History UsefulNotes / Transgender

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings -- or drag artists in general -- are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man by day. Since he's most likely CampGay to boot, this contributes to the perception that TransEqualsGay. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves whether circumstances make transition impossible or not. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

** Transgender people are no more "freakish" or the AttentionWhore on average than cisgender people. Again, while there are some exceptions, these do not speak for all transgender people, and there are a lot of transgender people who ''do'' focus on being "normal" and being stealth and not attracting notice of any sort. That said, even the "freakish" people aren't necessarily seeking attention or wishing to start drama with their existence -- it is thoroughly possible to be someone who is seen as "freakish" or "weird" by mainstream society and yet be entirely harmless and non-attention seeking. It is also thoroughly possible to be "different" or "unusual" and only be so to be oneself -- not in any attempt to draw attention for it. Finally, ''even the AttentionWhore'' is generally harmless, if annoying -- not deserving of social ostracism and punishment to "make them normal" or "make them go away and shut up" -- to bully even a confirmed AttentionWhore is also pointless, because a true AttentionWhore could be incredibly insecure, and looking for validation - or ''does not want to be normal.'' And maybe the person isn't actually an AttentionWhore but is just living their own life in a different way because that is what they are comfortable with, in which case bullying and ostracising them goes beyond pointless into cruel and discriminatory.

* "Transgender people are unstable!" This is an example of what happens when SelfFulfillingProphecy and circular reasoning feed into bigotry. Most if not all of the reasons why transgender people can be ''objectively'' unstable - you know just like everyone else (lack of financial wealth and liquidity, lack of stable dwellings, not being married or partnered or having strong family ties, anxiety ranging from nervousness to paranoia of straight/cisgender strangers who act in certain ways) - are directly due to the way trans people are treated, especially poor trans people, and the way society is often set up to encourage violence and mockery toward the transgender or androgynous and discourage them, in turn, from participation in society except among themselves, unless [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney they have money]].

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man by day. Since he's most likely CampGay to boot, this contributes to the perception that TransEqualsGay. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves whether circumstances make transition impossible or not. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

Some transgender people prefer being "stealth" or "stealthy," (sometimes using the noun in place of the adjective form) in that they seek to fully adopt and fit into the cultural role of their gender ("passing") with no traces of having had the body or life experiences of someone who had to live as the other gender. Others prefer to remain closeted, living as their assigned gender in public, out of necessity or ease of navigating the world -- they are still transgender. Others again, either out of necessity [[note]]their bodies simply ''don't'' transform well enough to pass completely -- for example, a trans man whose height topped out at 4' 11" (150 cm) and can't develop enough muscle mass to look "masculine" in a culture where "manly men" are tall and muscular, or a trans woman whose broad shoulder structure and masculine facial structure cannot be altered via surgery[[/note]] or simple preference, choose a more androgynous presentation. The terms "boy mode" and "girl mode" (sometimes without the space) are often used to describe a situation where a trans person is partially out, but must present as their assigned gender at birth for safety[[note]]e.g. to avoid outing themselves to someone they don't trust, or because they're in an intolerant environment[[/note]] or practical reasons[[note]]Such as travelling with paperwork that hasn't been amended, and not wanting to have to stop and answer questions[[/note]] (with boy or girl in the phrases corresponding to their assigned gender at birth).

Two myths need to be debunked there. First, hormones aren't AppliedPhlebotinum -- they can only do so much. While they do cause things like breast growth and thinning of body hair for trans women, or on the contrary, growth of body hair for trans men, as well as some voice changes [[note]]for trans men only, because testosterone's changes to the voicebox are permanent, and of note that vocal cords "set" around age 30, so men who begin hormone therapy after 30 may experience less dramatic deepening and need to retrain themselves to speak from lower in their throat, much like women who underwent a testosterone-induced voice change before beginning hormones. For both cases, learning to sing can be incredibly helpful--in any sort of traditional style; e.g., traditional Japanese pentatonic scale can be just as helpful as Western operatic training, and so can Cantonese operatic style--the point is learning full exploitation of one's vocal cords, and knowing those abilities enough to be able to apply it to talking, permanently and without damaging the cords[[/note]] and redistribution of body fat -- they don't magically alter the skeleton to adjust body shape, nor do they remove facial hair, which has to be done separately. Some skeletal adjustments do happen -- the skeleton is a living part of the body, after all, and there is increasing evidence that it continues to develop and change through adult life, but more slowly and on a much more subtle level -- but they take years and may never have more than a slight visual effect.

