Transgender individuals may have the genitals of one sex, but a gender identity usually associated with the other. For example, a person born with a penis who feels female may identify as transgender. Transgender is an umbrella term that includes:
- drag kings and drag queens
- transsexuals
- cross-dressers
- transvestites
- genderqueers
Transgender individuals have had a place in various cultures throughout history. In India Hijras have long been associated with fertility. Many Native America tribes have a third gender referred to as two-spirited. Even in Shakespearean England it was considered acceptable for male actors to play female roles.
Transgender individuals are often well-known, both for positive and negative reasons. Christine Jorgenson became the first American to undergo sex-reassignment surgery. Brandon Teena, became the subject of a major Hollywood film after his brutal murder, and Sylvia Rivera, was a highly respected activist.
Here are some legal issues affecting transgender people:
- Legally changing one's sex.
- Without a legal sex change, a transgender person may not be allowed to marry a partner of their birth sex.
Many young people come out as transgender in their teens or twenties, and transgender teens have many more support networks today than ever before. Unfortunately, many transgender teens still face harassment, discrimination and violence, at school, from their families, and from strangers.
Another issue for many young transgender people is surgery and the use of hormones. Transgender youth have been able to receive treatment earlier and earlier, in part, due to earlier diagnosis of gender identity disorder. However, this diagnosis is controversial.
There have been many famous transgender people throughout history. Here is a partial list:
- Alexis Arquette
- Kate Bornstein
- Patrick Califia
- Loren Cameron
- Jayne County
- Divine
- Leslie Fineberg
- Eddie Izzard
- Christine Jorgensen
- Amanda Lepore
- Lypsinka
- Sylvia Rivera
- Rupaul
- Brandon Teena
- Holly Woodlawn
