definition - that of exhibiting bisexual behaviour, or at least the potential for it. Others feel it is more important to respect people's self-definition whatever it is. It has been suggested that the word "bisexual" should be limited to describing behaviour, and the word "bi" could be used for describing identity, with all the cultural implications which have grown up in the bi community. The word "nice" has also been suggested for this role :-) Since the word "bisexual" can be used in different ways, it is enough to bear this in mind and make it clear how YOU are using it, in the interests of good communication. Are bisexuals going through a phase of being confused about their sexuality? The simple answer is "no" or at least "not necessarily" - many of us are absulutely certain that we are attracted to both sexes; there is no confusion. Many people are bisexual for life, which proves it is not necessarily just a phase. It is natural for people who are coming to terms with a sexuality which is not society's norm to be feel confused. For some people, bisexuality is a phase between homosexuality and heterosexuality (and the individual in question could be going in either direction); for others it can just be a brief experimentation. But for many people bisexuality is a lifelong, committed sexual orientation. And even for those who ultimately do not stay bisexual for life, that does not make it any the less valid as a sexual orientation. Many people have reported that their sexual orientation has shifted over time; sexuality is dynamic, not fixed. For some people it may be a small shift, others a major change of lifestyle; but this does not make the points in between in any sense "wrong". Life is a continuous process, and few of us remain exactly the same over long periods of time. All of the frequently asked questions and answers were found on the following websites: Michigan State Alliance LGBT SA Students American Psychological Association |
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| Frequently Asked Questions |