Somehow, in this day and age, of endless resources and technology, for one reason or another, confusion on this subject still seems to exist for some portion of the population.
I felt especially with it being Pride Month that it was the perfect time for such a topic!
More often then not in the transgender community you will often hear people discuss how many (not all but some!) still seem to think a correlation between sexual orientation and gender identity are inherently linked somehow.
This should go without saying but this is not the case at all!
I personally feel (as I’m sure many trans-people do as well) that this topic will often arise when “coming out” and/or disclosing your transgender status to others. This primarily seems to be the case especially with people you previously knew before beginning to transition. One of the first few questions you will often receive typically include…
So, Does that mean you like guys or girls?
(Or something along these lines…)
Sure, I can understand how for many this is a simple logical followup question in such a scenario. However, it really shouldn’t be relative at all…
Someone’s gender identity has absolutely nothing to do with the vast amount of different sexual preferences that exist. Sexual attraction is a broad spectrum which so many seem to feel the need to put into such rigid categories.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to explain that the term “transgender” is an umbrella term to describe anyone who does not identify with traditional “gender binaries.” I, for example, am technically a “transsexual” meaning that I solely identify as being a woman and have sought medical care to assist me with this.
A transgender person can be straight, gay, lesbian, bi, asexual, etc…
Are Cis (non-transgender) individuals faced with the same kind of assumptions for their genders?
I mean, maybe in some cases but more often than not, this is not the case!
Maybe, it even should be more prevalent in a lot of ways!
A person’s gender whether they be Cis or Trans should have absolutely no reflection on their potential particular sexual orientation.
I know, for me personally (anyone who may have happened to already read my post that included my “Coming Out Story” has previously seen) that my own sexual orientation was something I have always struggled with almost my entire life!
I remember a very vivid situation sitting around with a few friends as a teenager telling them that I really thought I might be asexual because I simply never felt a strong attraction for either gender. I’ve come to realize and accept at this point in my life that this was most likely because I didn’t feel comfortable being with anyone as I used to be.
I still in a lot of ways struggle with this even to this day. I really don’t date or anything for the most part or ever really even think of “sexual things” most of the time.
(It’s actually an interesting perspective to be in a world surrounded by a society that is so obsessed with sex when you could really care less about it!)
Upon further self reflection I have since mainly settled on the fact that I simply just don’t typically find someone attractive unless I share a connection with them first. The term used to describe this, that has come to light in more recent years, is apparently called “Demi-Sexual.”
I’m not really the type that necessarily feels the need to put labels on things but this is the “group” I fit in with the most primarily.
I, also, in some ways, identify as being “Pan-Sexual” which essentially means you don’t limit your attractions solely based on various gender identities.
Like I said, I’m not one that really feels the need to put labels on everything but I certainly understand the need that many feel to do so!
In a lot of ways, I think a decent majority of people would be happier not allowing things to be so “set in stone” when it comes to the various levels of attraction and/or gender identity!
Both of these, as briefly mentioned previously in this post, are on a huge ever growing spectrum. I’m sure a ton of people would potentially be a lot happier or even more open if our society didn’t feel the need for things to be solely one way or another with various things.
I guess that seems like as a good a place as any to wrap up this particular topic.
I hope for some this may have been, in anyway, mildly educational or interesting!
Happy Pride Month Everyone!
Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you are wrong for simply being who you are!
(As long as nobody is getting hurt!)
(Unless maybe your into that and it’s consensual…)
Thank you so much for Reading!
Till, next time!
“Rainbow_flag_and_blue_skies”by Imágenes Gratis Online is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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