Ask a transsexual anything

[TaraJo]

Hmm. So the whole LGBT- "label" (for want of a better word) is the big tent?

For the most part, yeah, that's about it. Gay men, for example, are still gay men even though they fall within the GLBT community. Although, the GLBT community is largely a political creation.

But, how can you define masculine and feminine without reference to biology, and without being completely circular?

Gender has to do with psychology, not biology. Trying to get a biologist to explain gender would be about as pointless as asking Sigmund Freud to explain RNA translation. However, if you still want to go into the biology of it, that's fine, I can do that, too:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20...-scan.html

I found that article with a very quick google search. If I wanted to do more indepth research on it, I would undoubtedly find far more. The point is, there is a structural difference between male and female brains. So, what happens when you get a brain that's more female even though the rest of the body is male? You get me.

---

What is your favorite meal?

Do you like turtles?

I have a weakness for pizza. Part of the reason I weigh a bit more than I should (and it doesn't help that there's a pizza buffett just up the street from me).

As for turtles, sorry, I like my animals fluffier.

[Brian37]

I hate any type of script thinking. "Butch" lesbians are women as much as any "feminine" lip stick woman.

Why? What do they share besides biology? You seem to be proving my point.

No, you are proving your bigotry and stupidity.

[Violet]

You do know that I was once your age, don't you? I've changed a lot and grown up a lot since 10 years ago, just saying ....

Considering that I'm 400 years old, I really don't believe you Especially in regards to that last part.

I'm explaining how the show portrayed transsexuals. The show didn't reveal that Miriam was a pornographic actor either. Like I said, so much for honesty - in the show. Why would anyone in their right mind want to represent and portray others like them in such a clearly revolting way?

Because monies. I mean, have you seen how gays, lesbians, and bisexual peeps are displayed on TV? TV thrives on stereotype and caricature.

She was in porn before and after "Something About Miriam", obviously. And yes, that's exactly how I think they found her, otherwise how else did they so easily find someone who was ruthless enough, selfish enough, heatless enough to do what "she" did in the show????

It might be obvious to you, but me? I need evidence. If Han Solo exists because he did ol' Georgie's cabinets... Miriam may have come from anywhere.

And I really don't think it has anything at all to do with ruthlessness or heartlessness, and the amount of selfishness is minuscule... but monies? Better bet there was money in it

Interesting answer, Violet. Prostitutes feel discriminated against.... but then, hey that's their problem if you ask me. The VAST MAJORITY of prostitutes, at least in Australia, are regular injecting drug users. That's not a stereotype, it's true. A couple of years back a 17 year old woman was found DOA in a Canberra brothel, and yes she OD'd on narcotics. I'm 29, and I don't understand why any adult older than say 22 would want to have sex with a 17 year old, can you imagine you call the brothel and order a prostitute, and they send you a 17 year old? That's what happens when no one gives a shit about the health, safety and regulation of prostitution. So in a way, there is BS that certainly should be cleaned up, as for "prostitutes right's", as far as I'm concerned, they don't deserve to have any. But I do see them joining in with the GLBT-P movement in the future. Anyway, carry on.

I'm a fisherman, and I feel discriminated against... with good reason. Specifically the Eastern Cook Inlet Setnet industry was shut down last year... Drifters were open, West side was open, hell... even the sports fishermen were open. It's really not a professional's problem if they are being pointlessly discriminated against.

As long as prostitution remains flatly illegal, it will be deeply involved in human trade, drugs, and the violation of minors. I'm all for the health, safety, and regulation of prostitution... but even when those are all better, such illegality won't completely stop. And again, this isn't often on the prostitutes... it is a dangerous job, and customers can be anyone from minors to hardened criminals to infected with a horrible STI to dealers to pimps who demand a little more than their share of the earnings. In the current state of the job... there is literally nothing that *prostitutes* can do about these things.

---

So yet another group that don't meet your lofty "standards" Danny.

And when a prostitute gets the crap beaten out of her by a customer is that just her bad luck?

Right now? Actually... yes.

---

I tell you what Zen, if I was desperate, and I mean, really desperate, and I ordered a prostitute from the brothel, and got myself worked up in the interim, and then someone shows up high on drugs then I tell you what - I'd be fucking pissed off, wouldn't you?!

If you're displeased with the current, ask the madame for a change of scenery.

