Conversions

Bisexual day was Tuesday, this week. How did everybody celebrate? I danced in the rain in Saint Kilda to Michael buble with my G.F-Yes, yes we are perfectly aware of how lame and disgracefully cutesie we are!

(We took it for granted that in Saint Kilda we did not have to even check for rainbow stickers on doors..we were wrong! I advise against the 'Falafel Kitchen' in Saint Kilda, the falafel isn't that good and the man who works there appears to have a distaste for lesbians and pigeons-the pigeon was not with us)

I also encouraged many heterosexuals to use the day as an excuse to experiment. Out of ten, three did! :) One of the wom*n who experimented latter reported to me "OMG! I'm never going back! [to men]" Now I don't believe that you can "convert" or "recruit" someone to a sexuality. Her mates have accused me of "turning" her. It's simply not possible.

She herself reflects that she had "...always sorta been interested" and had at various stages in her life "questioned" She says she now has a lot more questioning to do!

Some people claim to "just know" and maybe that's true, but I think part of being queer means questioning. Maybe not for everyone, but for many of us I believe there is a period of confusion as we struggle to come to terms with our identity, and our sexuality and gender identity, and what impact that has on our identity.

Generally (well as far as I know) Heterosexuals do not have to question, their heterosexuality, It's just taken for granted. A friend of mine once said "well if you have to even think about it, you must be [queer] because people like 'us' (referring to himself and his gf) don't even have to think about it!" This may not be true, I know people who identify as heterosexuals who at some stage in their life had questioned their sexuality. This may have more to do with the fact the Both sexuality and gender identity are fluid-changeable!

Jess was recently berated by a teacher for using the phrase "transcending society's norms" The teacher argued that Queers "differ" , they don't transcend. Between us we thought of a number of reasons why the term "transcend" is used within the political-queer community. On reflection of the process of questioning that many queers have to go through, I feel that transcend is defiantly the correct term. While sexuality and gender identity are not necessarily choices queers do have to contemplate and consider their sexuality and hopefully come to terms with it and embrace it.

The need for reflection comes as a result of the fact that we are a minority and everywhere we look there are messages telling us that it's wrong, that relationships are between a man and a woman, conforming to the assigned-at-birth-sex gender roles. On embracing this identity after a process of deep reflection, queers have indeed TRANSCENDED societies norm. They did not choose to be queer but the actively worked to understand and better accept who they are in a way that most heterosexuals do not. That said heterosexuals may have their own identity crisis, but these are of a different nature.

so TRANSCEND away my pretties.....

Chapter Three

And so the Story of jessica concludes....

III


Her name was Catherine. She was even more attractive close up. Both she and Cameron were in the café, serving customers their greasy food and watered-down drinks. She was very pleasant to him, remembering his name and reminding him strongly of when he first met Natalie…
He couldn’t possibly be gay. He was very much into females. Cameron wasn’t quite lusting over Catherine, but it was safe to say he was infatuated. He loved talking to her, and listened intently to everything she’d say…
Strike!
Sometimes Jess came out, even though he was wearing pants and a polo shirt. This puzzled him a bit, as he couldn’t feel that he good bring his other half into conversation without those things. He was happy, though, as whenever Jess said a joke, Catherine – or Kat, as he came to call her – would laugh prettily.
He almost felt content. He would enjoy work, he was sure of it. And maybe he’d start dating Kat… but first they’d just be friends. Close friends, and then… and then…
Strike!

