Question about gender change

[lougle]

If someone is making a transition to one gender from another, what does their sexuality relate to - their original gender, or their new one?

For instance, if a man is transitioning to become a woman, and is attracted to women, would that make them 'straight' or 'gay'?

If a woman is transitioning to become a man, and is attracted to women, would he then be 'straight' or 'gay'?

I'm likely to have to explain 'gender change' to my children, but it occurred to me that I really don't understand the 'gender' part of it at all.

I understand the physical processes and the medical timeline, etc. (ie. live as new gender for x period, medication, initial reassignment surgery, final reassignment surgery), but I don't understand how someone who has had gender reassignment would identify their sexuality.

I hope I haven't offended anyone - I may not have used the right terminology and may have been clumsy in the way I've asked the question.

Yes I do think they should get therapy and I don't think cosmetic surgery should be on the NHS.

Breakingdad I think that can be the case.

Yes, absolutely. Without that I'm not sure my partner would be still here.

No I don't think trans people should get surgery on the NHS.

Thankyou for your input whenthered I found your view on it interesting. However what do you mean by 'affects no-one'. So do you think people should be denied treatment on the basis of it having an effect on someone else? Because someone doesn't like it?

flora do you also think plastic surgery for other reasons shouldn't be allowed on the NHS too? Like the breast implant etc.

It would seem Kim that people think you should be 'cured' into accepting the body you're born with.

I don't agree with that.

sorry x posts

Kim, you wrote:

"I think what people probably find hard to understand is what it's like to be trans...So you don't really know why transwomen and transmen are desperate for surgery."

I think what many posters are finding difficult is not the idea that someone may want surgery to change their body, but the idea that a male-bodied person can say they are a woman but have no intention of having surgery.

I don't think any cosmetic surgery should be allowed on the NHS. I also don't think bariatric surgery should be. I know two women who have had it. It didn't work for either and both have ongoing health problems from the surgery. On of them said, regarding its failure to help her lose weight "what does eating have to do with hunger anyway".

kim I'm not going there again.

This piece is interesting about gender quinnae.com/2010/10/01/i-am-whoever-you-say-i-am/ Might have to re read to take it in better but it gives another view of trans and gender issues.

Kim, how do you think pregnant women should be handled, considering people are saying bio sex doesn't exist. Should they be cured of the delusion that they are pregnant the way some people think gay people should be cured?

It would seem Kim that people think you should be 'cured' into accepting the body you're born with

Your palpable distaste for the idea that someone's mental anguish should be addressed directly to the extent that it is extinguished is fascinating.

Would you genuinely actively resist the introduction of a non-surgical approach to helping people who identify as the opposite gender? Genuinely fight for their "right" to surgery instead?

lollerskates I'm sorry but what a load of rubbish. My palpable distaste of mental anguish? Is there any other emotive language you'd like to use to make me seem like a monster who doesn't understand mental health?

You do realise that people who want to go through the trans process have to have numerous psychological investigations first? It isn't just a simple 'oh lets chop these bits off and make these ones and wall a'

People once thought being gay was an illness that needed to be cured. Now we accept people are born that way. Why can't we accept that a person can be born feeling that they are in the wrong body. Why can't we accept that it's a gruelling process, and support those people who feel this way. Support them to get the help they need to feel at peace with themselves.