Transsexing continued. . .

". . .Our situation ultimately will ask everyone to embrace the gamut of human possibility and to define for themselves what is normal." -Thomas Beatie

A pregnant man. Now this is right up my alley! You know how I love blurry lines, in varying shades of gray. It intrigues me to no end. Someone to push the boundaries of our thought processes, test our belief systems, and challenge our institutional values. And a gender pioneer to boot? I am sold.

I do feel the need, as always, however, to climb atop my soapbox (read: high horse) for a lecture. I know this may seem a little bit nit picky, but I cannot help but feeling sad when people misuse the term "transgender." Perhaps it isn't so much misuse as it is over use. While all transsexuals are transgendered, not all transgendered people are transsexuals.

Transgender is an umbrella term, housing a broad spectrum of individuals. Transsexuals cease being merely transgendered at the moment of medical intervention, be it hormones, plastic surgery, or sexual reassignment.

I find it important to make this distinction for a couple of reasons. First, it is simply more accurately descriptive, let's call a horse a horse. Second, I feel that by using these terms incorrectly(or interchangeably, as it were) the transsexual community is gaining visibility, understanding, and acceptance at the cost of an entire class of people, by subjugating the rest of their transgendered peers. Where are their voices? And where is the revolution in doing that? Instead of simply adding one category to our current binary system of sex and gender, why not shed light on a vast spectrum of possibilities. Doesn't that help everyone in the end? Am I wrong?

Many congratulations, and best wishes to Mr. Thomas Beatie and his family. Thanks for showing us all what true freedom looks and feels like. The freedom to stand proud in exactly who and what we are. May we all one day be so lucky.