So, this is my friend Twilight. She’s... a cross-dresser, too, I guess. I thought you might like to talk. Twilight, this is Cam; the guy I spoke to you about?
Howdy!
Hi, how are you?
Good, actually. Able’s been speaking a lot about you. I assume you’ve realized that I’m transgendered, too?
Ohhhh… you mean, like a cross-dresser, right?
Uh. Not quite…
Aheheh… Cam, sweetie, Twilight doesn’t really like being called a cross-dresser. I’ve… well, I’ve been told that cross-dressing’s … a derogatory term, to some people? Like, it refers to someone who only dresses up for the thrill of it?
Yeah. But, uh, don’t worry, Cam…
Oh... Um, sorry. That is… I mean, I didn’t realize it meant…
Like I said, man, no worries. For all I know… you are a cross-dresser?
Well… I don’t really… I mean, I’m not really turned on by it, no.
Ah…?
It’s like she’s another person. But… she’s does things better than Cam. Know what I mean, Twi? You must.
Ohhhhhhh.
Yeah. It is a bit like that. She’s… right. She’s what I should be all the time. The best part of me.
Are you sure it’s just that?
Eh?
Huh?
Are you sure she’s just a part of you? Wouldn’t you like to be her all the time?
Strike!
“Sweet! Time to start closing!” Kat had an expression of pure relief as she started cleaning up. Cam couldn’t help but smile.
“We both clock off now?” Cam was unsure.
“Yep!” She grinned like a madman. “I can go home and watch all of Gantz…”
“Gantz?” It took Cam a few moments to register. “Oh, you’re an anime fan?”
“Yeah. You too?”
“Aheheh, yeah, I guess I am…”
Strike!
“What sort of stuff do you like?” The two of them said it in unison, and Kat giggled.
“Ohh… lots of things. Most of it, really. Not Naruto though…”
The two of them laughed about Naruto, its legion of fans, and just things in general. Cam was happy; they had something else in common! He didn’t need a reason to be friends, now; they could go anime shopping and visit all the conventions together…
Strike!
“What about Bleach? You like Bleach, Cam?”
“Well… I’m more of a Yu Yu Hakusho fan myself…”
Strike!
“And Evangelion? Usually I don’t like mecha, but… wow…”
Strike!
And it clicked. That’s what he loved most about Jessica. As the sounds of people cheering mixed with the crashes of bowling, he had an epiphany. He loved Jess because she was striking. Where Cam was boring, awkward, and mundane, Jessica was funny, offbeat and amusing. She made a lasting impression. That was what he wanted. To be remembered, to leave people flabbergasted at her – no, his – skill, or talent, or beauty…
He wanted to throw them to their feet with Jessica’s beauty. He wanted to topple them as many would topple all the pins in a strike, to leave them open with his piercing ability. He wanted to be noticed.
She wanted to be noticed. Jessica Strike wanted to stand out as bright as a flare at night, and she would do it smiling.
Cameron was unsure, now. Was this Jess talking, or him? Did Twilight… was Twilight right? Was it all just Jessica?
They packed up the store, and even through his confusion Cameron Flint was for once happy.

Chapter 2

II



Um. Achilles… we’re mates, right? Friends?
Lol ya
If I told you a secret, you’d keep it? And not be too weirded out?
Roflmao no I wont we r frends tel me lol
Achilles… I’m a cross-dresser. I like to dress up as a girl, sometimes. It’s a part of me, you know? I just… I’m telling all my close friends.
Lolololol! U r jokin ya?
Uh… nope.
Lol! Fag! U r so gay! Hahahahahahahahahah do u like to lick men? Suck the cock?
I’m not fucking gay! Come on Achilles, stop messing around, I’m serious! What do you honestly think?
I honestly think u r a fag
Lol pools closed. Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids Aids
… Fucking Jesus, Achilles… you’re such a bastard
Rofles I m not Achilles any more faggot
?
I m stymphalion

