Does being transgendered mean I’m mentally ill?
No. Transsexualism• This term is used to describe a person who has “transitioned”, or is in the process of “transitioning”, or intends to transition from male to female or female to male. For a transsexual person, the process of “transitioning”, may involve a variety of treatments including: hormone therapy, surgery and hair removal. People who have transitioned do not necessarily identify as trans any longer; they may identify as simply a man or a woman. Some transsexual people may not transition due to family or other social constraints.
• When people complete their transition, they may no longer regard themselves as part of the trans umbrella. They might consider having been transsexual to just be an aspect of their medical history which has now been resolved and so is no longer an issue in their life. In such cases, they simply describe themselves as men or as women and it is most disrespectful to insist on calling them trans, transgender or transsexual against their wishes.
and Gender Identity• One’s innermost concept of self as male or female or both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different than the sex assigned at birth. Individuals are conscious of this between the ages 18 months and 3 years. Most people develop a gender identity that matches their biological sex. For some, however, their gender identity is different from their biological or assigned sex. Some of these individuals choose to socially, hormonally and/or surgically change their sex to more fully match their gender identity.
• The gender to which one feels one belongs.
• Internal and psychological sense of oneself as a woman, a man, both, in between, or neither.
Disorder are listed in psychiatric manuals because of the distress the unresolved condition can cause, which sometimes leads to suicide. This severe distress consequently requires NHS funded interventions aimed at resolving a person’s conflict between their body and their sense of self.
However, a person can be transgendered and function exceptionally well in society. If a person is functioning well it may seem inappropriate for them to receive a diagnosis of (what is technically) psychiatric disorder, however such a diagnosis may be made so that they can receive the appropriate treatments,to prevent future problems.
Seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist does not in itself mean that one has a psychiatric illness.
Does being transgendered mean I won’t be able to get a job?
No. The vast majority of transgendered people have jobs and many employers have policies in place to deal with trans• Trans is an umbrella term used to describe people whose lives appear to conflict with the gender norms of society. Whether this is in their clothing, in presenting themselves or undergoing hormone treatment and surgery. Being trans does not imply any specific sexual orientation.
• Trans is an umbrella term that describes a wide range of people whose gender and/or gender expression differ from their assigned sex and/or the societal and cultural expectations of their assigned sex; includes people who are androgyne, agender, bigender, butch, CAFAB, CAMAB, cross-dresser, drag king, drag queen, femme, FTM, gender creative, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, gender variant, MTF, pangender, questioning, trans, trans man, trans woman, transfeminine, transgender, transmasucline, transsexual, and two-spirit.
related issues that may arise. People who transition• The social, psychological, emotional and economic processes that a trans person undergoes to move from their assigned gender role into their chosen or acquired gender. The time this takes is variable and depends on the individual’s ability to embrace significant change in their life. If requiring genital surgery the individual will have to undergo a so called Real Life Test, i.e. living in their acquired gender role for a minimum of 1 year.
• Refers to the process during which trans people may change their gender expression and/or bodies to reflect their gender, including changes in physical appearance (hairstyle, clothing), behaviour (mannerisms, voice, gender roles), identification (name, pronoun, legal details), and/or medical interventions (hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery).
at work are also protected under employment law. Being transgendered is not enough in and of itself to justify seeking incapacity benefit.
Does being transgendered mean I won’t be able to get a partner?
No. Just as with anyone else many transgendered people are in long term relationships, some are married, some are in a civil partnership and some have relationships with more than one partner. Often the relationships that last longest are those where the transgendered person is openly so, but their being transgendered is not the reason their partner is with them. Every relationship is different.
What causes transgender feelings?
There are so many different ways of being transgendered that it is extremely unlikely that there exists one single “cause”. The literature suggests that it may be any (or any combination) of: genes, pre-birth conditions, hormonesChemical substances that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs; see also: sex hormones., neurology, learning, choice etc. Speculating on causes doesn’t, however, tell you as an individual what to do.
