Including the "T" in BGLT

I think that discussing and accepting trans folk is vital to the world. It seems like the next thing that's shocking to a lot of people. Being gay used to be shocking and now trans is.

Trans people rock and tend to have a lot of unique knowledge about the world from my experience. I've learned a lot from some of my trans friends.

I've never really resonated with the whole LGBT title. Around here in my community everyone's "queer." That's like bi-curious, homo, trans, weird, kinky all rolled into one. I prefer the ambiguousness of queer, because when it gets down to it a person's sexual preferences and intimate life are their own damn business. "Queer" is a comfy shell that provides a bit of privacy and a hint that something interesting lies underneath.

^ It really depends on the trans person in question.

There ARE trans*people who identify as straight - but there are many who do not.

"Transsexual" describes people who have or have a desire to modify their bodies. To many this is not seen as a change, but as a correction of something they've felt was wrong all along.

"Transgender" is a more inclusive term. It can be anyone who has non-normative feelings about their gender. As you might suspect with such a broad term there are a LOT of different experiences.

Your cousin Jackie - does "she" still identify as female or does he identify as male ? Or something else entirely ?

There are many more terms and ways of describing things. "Genderqueer", "androgynous", et cetera. There are many ways of expressing gender.

I have known gay and straight trans* people. Some do see themselves very clearly as gay.

As a person who is part of the transgender community, I do feel strongly "gay". This is a personal feeling and doesn't project onto any other trans*people.

Not all trans*people date as if they were straight, definitely not. Say a person is FtM ("female to male"), I'd say the majority of these people would qualify dating a man as gay - if the trans* person truly identified as male, and not something else. I know many gay FtM and lesbian MtF - and of course straight ones, too.

A person who identifies as a transgender male may identify as gay or straight or queer or asexual or bisexual or whatever they do feel. Sexuality and Gender are not the same thing, this is clear.

However, they are good allies and have much in common and should not ignore each other - although I am all to familiar with the frustration of the T community when the LGB writes them off as a lesser minority.

I think people who tend to be close minded about LGB tend to also be close minded about T. Sadly, the open mindedness doesn't tend to work that way. Trans people still have fewer rights and face more abuse, at least by my observation.

I understand what you're saying, and I've thought about the same thing before. BUT, I see it as a term for the community of non-straight and/or non-cisgendered folk, not just non-straight since changing sexes/identifying as a different gender skews your sexuality in a way. Not what you're attracted to, but what your sexuality label is I mean.

I think trans and GLB are often lumped together because they face a lot of the same issues with gaining acceptance among the straight mainstream. Unfortunately, trans people do not always find the acceptance from the LGB contingent that they should, IMO. I think that those of us seeking acceptance should always be as accepting of others as they possibly can. When people become elitist, cliquish or exclusive about their minority groups it diminishes that group's capabilities and reach and is hypocritical. In many ways I think trans folks feel safer around LGB people and while some LGB are not always as welcoming or even safe as they should be, it's probably safer for a trans person to go to a gay bar or other gay or gay friendly establishment, especially if they don't pass fully or are early in their transition or just don't fully feel comfortable. I've had trans friends who have been the victims of violence or cruelty and while it's not unheard of for gay people to perpetrate this cruelty I think it's less common. In any case, I have plenty of trans friends and I'm just as happy to have them in the "community" as it were. I don't think there's anything wrong with including them. Besides, plenty of gay people struggle with gender issues. And, plenty of trans people do identify as gay (dating people of the same gender as the gender they are transitioning/transiti oned to). I say we welcome whoever wants to be part of our community with open arms. Being accepting of others is key to gaining acceptance, IMO. The more the merrier. No good reason to keep anyone out. In a perfect world we could all just be a community of people and we wouldn't have to separate ourselves into little groups and categories. The bigger our community is, the less isolated we are and that's all to the good of everyone.

There's definitely transphobia within the community...

LGB people have been just as disrespectful and rude as the heterosexual people towards me and my fellow trans* people.