“He just said that to you? Well, what do you expect when you make all your friends off 4chan?” Natalie sounded anxious and a little bit worried. She didn’t often hear Cam this moody, and it worried her. They had dated on and off for around a year, and became extraordinarily close; they were still close even now. “Do you have any reason why? Did you do something to make him cut?”
“Um, well, maybe. I mean, not really, he was just being a prick…”
“Come on, Cam. You can tell me anything, for Gods’ sake. What happened?”
“Well… I mean,” Cameron was unsure. This was an ex-girlfriend he was talking with, after all. Maybe she didn’t want to know. No, no, that wasn’t it; he should have told her earlier. He was a selfish inconsiderate arse not to tell her; his best friend, after all! The only person he spoke more to was possibly Able, but she was just a net friend. And she knew anyway.
But he couldn’t tell her now. She’d demand to know why he was hiding it. She wouldn’t understand. She’d hate him, and call him a faggot, spit on him. They wouldn’t be friends any longer. Just… acquaintances.
But what would Jessica do? What would she do?
No, it was dumb to think of that. Jessica was just Cameron Flint. They’d do the same thing, wouldn’t they? She wasn’t really significant at all, to be honest. Just… something small…
Fuck it.
“I’m a crossdresser.”
Natalie laughed at that one. “Yeah, right. Okay, Cam-“
“-No, seriously.”
“… what? Really? Like, really really?”
“Yeah. Um.”
“Oh God. Um. Well…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier…”
“And you’re... you’re gay, then?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Ah… oh God, Cam, I’m not losing you, am I?”
“Losing… me?”
“As a friend.”
“No. Not at all. I’m still the same… Cam…”
“Oh, um, uh…” She trailed off.
Natalie didn’t talk for much longer after that. She promptly hung up, leaving Cam rather mystified as to the whole situation. She wasn’t too upset – that was good! She wasn’t angry, she didn’t make threats, and she didn’t burst into tears. She seemed fine…
Doubt, as if it were a malign cancer, twisted in his gut. She was faking it. The well-being was a mask. Cam had no doubt she had been taken back, and a little scared. But what if she never called again? What if she refused to answer her phone, and removed him online?
Did she really think he was gay?
If it was possible, the doubt deepened. What else could he be? He’d never heard of a straight cross-dresser before. He liked dressing up as a female. Wearing his older sister’s skirt, or sometimes her blouse, made him feel complete. He was naturally much happier when Jessica was in control, when it was her talking, and he did sometimes wonder what it would be like to have sex like a woman…
No – no, he wasn’t gay. But then what was he? Cameron was confused, and he often wondered what he was. Who was he? Was he more Jessica, or more Cameron? Cameron was weak and pathetic, while Jessica was his opposite in almost every regard. Come to think of it, she was like a completely different person.
Schizophrenia.
Did he have multiple personalities? Cameron Flint and Jessica, maybe more… was he sick? Did he need help? Was something unbalanced up there, in his head?
The thoughts continued, and Cameron couldn’t help but whimper as he decided to start getting ready for bed.

Checking his mobile, Cam read that it was 3:42 in the morning. Slowly gathering the energy to get up, he sat in bed, rubbing his weary eyes. He wasn’t thirsty, and he didn’t need to take a piss. Why did he wake up? There was nothing wrong. He started forming a headache…
No. Something was wrong.
He tried to get back to sleep, but that feeling was still there. He worried. What was it? Did he overlook something?
Tiptoeing quietly to his door, he tried to open it slowly to avoid the creaking. The floorboards under him, however, made a bit of noise, and Cam had to slow right down in order to avoid waking up Mum and Dad. The problem was that house was too damn small…
He swung open the door, quickly this time, and that negated the usual creaking. Walking out, slowly, he went through the cramped kitchen, avoiding the chairs and laundry baskets…
Claire’s room. His sister.
She was away, he recalled. Off with her boyfriend in Phillip Island – they’d gone boating, and she’d always wanted to see those penguins. There weren’t many penguins in urban Brisbane…
The door was already ajar, and Cam crept in. He opened Claire’s top drawer…
He couldn’t see what they were, but he grabbed them anyway. Panties. Claire’s underwear. Cam’s heart started beating furiously and a few beads of sweat appeared below his armpits. He stood still, debating.
No. He couldn’t. It was too sick…
Next drawer. Stockings. That wouldn’t be too bad…
A few moments after, Cam lay in bed, the stockings on. He felt much, much better; the headache was gone. He smiled to himself, content. He felt comfortable. He felt right.
I’d do anything in the world just to keep this going...

Jessica

This is a story about a transgendered young person written by a friend of mine who for now has chosen to be anonymous

