Transsexual Elitism

[justanormalgirl.livejournal.com]

There is a curious phenomenon among members of some groups and that is self-loathing. Secretly gay politicians pass anti-gay laws and ordinances. Black women refuse to date Black men. Women are anti-feminist. Trans people denigrate other trans people.


One of these groups of transphobic transsexuals are the promoters of the so-called "Harry Benjamin Syndrome" hypothesis which posits that transsexuality is an intersex condition akin to being born XXY or having ambiguous genitalia. But while recognized intersexed disorders are classified visually, through genital variations, or through certain tests (like a karyotype), and assigned to the individual by a doctor, "HBS" is only discoverable via personal introspection. Thus those who believe they have this supposed physical disorder do.

Now there's nothing innately wrong about putting forth hypotheses regarding transsexualism because we don't really understand what causes it. However, science and politics are intertwined here. Just like attempts to scientifically show that Blacks are evolutionarily inferior to whites, this scientific (or pseudo-scientific) hypothesis was created to show the superiority (in transsexual terms, "true femaleness") of certain trans people over others. There is often explicit or implicit homophobia as well.

This group overlaps with the "sanctimonious post-op" group. these people loudly proclaim that they are no longer transsexuals but "just like a woman who had a hysterectomy" by virtue of having had genital surgery. (When having a sex change doesn't make you a transsexual, something's wrong...). They tend to bad mouth pre-ops, non-ops and crossdressers as "men" (with a very negative connotation). They may also be heard to say that "having a penis makes you a MAN" when we all know they didn't think of themselves that way when their penis was intact. Of course, the worst irony is that they spend a lot of time on transsexual/transgender boards, chatrooms and lists proclaiming that they are not transsexual or transgendered.

Last summer, I was in a local transgender support group when in comes a "man" wearing stockings and heels. After waiting for other people to update everyone on their lives, s/he apologized for coming, saying s/he didn't realize the group was only for transsexuals pursuing transition because she was "just a crossdresser" (it's not, that's just who comes). S/he then walked out, leaving most people confused and unsure how to respond. I turned to my friend and asked her what was the difference between that person and me, other than some little blue pills.

I've never been the sort of person who had an interest in wearing women's clothes privately. I only did it to be more androgynous publicly and later simply as part of living as a girl. I don't really understand the crossdresser's experience, yet I acknowledge that we are cousins. Part of that is a reaction to the open hostility found among many transsexuals towards crossdressers.

You can't find equality by degrading other groups. We must stick together and support each other in all our diversity!

Now, I have said some things over the years that might be taken as bashing on other groups of trans people. Just the other day, I said that some people make a mistake by transitioning. I also have said that "passing is not a 'privilege,' it's the point!" Probably the biggest is my support for Ray Blanchard's HSTS/AGP dichotomy (although I also have my criticisms). I don't believe that I'm trying to set myself up as superior to anyone else. If I have made anyone feel that way, I apologize.