Can being transgendered be cured?
Being transgendered is not a problem in and of itself. The distress that is often caused by being transgendered in a sometimes misunderstanding society can be, and the ‘cure’ for that distress will be different for different people. We do know that for significant numbers of transgendered people, talking therapies do not resolve their gender• However gender is far more complicated. It is the complex interrelationship between an individual’s sex (gender biology), one’s internal sense of self as male, female, both or neither (gender identity) as well as one’s outward presentations and behaviours (gender expression) related to that perception, including their gender role. Together, the intersection of these three dimensions produces one’s authentic sense of gender, both in how people experience their own gender as well as how others perceive it.
• Gender is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is largely culturally determined and is assigned at birth based on the sex of the individual. It affects how people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave.
• Socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and trans people.
issues and, for some, the appropriate course of actions is for the body to be altered to fit the mind through hormonal and surgical interventions.
Is there a ‘right’ way to be transgendered?
No. There are as many different ways of being a transgendered person as there are transgendered people. A big part of the work done at the GIC is in exploring which is the best way for you. You do not have to have hormonesChemical substances that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs; see also: sex hormones. or surgery to be transgendered.
Should surgery be funded on the NHS?
Yes. Genital Reconstruction Surgery is necessary for many transgendered people to live their lives; and for some denial of access to treatment can be life-threatening.
However, as NHS surgery is funded by the taxpayer it is important that only people who would benefit from it are given it. This is one of the reasons, aside from the great number of ethical considerations, that we have a process of diagnosis and evaluation.
Where can I get clothes/wigs/binders/packers/electrolysis? Do you know any good clubs?
As we are part of the NHS we don’t recommend any private outlets/providers. We do, however, provide information on support and campaigning groups. If you search the internet or get in contact with some of the support groups below they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Which transgendered groups do you recommend?
We can’t take responsibility for the content or approach of other websites or groups. This list is for your information only:
- Press for Change (campaign/lobbying)
- GIRES
- The Gender• However gender is far more complicated. It is the complex interrelationship between an individual’s sex (gender biology), one’s internal sense of self as male, female, both or neither (gender identity) as well as one’s outward presentations and behaviours (gender expression) related to that perception, including their gender role. Together, the intersection of these three dimensions produces one’s authentic sense of gender, both in how people experience their own gender as well as how others perceive it.
• Gender is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is largely culturally determined and is assigned at birth based on the sex of the individual. It affects how people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave.
• Socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and trans people.
Trust (support – with telephone helpline) - FTM Network (newsletter)
- Trans• Trans is an umbrella term used to describe people whose lives appear to conflict with the gender norms of society. Whether this is in their clothing, in presenting themselves or undergoing hormone treatment and surgery. Being trans does not imply any specific sexual orientation.
• Trans is an umbrella term that describes a wide range of people whose gender and/or gender expression differ from their assigned sex and/or the societal and cultural expectations of their assigned sex; includes people who are androgyne, agender, bigender, butch, CAFAB, CAMAB, cross-dresser, drag king, drag queen, femme, FTM, gender creative, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, gender variant, MTF, pangender, questioning, trans, trans man, trans woman, transfeminine, transgender, transmasucline, transsexual, and two-spirit.
London (monthly meetings) - Spectrum London (monthly meetings)
- FTM London (monthly meetings)
- NuttycaTS (online support)
- CX Gender Identity• One’s innermost concept of self as male or female or both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different than the sex assigned at birth. Individuals are conscious of this between the ages 18 months and 3 years. Most people develop a gender identity that matches their biological sex. For some, however, their gender identity is different from their biological or assigned sex. Some of these individuals choose to socially, hormonally and/or surgically change their sex to more fully match their gender identity.
• The gender to which one feels one belongs.
• Internal and psychological sense of oneself as a woman, a man, both, in between, or neither.
Clinic Yahoo group (online support)