Most people really don't care how high the prostitute (female or male) is, they're there to use them and be done with them.

So you know, maybe some people have it coming to them. I'm not excusing violence mind you, I've been assaulted before, three times by a single colleague once, no disciplinary action taken, where the fuck were my rights? I feel sorry for the guy's wife mind you, but hey that's another matter. Do me a favour Zen, go and practise falling down.

Oh boo hoo. Rights don't exist.

---

If a transgendered person shakes hands with someone else, or hugs them, will that person magically want to get a sex change too?

If it's me, there's a 50% chance of the occurrence.

Most of the people who I touch are trans

---

But, how can you define masculine and feminine without reference to biology, and without being completely circular?

They are social constructs, so it's pretty easy. You'll notice that it's hard to identify which dogs exhibit masculine qualities as opposed to feminine ones outside of whether they dominate or submit?

If it were based firmly in biology and not in gender roles, then you'd be seeing it in non-human animals, particularly the 'higher mammals'

---

I hate any type of script thinking. "Butch" lesbians are women as much as any "feminine" lip stick woman.

Why? What do they share besides biology? You seem to be proving my point.

Butch lesbians and lipstick lezzies aren't necessarily female

So they don't even have to share biology.

---

What is your favorite meal?

Do you like turtles?

Pizza, Spaghetti, and pussy all tie.

I do not like turtles.

[John V]

They are social constructs, so it's pretty easy.

OK, let's hear the definitions.

[Violet]

They are social constructs, so it's pretty easy.

OK, let's hear the definitions.

Gender: the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).

Obviously, I consider using it in any other way to be redundant and pointless, and to cause needless possibility to be misinterpreted.

Same reason I'm not recording a video with me saying that allowed with your usage of 'hear'... if I didn't have such an advanced grasp upon the English language: such might confuse me. Don't worry, John... we all see right where you're coming from

[John V]

OK, let's hear the definitions.

Gender: the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).

The request was for definitions of masculine and feminine, not gender.

[TaraJo]

Gender: the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).

The request was for definitions of masculine and feminine, not gender.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculine

Masculine:

1
a : male
b : having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to males <masculine nouns>
3
a : having or occurring in a stressed final syllable <masculine rhyme>
b : having the final chord occurring on a strong beat <masculine cadence>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminine

Feminine:

1
: female 1a(1)
2
: characteristic of or appropriate or unique to women <feminine beauty> <a feminine perspective>
3
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to females <a feminine noun>
4
a : being an unstressed and usually hypermetric final syllable <a feminine ending>
b of rhyme : having an unstressed final syllable
c : having the final chord occurring on a weak beat <music in feminine cadences>

[John V]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculine

Masculine:

1
a : male
b : having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to males <masculine nouns>
3
a : having or occurring in a stressed final syllable <masculine rhyme>
b : having the final chord occurring on a strong beat <masculine cadence>

1a "male" above is itself a link, which goes to:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/male
1a : a male person : a man or a boy
b : an individual that produces small usually motile gametes (as spermatozoa or spermatozoids) which fertilize the eggs of a female

This is a biological reference, so this doesn't answer the question.

[Aractus]

I think I will check with Kichi on this one.

There ya go!

You're not reaaallly saying you'd beat the fuck out of her.

No, I said I'd be pissed off. Now take into account that a lot of people that call prostitutes are drunk or on drugs themselves, and the fact that some of them are violent, and you have the recipe for violence. I'm not excusing it, I think it's disgusting, but if you are willing to put yourself into a vulnerable and potentially dangerous situation, you would be aware that you could be the victim of an assault.

Take that Chinese-national Canberran man who was murdered in cold blood a couple of months back. I feel so sorry for the poor guy, did he deserve what happened to him? Absolutely not. Why was he walking down Northbourne Avenue at 3 or 4 AM in the morning though? He put himself into a dangerous situation - I mean the Northbourne Flats are fucking notorious. He had the opportunity to decide not to do it, and unfortunately he made a bad decision. Even if he wasn't assaulted, and wasn't murdered it would still have been the wrong decision, because he would have been lucky not to have had a confrontation with some drunken white-trash lowlife. In my opinion, his safest choice would have been to go to the Police Station in Civic and wait to be picked up from there.

Now get off my case already.

[Gilgamesh]

Chicks with dicks are hawt.

Confirm?