Well, I am not Transgender or Intergender myself, so I can’t speak from a personal perspective on this, apart from to say that I don’t mind just being included as a member of the “Gay Community” I know there used to be some differentiation amongst Lesbians in the past where they wanted to be identified separately, but that has changed.

I do have one or two Transgendered friends, however and at least two of them have expressed to me in the past that it is more important to them that they ‘pass’ in the community as whichever gender they identify as and therefore don’t want it pointed out in any sense that they are Transgender. Others I know online who are Transgendered say they don’t mind either way. One said: “You could try using my name.” 🙂

I’d like to hear though from some of our transgendered friends here on the forums about how they like to be referred to, or not.

I think F2B is very inclusive of all members, but it would be interesting to hear it ‘from the horse’s mouth’ so to speak.

Increasingly the long jumble of letters is being traded in for the term “queer” which doesn’t have the same connotation as “gay community” and is alledgedly more inclusive of non-gay transgender, transvestite or otherwise “queer” people such as straight women who identify with lesbian politics. Personally I don’t much like the term–I think it’s rather creepy but it’s a pretty effective umbrella. The more specific gender-queer is also used.

I know it’s good to form groups and be a ‘community’ in order to acheive political aims and the like but really, true equality will only be reached when we all come under the umbrella of ‘regular people’.

Hi Sandy

Good to hear from you again. Yes, wouldn’t it be nice if we were all regarded as regular people? I have seen examples of this in some latin european quarters where differences in gender and sexuality were neither here nor there. People were totally accepting and accepted and this topic was a non issue. *sigh* I wish it was like that everywhere.

I also don’t like the term ‘queer’ but I can see what you mean for covering other groups. Maybe we’re all just ‘rainbow people’ or ‘rainbows’ as I’ve heard said on Joy FM, or, more simply, ‘people’ who are part of ‘our’ community?

Avb, you make valid points that all those letters are very complicated and if the wider community can’t be completely satisfied with a term, it seems unlikely we’ll reach a consensus here. I don’t mind the word, ‘camp’ although it suggests being effeminate and not everyone is. What does the other ‘Q’ stand for?

I think this discussion is useful for knowing who we are and aiming for greater inclusion.

Thanks everyone. Others please also post your views. It’s good to get a range of ideas.

Blessings,

Ann Maree

Thanks mobileguy. So you prefer that to ‘rainbow man’ ? (sounds like a gay super hero!!) 😀 😀 😀

Hi mobileguy

No I did not know about Northstar. You are full of interesting info, aren’t you? 🙂

Ann Maree