Consider the typical involuntary GenderBender plot (such as in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', or with Roy in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''): the victim often outright hates or is ashamed by their new body, experiencing discomfort with it and seeking ways to remove the "curse". This is how many cisgender people[[note]]those whose gender matches their assigned sex, e.g. a man who is born with a penis[[/note]] might react, while many transgender people would [[CursedWithAwesome consider the "curse" a blessing]]. In fact, transition (see below) exists exactly because there's no convenient way in real life to quickly change a human's physical sex. Yet, anyway. If there was one, transition would largely be limited to social adaptation to the new gender role.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Transgender Pride Flag by Monica Helms.[[labelnote:Wanna know what those colors mean?]][[PinkGirlBlueBoy The light blue stripes represent trans masculinity, the pink stripes represent trans femininity]], and the white stripe represents the nonbinary.[[/labelnote]]]]

Some transgender people prefer being "stealth" or "stealthy," in that they seek to fully adopt and fit into the cultural role of their gender ("passing") with no traces of having had the body or life experiences of someone who had to live as the other gender. Others prefer to remain closeted, living as their assigned gender in public, out of necessity or ease of navigating the world -- they are still transgender. Others again, either out of necessity [[note]]their bodies simply ''don't'' transform well enough to pass completely -- for example, a trans man whose height topped out at 4' 11" (150 cm) and can't develop enough muscle mass to look "masculine" in a culture where "manly men" are tall and muscular, or a trans woman whose broad shoulder structure and masculine facial structure cannot be altered via surgery[[/note]] or simple preference, choose a more androgynous presentation. The terms "boy mode" and "girl mode" (sometimes without the space) are often used to describe a situation where a trans person is partially out, but must present as their assigned gender at birth for safety[[note]]e.g. to avoid outing themselves to someone they don't trust, or because they're in an intolerant environment[[/note]] or practical reasons[[note]]Such as travelling with paperwork that hasn't been amended, and not wanting to have to stop and answer questions[[/note]] (with boy or girl in the phrases corresponding to their assigned gender at birth).

Some transgender people prefer being "stealthy," in that they seek to fully adopt and fit into the cultural role of their gender ("passing") with no traces of having had the body or life experiences of someone who had to live as the other gender. Others prefer to remain closeted, living as their assigned gender in public, out of necessity or ease of navigating the world -- they are still transgender. Others again, either out of necessity [[note]]their bodies simply ''don't'' transform well enough to pass completely -- for example, a trans man whose height topped out at 4' 11" (150 cm) and can't develop enough muscle mass to look "masculine" in a culture where "manly men" are tall and muscular, or a trans woman whose broad shoulder structure and masculine facial structure cannot be altered via surgery[[/note]] or simple preference, choose a more androgynous presentation. The terms "boy mode" and "girl mode" (sometimes without the space) are often used to describe a situation where a trans person is partially out, but must present as their assigned gender at birth for safety[[note]]e.g. to avoid outing themselves to someone they don't trust, or because they're in an intolerant environment[[/note]] or practical reasons[[note]]Such as travelling with paperwork that hasn't been amended, and not wanting to have to stop and answer questions[[/note]] (with boy or girl in the phrases corresponding to their assigned gender at birth).

Some transgender people prefer being "stealthy," in that they seek to fully adopt and fit into the cultural role of their gender ("passing") with no traces of having had the body or life experiences of someone who had to live as the other gender. Others prefer to remain closeted, living as their assigned gender in public, out of necessity or ease of navigating the world -- they are still transgender. Others again, either out of necessity [[note]]their bodies simply ''don't'' transform well enough to pass completely -- for example, a trans man whose height topped out at 4' 11" (150 cm) and can't develop enough muscle mass to look "masculine" in a culture where "manly men" are tall and muscular, or a trans woman whose broad shoulder structure and masculine facial structure cannot be altered via surgery[[/note]] or simple preference for androgyny, choose a more androgynous presentation.