The story will come out over 3 posts

Chapter 1

It seemed kind of shallow, but the first thing Cameron Flint noticed about the girl was just how
pretty she was. There was the original feeling of teenage lust, but it was not a purely sexual desire. He wanted to talk to her. Cameron wanted to shop with her, to learn her name, and to care about her. It would be nice even if they were just to be friends.
Long, dark hair coupled with hazel eyes and a generally pleasant figure didn’t make her incredibly attractive, however. Her face was round, and kind of plain. She was by no means obese, but wasn’t quite the girl Cameron’s mates would usually aim for. Her nose was a bit long; Cam idly wondered if she was Jewish…
“Uh, how can I help…?” The guy looked no older than Cameron’s age, but was taller and skinnier. His nametag read DREW. Drew had roughly neatened hair, and wore glasses. He seemed vaguely out of place – not quite the kind of person to be working at a busy bowling alley. Cameron had waited until the place had become less busy before he decided to approach the counter, however. He didn’t really feel comfortable talking around crowds, especially about these kinds of things. Even though a help wanted sign had been tacked onto the board, Cam couldn’t help feeling as if he was freeloading; asking for something that wasn’t his.
“Yeah… I was kind of wondering if I could drop in an application,” Cam tried his best to look Drew in the eyes, and to try and seem confident. “I mean a résumé.”
Drew’s beetle-like eyes blinked a few times behind the thick glasses. Cameron started to worry; what if there was some mistake? Or the job was filled? Or if he messed up the résumé?
A startling thought wormed its way slowly into Cameron’s head. Jessica wouldn’t have these kinds of problems, would she? She was always loud, and confident to the point of cockiness – she got what she wanted, when she wanted it, and nothing could ever really stop her.
“Sure,” Drew started slowly. “Let me just go fetch Janet – I mean the manager, okay?” Drew wandered off, but Cam barely noticed, so entrapped in his own thoughts. It should be easy to just let Jess out for a bit, right? He needn’t even dress up for it (and even the very words “dress up” seemed inadequate for what it was). Jessica was a part of Cameron, at least – at least a solid third of his personality. Just let her loose a bit, and see what happens…
It was a tantalizing thought, but before Cam could even fully consider it he was hit with the familiar waves. Shame, humiliation, regret, and disgust. Bile rose in his throat at the thought. Filthy bastards. God hates faggots, son, and you’d bloody well not become a faggot on me. You’re not to be gay, or some filthy shemale – you’ll be no devil-worshipper, not with how I bloody brought you up.
Dad. That was Dad speaking, not Cameron, he told himself. Not mum, either. Oh, darling, but you must know that homosexuality is a sin. Your father’s right, you know; faggots go to hell. But you’re not dirty are you, Cam, sweetie? No… not our little boy…
Ahh… that was Mum…
Cameron broke the chain of thought. He liked to visualize a chalk board, with all the insecure thoughts on the black face. Then he imagined scratching them off – it somehow made him feel better. Much calmer.
He looked around for the slightly pretty girl. He couldn’t see her. What was her job? Was she full time? Who was she, what were her friends like; would she go out with him? No, of course she wouldn’t. Not with him.
Cam shook his head. The lady was staring at him patiently. “Are you all right, mate?”
This must be Janet. She had platinum spiked hair which contrasted nicely with her conservative dressing.
The emotions came back double. He was such an idiot. Why come in the first place? No one wants to hire a faggot. Or even a filthy cross-dresser who mumbled and couldn’t quite find the confidence outside of his alter-ego...

An alter-ego? Is that all she really is, Cambo?
Well, yeah. What else could she be, exactly?
Maybe… I don’t know, but I heard some, uh...
Cross-dressers. Call me what I am.
Right. Cross-dressers. I heard some of them, you know, change full time? Like… it’s more of a spiritual thing, yeah? Like they were born female, but trapped in a male body.
I… I couldn’t. What would Dad think? And Mum?
Besides, I’m not gay. I keep telling people. I’m straight. 100%.
Well, from what I gather… no offense… but your Dad’s an arsehole. And Christian, which isn’t really an excuse. And I know you’re not gay. <3
I don’t think... there’s anything wrong with being Christian, Able.
But Mormon, mate?

“I… uhh… e-everything’s fine…”
“Good. I’m Janet,” she begun. “I heard you want to work with us?”
“Well… yes. I’m inexperienced, but I’ll learn quickly. I’ll take any job you give me. Anything.”
“Well, we won’t make you go too low, eh?” Janet didn’t quite wink, but she laughed a shrill little cackle.
“Uh…” Cam tried to laugh, too. It didn’t quite work.
“Your résumé is fine, too. How about we start you as working behind the counter, in the café? Then we’ll see how you go on from there. You won’t have to cook, I promise.”
“Ah… thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks.”
“Heh. No problem. I’ll give you a call sometime.”
“Ahh… thanks… thanks again. Thank you.”
“No problem, darl.”

