Kappa Beta Serving the transgendered community since 1988

(Not to be confused with Transgenderist) This is an umbrella term that encompasses anyone who identifies as being transgendered: Drag Queens, Drag Kings, Crossdressers, Stone Butches, She-Males, Transgenderists and Transsexuals. Note that many Female Impersonators and Fetishists consider their activities "occasional" and do not self-identify as transgenders. Peripherally, they are a portion of the TG community.

Anyone who identifies with gender concepts outside of what society prevalently regards as "the norm." This encompasses anyone who is identified as transgendered, intersexed or identified as a gender expressing anything other than what is strictly adherent to binary gendered norms.

The gender an individual identifies as, regardless of what gender they were born. This term, popularized from the usage in the American Psychology Association"s Diagnostic Standards Manual, Version IV (DSM IV); is predominantly used by, and refers to, those in the transgender (or gender variant) community.

The expression of oneself in external presentation and/or appearance. This is not limited to gender variant community, but may encompass anyone identified as heterosexual and non-gender variant. It can range from male teens experimenting with make-up, unisexed appearance, females appearing tomboyish, or even overly-exaggerated normal gender presentation.

Different group as a whole from transgenders; however, there is a portion of participants from that group that range from peripherally transgendered to outright post-operative transsexuals. There are many different subsets within the fetish crowd: B & D (bondage & discipline), Leather (including Rubber & PVC wear), Fantasy, and Role Playing (which includes the dominants and the submissives). There are some who are not full-time transgenders who will participate in any of these categories and include some cross-gendered aspect to it.

For folks who identify as, or are full-time transgenders; this is basically a fantasy adventure from the everyday. However, those who do not openly identify themselves as transgender will adopt either a dominator/dominatrix look and role, or most often, a "sissy" or submissive role. (Picture the Type-A banker who dons a French maid outfit on the weekend). Their outfits are worn mostly in private, virtually never to be seen in public - especially for the closeted "occasional" type. While many occasional fetishists don"t identify as transgendered, there is at some level a fascination with the role of the opposite gender, repressed or otherwise.

Individuals who dress primarily for doing female (or male) impersonation shows professionally. Predominantly Gay or Lesbian, but not exclusively. As a rule, their primary motive to dress is to earn a living performing. Often this group will contain some who are Drag Queen or Stone Butch, and on rare occasion, some who are crossdressers or performance artists.

Individuals who most often identify as Gay males or infrequently as transsexuals. Oftentimes, this is used to generate an income; whether through performing (see Female Impersonator) or through prostitution. For the Gay males, this is merely an occasional thing as they still identify and want to live as a male and Gay. Some who start out as Gay male drag, end up finding that they identify more precisely as transsexual; but it occurs infrequently. On occasion, throw-away teens (those forced to leave their homes by parents unable to tolerate the situation) who identified solely as transsexual end up in the Gay drag community as well for the access to income via the above-mentioned means. Because of a dearth of information on transgenderism available to youth, they presume (because of societal stereotype) that they must be Gay; thus initially gravitating there.

(A term filched from the Leslie Feinberg book) The female counterpart to Gay Drag, they are also overwhelmingly Lesbian, occasionally identifying later as transsexual. While some of these individuals may perform, it is far more rare than Drag Queens. Unlike their male counterparts, they (as a rule) will not engage in prostitution. Also distinctive is that they tend never to dress en femme, i.e. no wide variation of their appearance.

(Also known more clinically as Transvestite [TV] - archaic among the TG community). A cross-dresser is one who identifies and lives as a male, but occasionally cross-dresses on weekends, etc. They are predominantly heterosexual, often married, often parents or grandparents, and usually have no inclination to move further along the TG spectrum (i.e. hormones, living full time, etc.) Crossdressers can range from the closeted, timid types who are rather unsuccessful in appearance, to the proficient and more gregarious ones who will venture out in public crossdressed.

The Female-to-Male counterpart to the crossdresser. These are women who identify as women, but occasionally cross-dress. Similar to their male counterparts, they also are predominantly heterosexual, and range from the closeted to the publicly proficient. Oftentimes, they will affect fake facial hair to complete the image, and (save for the voice) will be much more successful at passing in public than their male counterparts.

A cross between a transsexual and a crossdresser - the middle ground between the two. Sometimes also referred to as Non-operative transsexuals. As often to be bisexual as heterosexual, and oftentimes homosexual. Most at some point will live full or part-time as female; and are proficient at venturing out in public undetected. These individuals will usually take estrogen, go through electrolysis, and take other cosmetic or medical steps to feminize their appearance. They vary from the crossdresser in their self-identification, as that of a female as opposed to the CD"s male. Though in many ways they are similar to Non-Op Transsexuals, they"re distinguished by the fact that they state no intention of ever going through SRS (Sexual Reassignment Surgery) to become the opposite sex physically. They also will interrupt their hormone usage on occasion in order to continue their sexual functionality as males. Some of these who avidly pursue sexual experiences as both sexes are known as SHE-MALES (generally derisive term).

Either genetic females who want to be full time males, or males who want to be full time females, who most often will go to the point of having their genitalia surgically reassigned to match the gender they identify with. Though Sexual Reassignment Surgery [SRS] is the option chosen by many Transsexuals, it is not always the case. Some may choose to live as a NON-OPERATIVE [Non-Op] TRANSSEXUAL. Most frequently, Female to Males [FTM or F2M] will opt against phalloplasty (creation of a penis) surgery as it is very complicated, more expensive than the Male to Female [MTF or M2F] vaginoplasty (creation of a vagina), and does nothing to enhance - and in fact reduces - sexual arousal ability in new men. For F2Ms and M2Fs who desire surgery, there is a waiting period of living full time for a minimum of one year as the opposite sex, or a PRE-OPERATIVE [Pre-Op] TRANSSEXUAL. After the medical prerequisites have been fulfilled, the individual is free to pursue the SRS; thus eligible for SRS to correct their genitalia to match their gender identity, and becoming a POST-OPERATIVE [Post-Op] TRANSSEXUAL.

These are individuals who were physically born with gender-ambiguous genitalia or internal organs. The functional ability ranges from those with neither set of genitalia functioning, to others with both sets able to function fully. The majority of intersexed people are surgically assigned a gender at birth.

Many surgeons will coerce the parents into approving a sexual assignment for their child; explaining that it will benefit the child by being able to fit into societally-structured, binary gender roles, and avoid embarrassment and ostracization. Oftentimes, parents themselves will seek out this option for their child. A number of intersexed people, however, are left to their biologically-original, ambiguous gender; and often live happy, fulfilled lives. Meanwhile, a number of intersexed people who are surgically altered at birth become resentful at not having a choice in how they were relegated to live. Indeed, a number of intersexed who were assigned a gender at birth, end up seeking SRS to the opposite gender later in life.