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stacis-leak.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trans2006-09-29 03:10 am
stacis-leak.livejournal.com) wrote in trans2006-09-29 03:10 am
All inclusive?
so as many of you will undoubtably know I'm thinking of starting a small local trans support group with the help of a friend.
Already I've head a little interest in replies and one person has co-friended me but hasn't actually got in touch yet, despite living in Sheffield.
I've been having a think about the sorts of issues which may arise, and I was given a link to the FTM Compass which is a highly successful group and could present a nice model on which to to base the meetings I'm thinking about.
One thing I especially liked about this website was it's open interpretation of transsexual, announcing the group to welcome anyone who considers an imposed female genrder role to be incorrect. That includes (as far as I can tell) Fully transitioned and pre-transitioned FTM transsexuals, those with a more androgenous outlook and... I hate this word... seriosuly, is there a less derogatory sounding word which means the same thing as "Dyke" in a lesbian context?
When thinking how to apply such an open terminology to my own gatherings I realised that I might open it up too much for some members to feel comfortable.
I would generally declare that an all inclusive transgender support group would be open to anyone who feels the gender they were assigned at birth does not properly convey their true identity.
Big words for a small timer like me.
The difference between the FTM and MTF distinction of transsexualism is the absense of FTM transvestites.
Women who wear mens clothes are not ostracised or even considered to be different. I cant think many would specifically wear mens clothes for a sexual kick or that anyone would get a perverse get a sexual kick out of seeing women in mens clothes.
But there are men who don't identify as trans and simply dress as women for libidinous reasons. I'm not saying all transvestites are perverted, but I'm sure that if you were in a group of people who shared any interest, knitting for example, and you knew that a few members of the group were really reallt turned on by the feel of the wool and the clack of the needles, you'd feel at least mildly uncomfortable.
Of course not all crossdressers DO get a sexual charge out of it, many people crossdress to feel normal, which would, in my mind at least, be a good genuine reason to want to go to a support group for the transgendered.
I do know that there's a bone of contention between the TV and TS community, I must admit I have my own personal prejudices about crossdressing, on some level I feel it takes a little bit of ligitimacy away from those who just wish to transition and get on with thier lives yet often get labelled and lumped in with the "On weekends my name is Delicia" crowd.
But I'd really like to believe that prejudices can be overcome and that includes my own. For the context of a group gathering I'd like the turn out to be as high as possible (my ego playing up again) which means a delicate balance between accepting as many areas on the gender spectrum as possible, whilst keeping it exclusive enough that people actually see a point in coming.
With that in mind, if people (even on the other side of the world with no intention of coming to my tiny little Sheffield gathering) could answer the following questions it'd help me throw an official policy together:
1) Would you like go to a regular meeting of transfolk for discussion, support, social networking and such?
2) How would you feel about such a meeting if attendance was mixed (as in FTM and MTF in the same place).
3) How would you feel about such a meeting if it was attended by transvestites (to clarify I'll define that as people who identify as the opposite gender on a temporary basis when they feel like it)
4) How would you feel about attendees using the meeting as a platform for dating or romantic liason?
5) Any other thoughts?
ADDITIONAL QUESTION:
6) How would you feel about folk turning up dressed/acting as their birth gender rather than their true identity, if for whateve reason they couldn't express their gender identity in public yet?
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTION:
7) Do you think gatherings for the trans community should welcome non-trans participants, such as friends or family invited by other attendees?
I know I have posted to this community a lot lately and I don't want to get a reputation for spamming it out but I'd really like to get a good idea of what other transfolk want out of social gatherings in order to make this one a success, instead of just looking at what I think should be included.
Already I've head a little interest in replies and one person has co-friended me but hasn't actually got in touch yet, despite living in Sheffield.
I've been having a think about the sorts of issues which may arise, and I was given a link to the FTM Compass which is a highly successful group and could present a nice model on which to to base the meetings I'm thinking about.
One thing I especially liked about this website was it's open interpretation of transsexual, announcing the group to welcome anyone who considers an imposed female genrder role to be incorrect. That includes (as far as I can tell) Fully transitioned and pre-transitioned FTM transsexuals, those with a more androgenous outlook and... I hate this word... seriosuly, is there a less derogatory sounding word which means the same thing as "Dyke" in a lesbian context?
When thinking how to apply such an open terminology to my own gatherings I realised that I might open it up too much for some members to feel comfortable.
I would generally declare that an all inclusive transgender support group would be open to anyone who feels the gender they were assigned at birth does not properly convey their true identity.
Big words for a small timer like me.
The difference between the FTM and MTF distinction of transsexualism is the absense of FTM transvestites.
Women who wear mens clothes are not ostracised or even considered to be different. I cant think many would specifically wear mens clothes for a sexual kick or that anyone would get a perverse get a sexual kick out of seeing women in mens clothes.
But there are men who don't identify as trans and simply dress as women for libidinous reasons. I'm not saying all transvestites are perverted, but I'm sure that if you were in a group of people who shared any interest, knitting for example, and you knew that a few members of the group were really reallt turned on by the feel of the wool and the clack of the needles, you'd feel at least mildly uncomfortable.
Of course not all crossdressers DO get a sexual charge out of it, many people crossdress to feel normal, which would, in my mind at least, be a good genuine reason to want to go to a support group for the transgendered.
I do know that there's a bone of contention between the TV and TS community, I must admit I have my own personal prejudices about crossdressing, on some level I feel it takes a little bit of ligitimacy away from those who just wish to transition and get on with thier lives yet often get labelled and lumped in with the "On weekends my name is Delicia" crowd.
But I'd really like to believe that prejudices can be overcome and that includes my own. For the context of a group gathering I'd like the turn out to be as high as possible (my ego playing up again) which means a delicate balance between accepting as many areas on the gender spectrum as possible, whilst keeping it exclusive enough that people actually see a point in coming.
With that in mind, if people (even on the other side of the world with no intention of coming to my tiny little Sheffield gathering) could answer the following questions it'd help me throw an official policy together:
1) Would you like go to a regular meeting of transfolk for discussion, support, social networking and such?
2) How would you feel about such a meeting if attendance was mixed (as in FTM and MTF in the same place).
3) How would you feel about such a meeting if it was attended by transvestites (to clarify I'll define that as people who identify as the opposite gender on a temporary basis when they feel like it)
4) How would you feel about attendees using the meeting as a platform for dating or romantic liason?
5) Any other thoughts?
ADDITIONAL QUESTION:
6) How would you feel about folk turning up dressed/acting as their birth gender rather than their true identity, if for whateve reason they couldn't express their gender identity in public yet?
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTION:
7) Do you think gatherings for the trans community should welcome non-trans participants, such as friends or family invited by other attendees?
I know I have posted to this community a lot lately and I don't want to get a reputation for spamming it out but I'd really like to get a good idea of what other transfolk want out of social gatherings in order to make this one a success, instead of just looking at what I think should be included.