Uh… n? If I were to tell you something, could you, um…
Yeah? What’s going on, man? And call me Naith. No need for those bastard usernames between friends, hey?
Yeah... well… what if I said that for a long time, I’ve enjoyed dressing up … as a female?
I… Uhhh… go on.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it. I’m a cross-dresser… I just thought… well… I’d like my good friends to know. My online friends.
Yeah…
Um. I havn’t creeped you out, have I? I can answer any questions you may have …
Yeah. Jesus. Wow. Um. Well… no, I’m not creeped out. I just had no idea…
I mentioned once that I like futanari.
Hahahahahahah! That could be any old pervert saying that, though! ;)
: ( I’m not a pervert. I don’t think. But Dad…
Shit, man, sorry. I … didn’t mean offense. : )


He did it. Cameron finally got a job, and in a bowling alley! He was enraptured. He and that brunette would become friends! He’d meet many new friends, have new opportunities, and become more social, more confident. He couldn’t wait. With a bit of training, he wouldn’t even need Jess.
After all, he figured, she was just a tool, right? A shield, something to allow him to continue on in bad times…

How DARE you assume I'm heterosexual?!

So I apologise for the long time between posts I've been very busy lately with year 12, my school queer group which is well and truly on it's legs now despite some administrative opposition as well as beginning a new relationship (too busy being queer to post on a queer space :-p)

"How DARE you assume I'm Heterosexual" read my girl friends badge (sadly placed out of sight)

On first reading it, I laughed but then it really did make me think. It is generally assumed that you are heterosexual.

People make assumptions about other peoples sexuality all the time, even unconsciously.

Many of my friends are male and when other friends see me with them I am frequently asked if they are my boyfriend. I don't know what's more insulting; people assuming that I'm heterosexual or people assuming that I must be having a relationship with any man I am seen with.

Walking to a friends birthday with one of my male friends, holding a bunch of flowers, a gift for the birthday person I was seen by a wom*n I used to go to school with. Later that week she spoke to me online and asked me how long I'd been with my boyfriend. In sharp contrast I walked into a pathologist holding a white rose in one hand and my girlfriends hand in the other. We were asked if we were SISTERS! In both situations an assumption was made about my sexuality.

It got me thinking about the differences between going out with a man and going out with a woma*n

In my relationships with men I've never thought twice about walking down the street holding hands, or kissing or just generally being affectionate in public. I mean obviously there are times and places where that is inappropriate but generally it never relay fazed me other than that being with men i was always less likely to actually want to be affectionate.

My relationships with wom*n have in the past been secretive and hidden. I have recently begun a relationships which is more open. When My partner and I went on a date at a time when she knew she was unlikely to see or more importantly be seen by people who may be likely to report back to her parents (parents are in my experience with queer students, including myself the last to know) we were openly affectionate. holding hands, walking arm in arm down the street, kissing on the beach. This was a big thing for me. Everywhere we went people stared at us. They may not necessarily have all been homophobic, but we were a novelty among them. I worked hard to block out the stupid comments I heard when people passed us. 'Are they both girls?' It was uncomfortable I couldn't help but wonder what each person was thinking wen they looked at us. Were they themselves closeted queers, impressed by our openness. Were we a novelty to them which they couldn't help but stare at. Did they look at us and condemn us. One Senior citizen shook their head at me when I smiled. Did they look at us and automatically think of our sexual relationship. I know that on coming out to friends one of the first things I was asked were questions related to intimate experiences with women. People frequently associate queers with sex. I suppose this is no surprise given that we tend to define people by their differences in order to categorise them, in the case of queer people this means defining us by our sexuality and gender identity (though all people are categorised by the gender they are perceived to have by others).
All in all, despite the looks and the comments it was a great day! As I got on the train to go back home I had that warm silly feeling. :-)

Yesterday however was different, she knew that it was highly likely that she would be seen by somebody. I instinctively took her hand when I got off the train to see her. Though it's not her fault and I understand completely I couldn't help but be hurt as we walked out of the train station and she let go of my hand. We did have an enjoyable day, we had felafel, walked around, spent some time lying around in the sun in the park, met one of her friends and did manage to sneak some moment of affection. However the incident at the train station set the pattern for the rest of the day, we would be holding hands then she would drop my hand or when I went to hold hers she'd indicate that we couldn't do it here. We deliberately took back streets, avoiding the main roads so that we could hold hands.

I don't want this to sound like a criticism of her because it's not, it's a criticism of society. After informing the pathologist that we were in fact not sisters we looked at each other uneasily before clarifying that we were "just friends" Though I have excitedly told many of my friends about my relationship, and Jess is far from secret, when I was asked who I was bringing to my school formal by a classmate, I replied with "Jess, she's a friend" As soon as I'd said it I was kicking myself. I'm far from in the closet at school and yet my automatic reaction to a question about my relationship was to hide it.