Some transgender people prefer being "stealth," in that they seek to fully adopt and fit into the cultural role of their gender ("passing") with no traces of having had the body or life experiences of someone who had to live as the other gender. Others prefer to remain closeted, living as their assigned gender in public, out of necessity or ease of navigating the world -- they are still transgender. Others again, either out of necessity [[note]]their bodies simply ''don't'' transform well enough to pass completely -- for example, a trans man whose height topped out at 4' 11" (150 cm) and can't develop enough muscle mass to look "masculine" in a culture where "manly men" are tall and muscular, or a trans woman whose broad shoulder structure and masculine facial structure cannot be altered via surgery[[/note]] or simple preference for androgyny, choose a more androgynous presentation.

* For more information on transgender people and their experience, see [[http://trans.wikia.com/ the trans wiki]].

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man by day. Since he's most likely CampGay to boot, this contributes to the perception that TransEqualsGay. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves if circumstances make transition impossible. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man by day. Since he's most likely CampGay to boot, this contributes to the perception that TransEqualsGay. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man by day. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender." Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man underneath the wig and gallons of makeup. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender" Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a cisgender man underneath the wig and gallons of makeup. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

* "All {{Drag Queen}}s are transgender" Not necessarily. Drag queens and kings--or drag artists in general--are performers who dress as a caricature of gender for the purpose of entertainment. The performer's gender in their day-to-day life has no bearing on their stage persona, and the archetypal drag queen who lipsynchs to pop songs in {{gay bar}}s is more-often-than-not a CampGay but otherwise cisgender man by day. That being said, trans people have been present in drag culture since day one. In some cases it might even be their only outlet to safely express themselves. But if someone does drag, it doesn't automatically denote a transgender identity.

More recently, a push has been made among certain groups in the transgender and nonbinary community to suggest that gender ''euphoria'' (see also below) is a more proper association, with regards to the state of being trans. Similarly to dysphoria, it varies greatly from person to person, but can typically be described as a sense that something is ''right'', rather than wrong, such as being called by one's chosen name, or referred to with the proper pronouns. Euphoria can also be read as a feeling that one's on the proper path, or can even feel like a loosening of bonds or restrictions. Like dysphoria, though, euphoria isn't actually necessary to be trans and/or nonbinary.

More recently, a push has been made among certain groups in the transgender and nonbinary community to suggest that gender ''euphoria'' (see also below) is a more proper association, with regards to the state of being trans. Similarly to dysphoria, it varies greatly from person to person, but can typically be described as a sense that something is ''right'', rather than wrong, such as being called by one's chosen name, or referred to with the proper pronouns. Euphoria can also be read as a feeling that one's on the proper path, or can even feel like a loosening of bonds or restrictions.

More recently, a push has been made among certain groups in the transgender and nonbinary community to suggest that gender ''euphoria'' (see also below) is a more proper association, with regards to the state of being trans. Similarly to dysphoria, it varies greatly from person to person, but can typically be described as a sense that something is ''right'', rather than wrong, such as being called by one's chosen name, or referred to with the proper pronouns. Euphoria can also be read as a feeling that one's on the proper path, or can even feel like a loosening of bonds or restrictions. Like dysphoria, though, euphoria isn't actually necessary to be trans and/or nonbinary.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Transgender Pride Flag by Monica Helms.[[labelnote:Wanna know what those colors mean?]][[PinkGirlBlueBoy The light blue stripes represent trans men, the pink stripes represent trans women]], and the white stripe represents nonbinary people.[[/labelnote]]]]

Since gender[[note]]the innate knowledge of how male, female or other you are or are not[[/note]] and sex[[note]]physical and biological characteristics seen as male or female (specific), such as chromosomes, genitals and gamete production[[/note]] are frequently associated or conflated in most societies, including Western ones, babies with penises are designated baby boys and babies with vaginas are designated baby girls. Nature is more complicated than that, of course. But "transgender" is an umbrella term that can be used to refer to all people whose genders don't match the sex they were designated based on medical factors. This includes (the most commonly depicted) "trans women", women who are designated male at birth; "trans men", men who are designated female at birth; and nonbinary people who don't fully identify as men or women (they can identify as a combination of men, women, and other genders between and/or outside of man and woman altogether), and even agender/neutrois people who don't identify as any established gender identity. There are also bigender people, who identify as two genders at once, and genderfluid people, whose gender identities are flexible and can fluctuate from time to time. These identities are usually included in the "nonbinary" or "genderqueer" category above.