Lack of proof is the problem with AGP and the only way to settle things
would be to provide a definite explanation and causation for the
arousal; something which no one has been able to do thus far. Therefore
it is just as convenient for we transgender people to claim that cross
gender arousal is a symptom of dysphoria: a statement which is just as
plausible and far more likely given our early childhood identification.
I really hate to see bloggers keep writing about the autogynephilia theory, or lack thereof. The more we use the term, the longer it will live on. Nevertheless, Joanna, one of my favorite trans bloggers, has a few comments on the subject that are worth featuring.
The thing that most surprises me and never surprises me at all
is how other “wife of” stories are not at all like my story and totally
like my story.
Diane is the wife of Lina, her present wife and former husband. Got that? Good, because she has a really nice blog! In this post, Diane writes about Anne, and her relationship with Paul, who later became Paula. Diane links to Anne's new book, She Said She Said: Love, Loss, Living My New Normal, and also to Anne's website.
In a world that’s
perpetually connected via social media, cellphones, and computers, the
power and significance of your voice can be tremendous. Whether you’re
listening to a loved one over the phone or hearing an actor on TV, you
probably hear hundreds of unique voices every day. But have you ever put
much thought into your own voice?
These days, I still have issues with Father’s Day. I still wanted to be
“Mom”, but that role is already taken. I am stuck with “Dad”. People
don’t get it.
Father's Day is difficult for many male-to-female transsexuals. Emma has a nicely written post reflecting her thoughts, intentionally delayed a week, on Father's Day.
It’s
well-known that facial deformities and flaws can have a tremendous
impact on one’s self-esteem. People who have serious acne, facial
injuries resulting in deformations, and even burn scars report low
self-esteem and the desire to look more like a “normal” person. When a
transgender patient looks in the mirror and sees a masculine face
staring back at her, it’s much the same reaction.
So thinking you are a woman, though you have a penis, would not fit this
definition. The desire to be accepted socially as a woman is not
enough, even though most people only show off their genitals to sex
partners. There is a separate diagnosis for childhood, but it too
requires dislike of ones own sex characteristics and desire for the
target gender’s.
The World Health Organization no longer classifies Gender Incongruence as a mental disorder. Great! We've been waiting for this for years. It is now reclassified as a sexual health issue. Clare has reviewed the language and has a few comments on the new classification as it relates to surgery as a necessary cure.
I love that my doctor listens to what I say and want and wants to help
me get there. We both teared up a bit when I told her about the support I
have and the wonderful friends and family that are there cheering me
on. A really good visit with the clinic, I always feel a bit more
empowered when I leave.
For a second I flashed back to my teen aged days (a large flash :) and
wondered what my life would have been like if I had been able to live
the way I wanted.
Oh yes, this one resonated with me, Cyrsti, and I'm sure it will with many others.
Like anyone sporting a dress, there is the risk of a Monroe moment. By
that, I don't mean possibly dating a famous politician or drying your
undies using the subway vent. No, it's that risk that a quick gust of
wind suddenly raises one's hemline to heights no self-respecting lady
(part-time or otherwise) would enjoy.
Lynn has a few things to say about windy days.....
I
have learned from my closest friends through all this, that, as it says
in Proverbs, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, or in
my version, sister. As is the case with just about any of us, not everyone accepts the fact that you are transgender. Halle has fully transitioned from male to female and, while most have welcomed her transition, there are exceptions....one quite notable. In a wonderfully written post, read what Halle has learned from others.
Comfortable is the best word to describe how I felt during my time I was
able to present that part of me that normally remains hidden. It was
also an incredible feeling of freedom.
I loved this post, from Michelle. She got a few days to be herself in Ottawa while doing some training. The training itself is rather interesting. Read, Comfortable, to find out all about her precious Michelle time in Ottawa.
He and his older brother (Mid) have agreed to 100% fund any and all
transition surgeries I want. With any doctor anywhere. In addition to
that, they will give me, tax free, a savings account containing
$100,000. He pushed the manila envelope across the table toward me.
Well.....that doesn't appear to be a nightmare, but you must read on.
It was with a weird disconnected calm that I heard my wife describe the
horror I had been dreading since 2010. A student came up to her and
described how all of the students were talking about that I had been
discovered online.
Wow! Nadine's title scared me, along with her first paragraph. Nadine's online life was discovered by a student. What happened? Read, A Minor Massive Fear, to find out.
Off the top of my head, the top of my head, I
can think of close to a dozen people who I know personally who have
found life so intolerable that the only way they could find peace was to
end their lives. Young and old, they were each someone’s sibling,
spouse, child, grandchild or parent. No one, it appears, is immune.
The author of this blog is Julie. She has a son transitioning from George to Jessie. This post, No One Does, is not really a trans related post but it does discuss suicide, which unfortunately is far to common in our world. Nicely written, from Julie.
I
went to bed that night proud of my son. When he sees (what he considers
to be) a wrong, he wants it righted. Immediately.
CJ was just not happy with the dress code required for a violin recital. Most would just live with it. Not CJ! Mom is proud of CJ and you will be too. Read, The End Of The Year Violin Recital Dress Code Debacle, to see how CJ dealt with the problem.
I had an appointment at the Gender Identity Clinic in Edinburgh earlier
and things didn’t start well as I had got the time wrong and arrived an
hour late.
Short, sweet and it ends on a happy note. Tish is a blogger we haven't featured on T-Central in the past. Go here to see her first post, So Many Years of Denial, which tells you a lot more about Tish.
I was never presented with a choice and from earliest memory I have
always been gender dysphoric. It is not like one day I consciously
decided to try on women’s clothing on a whim, liked it and decided to go
with it. No, it was instead something deeply imprinted and primordial
that told me where I needed to go.
I'm sure we all agree with Joanna's statement, above, but how do you deal with it? Read more about choice, or the lack thereof.
It’s with great sadness that I report that Rose’s Repartee has ceased
publishing. Repartee is a British TV/CD magazine that I wrote for,
first in the printed edition and most recently in its online version.
Repartee has been the premiere magazine for the transgender and
crossdressing community in Europe for 27 years.
In a nicely written post, Tasi (an active member of NorCal's River City Gems) writes about the history of Repartee and its founder, Rose Martine.
The test of endurance is far from over, and as for the peculiar idea –
beloved of the gender-critical school – that people would do this sort
of thing for fun, I have no words to express my incredulity.
Eleanor has had her gender confirmation surgery. It's always difficult for me to read posts like this one, and it may be a "trigger" for some readers. Nevertheless, she is now whole and ready to live her life as she was always meant to.