I am beginning to better understand the concept of "PRIDE" as in queer pride. I used to think, 'sexuality is not an achievement, why should there be pride'. Yet a sense of pride must be fought for, proud to be who you are, proud to transcend societies norms, proud not to deny your identity and when you are ready proud not to feel the need to hide.

Transgender

This is an essay written by a friend of mine; Jessica Zimmerman. She's doing year 12 at small Jewish high school;Leblier Yavneh College in elsternwick. She researched Transgender issues and wrote this in response to the many questions she was getting from her peers. Jessica feels that an important part of her crusade against queerphobia and heterosexism lies in educating others.
This is an insightful and informative essay, I was very impressed with it (and her incidentaly) and I know you will be to...

Transgender Issues-Identity and belonging

Jessica Zimmerman

“The American psychiatric foundation chatagorises gender dysphoria as a very serious mental disorder.”- Doctor“After my operation not even a gynecologist would be able to detect anything out of the ordinary about my body. I will be a woman. Don’t you find it odd that plastic surgery can cure a ‘mental disorder’’- Bree
This is a quote from Transamerica, a movie of which one of the central themes is tolerance, as well as the sideline issue of the daily struggles faced by transgendered individuals. Imagine waking up each morning and instead of critiquing your thighs or pimples you hate your entire body, everything about it is foreign. From a young age transgendered individuals face the challenge of waking up each morning as someone else, a challenge that cannot be overcome by a good chat or even a spiritual awakening.
To understand transgender, it is first important to make a distinction between ‘assigned sex,’ ‘gender identity,’ and ‘gender expression.’ Sex is an assignment based on one's chromosomes, genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics. Gender identity is how a person feels about themselves in relationship to or separate from the terms "man" and "woman." Gender expression is external--how a person presents him/herself to the world (e.g. with the way we walk, talk and dress.) In society there is a commonly assumed connection between the three, men and women are expected to act and feel a certain way. Transgender, in its broadest sense, encompasses anything that transgresses these gendered norms and expectations. It is the state of one’s ‘gender identity’ not matching ones ‘assigned sex.’
When we think of transgendered individuals the mind automatically turns to sex changes and cross dressers, however the issue of transgender is much more complicated, and can often have a massive strain on an individual’s ability to form and maintain relationships with others.
Sectors of the transgendered community which are often ignored are individuals who identify with both or neither of the two genders. Feeling that to be labeled as either exclusively male or female would mean unnecessarily suppressing a part of them. This form of transgender often leaves other people in a state of confusion in speech and in manner. Not knowing whether or not to refer to an individual as ‘him’ or ‘her’ and feeling ‘uneducated’ and in some cases ‘insensitive’ either way. This confusion stems from the pre-conceived notion that ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ are both bi-products of assigned sex’. When an individual fails to comply with this unwritten law, as in the case of the transgendered, conventional labels become invalid and therefore most people become confused.
Historically in main stream society there has been little room for a middle ground when it comes to gender identity. People, who do not identify with either gender label, identify with both labels or identify with the ‘wrong’ label face adversity not only within the work force and school environments but within the public eye.
There have been countless human interest stories, talk show episodes and media coverage’s on transgender, in specific those wishing to/having had sexual re-assignment surgery (defined as transsexuals). It wasn’t long ago that ‘Miriam’ a male-to-female transsexual featured in a self titled reality television series in which several men were competing for her affection, unaware of her sexual history. After finding out the truth many of the men who had previously fallen head over heels for Miriam looked at her with little more than disgust and dismay. Her birth sex and gender identity were not compatible, which led to negative attention; however ‘Miriam’ was able to shed light on a widely held view of aversion towards transsexual individuals.
More recently t here was an article published in the paper about a young transsexual child wishing to have gender re-assignment surgery, the court had ruled in her favour and there was societal uproar. Most posing the question “how could a child not even at puberty be able to make such a life altering decision, at such a young age how can anyone be sure?” What most people don’t understand about gender dysphoria (discontentment with the biological sex one was born as) is that Gender Identity Disorder[1] (GID[2]) comes in many forms, which can appear anytime ranging from birth to adulthood [3] and is separate from hormones which bring about changes during puberty and chemicals that cause sexual orientation.[4]
[1] Gender identity disorder (GID) is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria
[2] The current edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems has five different diagnoses for gender identity disorder: transsexualism, Dual-role Transvestism, Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood, Other Gender Identity Disorders, and Gender Identity Disorder, Unspecified.
Transsexualism has the following criteria:
· The desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment.
· The transsexual identity has been present persistently for at least two years.
· The disorder is not a symptom of another mental disorder or a chromosomal abnormality.
Dual-role transvestism has the following criteria:
· The individual wears clothes of the opposite sex in order to experience temporary membership in the opposite sex.
· There is no sexual motivation for the cross-dressing.
· The individual has no desire for a permanent change to the opposite sex.
Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood has essentially four criteria:
· The individual is persistently and intensely distressed about being a girl/boy, and desires (or claims) to be of the opposite gender.
· The individual is preoccupied with the clothing, roles or anatomy of the opposite sex/gender, or rejects the clothing, roles, or anatomy of his/her birth sex/gender.
· The individual has not yet reached puberty.
· The disorder must have been present for at least 6 months.
The remaining two classifications have no specific criteria and may be used as "catch-all" classifications in a similar way to Gender Identity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (GIDNOS).
[3] Gender identity disorder in children (GIDC) is usually reported as "having always been there" since childhood, and is considered clinically distinct from GID which appears in adolescence or adulthood, which has been reported by some as intensifying over time.
[4] There is a misguided notion that links transgender to sexual orientation, specifically homosexuality. However, the only thing that binds these two communities into one is their struggle for acceptance within mainstream society. This joint community is known as the LGBT/GLBT community (referring collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual people.)

