Transgenderism

This is Laverne Cox.  A transgender woman, and Hollywood celebrity

 before and after her transition from "male" to "female."

In order to understand the term "transgender," I think it is important to first define the terms "sex" and "gender."  Most people use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same. Sex refers to the genitalia.  Although a small percentage of the population are born with both or ambiguous genitalia, most people are born with either a penis or a vagina, and labeled male or female, respectively.  Gender, on the other hand, is mostly a social construct based on cultural norms that specifies how each sex is supposed to behave.  I say, "mostly," because there are some biological differences between males and females besides the sex organs which are the results of different hormones that they produce (i.e., facial hair, development of breasts, muscle mass, etc.).  

A transgender person is one who does not identify with the gender role assigned to them by the culture, based on their genitals.  In other words, someone who is born with a penis, but who identifies their self as a female, would be considered transgender.  Their personality and behavior more closely resembles that which is traditionally thought of as pertaining to the opposite sex.  Many transgendered people describe themselves as a "man trapped in a woman's body," or a "woman trapped in a man's body."  Their sense of who they are does not match what society dictates it should be based on the sex organs they possess.  Science does not offer any one reason that someone would be transgender.  Many biological and environmental factors may play a role in making a person transgender, and the experience is different for every transgender person.

Transgender people have no rights guaranteed to them by the constitution of the United States based on gender identity.  As a result, discrimination against transgender people is rampant.  Transgenderism is difficult to understand, and people are generally afraid of, and often hate, what they don't understand.  Transgender people are often the victims of violence, and even death.  They are bullied, and made fun of.  They are refused basic things "normal" people take for granted, like dressing the way they are comfortable for a driver's license photo, and using the public restroom of the gender they identify with.  They are often treated like freaks of nature, and ostracized by society and even their families. 

I personally believe that everyone should have the inalienable right to pursue happiness in whatever manner they want, as long as they are causing no harm to others or infringing on the rights of others.  More scientific research needs to be done in this area, and the public needs to be educated better on this topic in order to eliminate the stigma of transgenderism.  As far as I'm concerned, you can identify yourself as a reptilian overlord from the planet Zenu, and I will still treat you with respect and dignity as a human being, and afford you every right as such because I'm not a dick!

For more information on transgenderism see the articles: Transgenderism 101, and 

Transgender People, Gender Identity and Gender Expression.

Something to think about:
Why are people so afraid of those who are different than themselves?  Why do people feel it necessary to divide themselves into categories and apply labels to everyone?