Big Gay Closet

Does one have to be transsexual in order to need to have sex reassignment? I know that sounds like one really loaded question, and it probably is. The problem is that I have never considered myself transsexual. In fact, I loathe thinking of myself in that way. Many of my friends and family insist that they’re all but positive that I am, somehow, intersexed at some level but I cannot afford to find out just yet and the doctors do not always too a good job of listening to those suggestions.

Growing up, I had no male identity, and was never pushed to form one. It was as if everything around me was inverted. I was a girl being treated as a boy. I wore boys clothing, but never dropped any of the female body language. It was as if I was living in a mirror. Somehow, I was Alice and I had jumped through the Looking Glass.

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That is where I am. I do not know what to do. All I want at this point is to stop having use the labels transsexual and transwoman and just consider myself a woman from this point on.

via Identity- I Do Not Consider Myself To Be A Transwoman or Transsexual – Lez Get Real.

Thought this was an interesting discussion on identity and labels. She brings up a really important question — who gets to define us?

I’ve never ever labeled myself. But having said that; I’ve never limited my life, I’ve never limited who I sleep with. So, whatever. (…) Call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me.
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There are ways of being a role model without having to always having to establish yourself with a label. Let’s say if you’re a 16-year-old guy, and you’re not sure about your sexuality, you should be as free as you want.

Having a role model who makes you feel like it’s alright to do whatever you want, without the pressure of a label, I think that’s a good thing as well. I think there’s a million different ways to do it, there isn’t only one. And I hope I’m right.

I figured after the big move, it’s time for a celebrity coming out story. And not just any celebrity coming out story… one that I really wanted to happen and totally missed when it did. I saw this while searching for something else last week. It happened in September 2009.

And I know he’s done stuff since, but I just love his video for Grace Kelly:

In response to this post (a quote from Annalee Newitz‘s “Tranny Chasers”) I had a tweet asking me was I not sick of all the bitching and infighting over labels?

My answer? Yes. Bitching and infighting get old very quickly.

I am, however, not finished with discussion. Identity is important. Discussion of identity, I think, keeps us from becoming too complacent, and possibly forgetting the whole point. I don’t want to use labels to target or exclude, but to understand (and most importantly, tags are a really easy way to get around the blog).

Personally, my identity continues to evolve. I identify most comfortably as queer, but more commonly as lesbian, since the word queer can still be upsetting to people (and my identity shouldn’t upset those people, although I have no problem with it upsetting some). I use the word “gay” a lot too, as a catch-all, because it’s small and portable and you all know what I mean.

I don’t know where it comes from, but my old professor used to say the point of preaching was to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” While I no longer have any intentions to stand behind a pulpit, that mission statement sits really easily with me.

So labels… yea or nay?

(I contemplated a poll, but I’d rather a discussion)