[1] Gender identity disorder (GID) is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria
[1] The current edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems has five different diagnoses for gender identity disorder: transsexualism, Dual-role Transvestism, Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood, Other Gender Identity Disorders, and Gender Identity Disorder, Unspecified.
Transsexualism has the following criteria:
· The desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment.
· The transsexual identity has been present persistently for at least two years.
· The disorder is not a symptom of another mental disorder or a chromosomal abnormality.
Dual-role transvestism has the following criteria:
· The individual wears clothes of the opposite sex in order to experience temporary membership in the opposite sex.
· There is no sexual motivation for the cross-dressing.
· The individual has no desire for a permanent change to the opposite sex.
Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood has essentially four criteria:
· The individual is persistently and intensely distressed about being a girl/boy, and desires (or claims) to be of the opposite gender.
· The individual is preoccupied with the clothing, roles or anatomy of the opposite sex/gender, or rejects the clothing, roles, or anatomy of his/her birth sex/gender.
· The individual has not yet reached puberty.
· The disorder must have been present for at least 6 months.
The remaining two classifications have no specific criteria and may be used as "catch-all" classifications in a similar way to Gender Identity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (GIDNOS).
[1] Gender identity disorder in children (GIDC) is usually reported as "having always been there" since childhood, and is considered clinically distinct from GID which appears in adolescence or adulthood, which has been reported by some as intensifying over time.
[1] There is a misguided notion that links transgender to sexual orientation, specifically homosexuality. However, the only thing that binds these two communities into one is their struggle for acceptance within mainstream society. This joint community is known as the LGBT/GLBT community (referring collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual people.)

Although not medically linked the emotional struggles faced by transgendered individuals and homosexuals are often similar. In both cases many individuals initially face choices between the acknowledgement of their sexual identity and groups that they belong to such as their families and religions (this is even more pertinent in the cases of groups that are extremely conservative.) Although eventually the majority of families and individuals come to terms with members of their group being either homosexual or transgender, many do not and continue to face internal struggles with religious contradiction. Such hardship has been well documented in films such as ‘Trembling before g-d.[1]’
Ideally the world should be a place in which tolerance for all was as widely practiced as the hatred we currently see. A world in which our identity would not have to be compromised in order to feel a sense of belonging. However unfortunately this world does not exist, and as long as we as a people cannot recognise the trivialness of our differences, those that defy social norm will continue to struggle to find acceptance.
[1] Trembling Before G-d is a documentary built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian. The film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality.

[1] Trembling Before G-d is a documentary built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian. The film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality.