An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word "transvestite"
An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word "transvestite"
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#0An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word "transvestite"
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:03pmhttp://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2005/12/14/283675.html
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#1re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:13pmNever mind. It's working for me now.
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#2re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:18pmSo you are assuming they were drag queens or Transexuals? Here in San Francisco we have all three - including Transvestites.
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#3re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:21pm
I think touchme was pointing out that some people use all those terms interchangeably. Most people don't seem to know the difference.
I saw many a review of Rent that referred to Angel as a transsexual, and I was like "huh?"
#4re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:22pm
In a nut shell (some may disagree over the details of my definitions):
transvestite - a heterosexual man who enjoys dressing in women's clothing, usually for erotic purposes
drag queen - a gay man (usually) who dresses in women's clothing for entertainment
transexual - a person who identifies as the opposite gender than what they were born with biologically. A transexual seeks to transition via surgery and hormones to their correct gender.
transgender (a tricky one to define) - a person who identifies as the opposite gender, but does not seek to transition.
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#5re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:23pm
They sound about right to me, Jerby, but are transvestites always hetero?
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#6re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:25pmYes - I as a drag queen am aware of that. I believe though that the blanket term for most is transvestite, and until you educate everyone it will probably remain the standard. My question basically was what makes you think or feel that the term used was not correct...
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#7re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:30pm
As a drag queen, do you mind being called a transvestite? I suppose most people don't even realize when they say that, that they are implying you are sexually aroused by donning drag, but that's still essentially what they're saying.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. 
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#8re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:32pm
As an adult I am educated to the ignorance of most people and if I am called Transvestite to my face, I take the time and opportunity to explain the difference.
#9re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:34pm
Well, Kringas, I imagine a gay guy could be a transvestite. And, of course, bisexuals.
But another point, I would like to make that may or may not be obvious: Transgender, Transexual, etc. is not a 4th sexual orientation. These folk are either hetero, homo, or bi just like those of us who were born with the correct gender.
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#10re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:37pmJRB - Isn't it too bad that we have to have four or more different definitions? I think we should just use the word "Fabulous" in place of all that.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#11re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:43pm
Well, transvestite is also the oldest (and, to some, most "clinical") way to describe a transgendered person. It was invented in 1920 by Magnus Hirschfeld. The term eventually caught on in the psychoanalysis world -- a world that sought to "change" people.
The blanket term today is transgendered (literally meaning "change gender" -- it could apply to anyone who falls under those definitions).The term "transgendered" also originated within the movement itself, and (therefore) is much more appropriate.
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#12re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:47pmI don't agree with that at all. I would be more offended by being called Transgender than Transvestite, and would probably punch someone before explaining why. I like my di*k and have no desire to cut it off. Trans is just that - either being identified as such, or actually moving through the process of gender reassignment.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#13re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:51pm
well, gender is MUCH different from sex. Sex references your organ. Gender is the performance you give to the world. Thus, transgendered has NOTHING to do with cutting off your pee-pee and installing a vagina.
Likewise, the operation is sexual reassignment surgery, not gender reassignment surgery (the VERY antiquated name -- circa 1980).
#14re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:55pm
I think transgender is an umbrella term that applies to someone who identifies with the opposite gender, for whatever reason and in whatever way, regardless of the desire to have gender reassignment surgery. It does not, necessarily, apply to all people in all of those categories.
However, Cheeze, your assumption of a violent reaction seems a little extreme.
#15re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:58pm
No, cheeze, transgenders don't want surgery.
When, we say GLBT, the T is Transgender, which can cover all who might be victims of bigotry for gender related issues.
Updated On: 12/14/05 at 03:58 PM
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#16re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:59pm
No, if that were the case, DBilly, it would be a misnomer. Again, it just means "change gender" (not identify with gender, or reassign sexual parts)...it can refer to someone who "changes their gender" for a performance, someone who identifies with the other gender, or someone who wishes to have sexual reassignment surgery.
The transgender community has discussed this issue ad naseum, and this term has been the agreed-upon term for years and years now.
#17re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:12pmtouchme, I am not sure which part of our definitions disagree.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#18re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:15pm
"It does not, necessarily, apply to all people in all of those categories."
I would contend it does. Who wouldn't it apply to?
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#19re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:21pm
"No, cheeze, transgenders don't want surgery."
Funny that - cause that's exactly what my trans friends want.
"The transgender community has discussed this issue ad naseum, and this term has been the agreed-upon term for years and years now."
Then it's about time they start educating everyone else on this fact instead of keeping it to themselves and being condescending about it.
And dbilly - I wouldn't really hit anyone, why ruin a good manicure on an idiot?
#20re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:26pmAh, touchme, I was referring to drag queens for whom it is solely a means of entertainment.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#21re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:28pmOh, I think it applies to them, too (if they want it to) -- it means "change gender" -- i.e. they are changing their gender performance for a bit in order to have fun.
#22re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:33pm
"if they want it to"
That's exactly what I meant. It can apply to them, but not necessarily.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#23re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:36pmAhhhhhhhhhh! Now we're on the same page. Sorry.
#24re: An article written by an ACTUAL journalist who still uses the word 'transvestite'
Posted: 12/14/05 at 4:37pmLOL ... we were always on the same page, we just didn't realize it!
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