A person who is
transexual has an unalterable conviction that they belong to
the
gender opposite to that manifested
anatomically by their body.
Whether are female or male in appearance, such a person is transexual,
even if this has not always apparent. The person may have been aware of
"feeling different" from an early age, though this feeling may not have
always been formalised. A knowledge of exactly what their difficulty is may
manifest itself at an early age, or come at a later point when an awareness of
inner conflict increases. A transexual is often a heterosexual, maybe
married, and sometimes raising a family.
It is important to realise (a) that a transexual is born with a
medically recognised condition, namely Gender Dysphoria (q.v.); and
(b) that transexuality is not homosexuality, as sexuality and
gender identification are two separate issues. (Though, of course, the same
person may be both.)
Transexuals should, als, not be confused with transvestites. A
transvestite changes clothes in order to satisfy a particular need, which in
some cases is sexual. In some cases, transexuals may at first believe
themselves to be transvestite, either through ignorance, or
"rationalised" disbelief.
The cause of transexuality is a well documented, and recognised syndrome,
for which there is no recognised cure, but a solution appears to lie in
surgery, in order to bring the body, as near as possible, into accord with the
mind.
"If psychiatry cannot cure the problem, then surgery
must"
Dr Harry Benjamin(*)
(*)An eminent endocrinologist in the field.
OK. I can't spell. Apparently it's "transsexuality", but even though I am a lingusitic purist I have also seen it spelled this way, too. And consequently, made a brain-fart.