Transgendered people are those whose appearance, behaviors, or personal characteristics differ from stereotypes about how men and women are supposed to be (NGLTF, 2000). The group includes crossdressers, transsexuals (both male to female - MtF and female to male - FtM), and intersexed people (those born with genitals that may look like boys or girls but may have the other gender's internal reproductive organs). Transgendered people often suffer both internal confusion and suffering and prejudice or violence from others. Transgendered people face enormous discrimination in society - from immediate family, neighbors, and co-workers. The pressures to conform to gender stereotypes are so overwhelming that many transsexuals attempt suicide before seeking treatment. Unfortunately, far too many fail by succumbing to suicide while many other individuals suffer their lives in seclusion and secrecy.

Why should the general lesbian, gay, and bisexual (lgb) community care about transgender issues?

The reason this is so important to the lgb community is that someone who is viewed as being gender different, regardless whether they identify as transgendered or not, is often subject to the exact same oppression, the same violence as those of us who do identify as being transgendered. Being perceived as gender different is the leading reason given for "gay-bashing". The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has long included transgender rights in its mission and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently expanded their mission statement to include the transgender community.

Finally, gender rights are ultimately human rights. Each of us is assigned a gender role at birth that we are expected to conform to, regardless of how we might feel or view ourselves as being. As a most basic human right, each of us should be free to express our gender as we wish

Where can I get more information?

International Foundation for Gender Education - www.ifge.org

Gender Education and Advocacy - www.gender.org

GenderPAC - www.gpac.org

TGForum - www.tgforum.com

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - www.ngltf.org

Your Family Friends and Neighbors - www.yffn.org

NGLTF, 2000. Transgender Equality, A Handbook for Activists and Policymakers. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Washington, DC.
Download:   PDF (536k)