Are you a transsexual ? The TS Test - Also take the fast track gender test

Frequently-Asked Questions Answered by Dr Anne Lawrence (member of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA - where she serves on the Standards of Care Committee. Also a Ph.D. at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality,) Also see:- An introduction to Gender Dysphoria

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Change ( but were afraid to ask ! )

Information for MP's on Transsexuality ( A very good starter for everyone - PDF format )

An Interview with Dr.Russell Reid | Bad Press Stories | Site Gossip | Press Room | News | TG Articles

crissywild.com site FAQ

What is transsexualism (Gender Identity Disorder)?
Transsexualism (GID) is a condition in which a person experiences a discontinuity between their assigned sex and what they feel their core gender is. For example, a person who was identified as "female" at birth, raised as a girl, and has lived being perceived by others as a woman, may feel that their core sense of who they are is a closer fit with "male" or "man." If this sense is strong and persistent, this person may decide to take steps to ensure that others perceive them as a man. In other words, they may decide to transition to living as the sex that more closely matches their internal gender.

A short definition of the terms transsexual and gender dysphoria...

Transsexuality a comprehensive medical overview

GID is a rare condition in which individuals experience their ‘gender identity’ (the psychological experience of oneself as male or female), as being incongruent with their phenotype (the external sexual characteristics of the body). The personal experience of this discomfort is termed Gender Dysphoria. These individuals will have been raised, from birth, in the gender role (the social category of male or female) which is consistent with their phenotype. This too, causes them great discomfort. Gender Dysphoria may be experienced in varying degrees, but in its profound and persistent form, individuals may need to ‘transition’, to live in the gender role which is consistent with their core gender identity. This degree of Gender Dysphoria may be described as transsexualism. Individuals experiencing this condition may be referred to as trans men (female to male) and trans women (male to female). Transsexualism should not be confused with transvestism, nor the issue of sexuality, that is, the sexual preference for a male or for a female partner.

The process of sex differentiation is initiated in the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy. Typically, this differentiation is associated with the chromosomes: a boy will have one X and one Y chromosome and a girl will have two X chromosomes. Certain genes on the Y chromosome trigger the cascade of masculinising hormones from the testes (androgens - testosterone and MIH, a hormone antagonistic to female internal genitalia) which move the fetus, from its female (default) status, towards the male status. Sex differentiation is, therefore, driven by the hormone environment, which derives in part from the pregnant mother, and in part from the hormone (endocrine) system of the fetus itself. The apparently bipolar development of all our sex characteristics: genitalia, gonads (testes/ovaries), and in a girl, uterus and fallopian tubes, as well as the brain depends, initially, on the presence or absence of testosterone. At birth a baby is assigned ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ in accordance with the external appearance of the genitalia. BOY GIRL It is assumed that the baby’s development is consistent, that allthe sex characteristics will be congruent with each other, and that a child assigned as a boy will identify as male, and viceversa. The assumption that all sex/gender characteristics arecongruent with the genital appearance of the baby is – usually– accurate. However it is not always so. By the time of birth,approximately 1 in 80 babies will have developed conditions known generally as intersex, that is, where there is some degree of sex or gender anomaly, owing to a disturbance in the hormone environment which has impacted on the process ofsex differentiation. Masculinising hormones Masculinising hormones The possible anomalies are many and varied. There may be: visible ambiguities of the genitalia so that assigning the baby as boy or girl is problematic; inconsistencies between genitalia and gonads; and/or internal reproductive organ anomalies. In some cases, where the fetus itself is insensitive to the masculinising influence of androgens, an individual may develop as a phenotypical girl despite having XY chromosomes. However, she will have undescended testes, no uterus or ovaries and a short, or more-or-less non-existent vagina.

So, transsexualism does not stand alone, but may be understood as part of a complex spectrum of related conditions, an interpretation acknowledged by Lady Butler-Sloss, (Court of Appeal, 2001): “There is, in informed medical circles, a growing momentum for the recognition of transsexual individuals for every purpose and in a manner similar to those who are intersexed”. Factors which may be implicated in causing altered fetal endocrine environments may include genetic influences, environmental influences and/or medication to the mother during pregnancy. Rarely, unusual chromosomes configurations, e.g. XXY, XYY, XO, XXYYY etc or even a mosaic of different chromosomal patterns within different tissues in one individual may also be associated with atypical development of gender identity and sex characteristics. Previous research has established that small areas in the hypothalamic region of the brain are sexually differentiated into male and female, in the general population. Recent research published in 1995 and 2000,undertaken by Professor J-N Zhou et al and Dr FrankKruijver et al respectively, demonstrated that in two small, but statistically robust, post-mortem studies ofindividuals experiencing severe Gender Dysphoria, oneof the sexually dimorphic areas - the centralsubdivision of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc) - is differentiated in opposition to the chromosomal, genital and gonadal sex characteristics. It was shown that this was not due to cross-sexhormone administration or sex hormone variations in adulthood. These findings support the view that the BSTc is an element involved in the development of gender identity and that its reversed sex-differentiationis associated with a strong predisposition towards transsexualism. This baby may become a trans man a trans woman.

Professor Louis Gooren (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) states that this research, undertaken at the Dutch Brain Research Institute and published in prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals, supports the paradigm that transsexualism is a condition in which the sexual differentiation of the brain follows a pattern typical of the opposite sex, in the final stage of the differentiation process. Where the predisposition for transsexualism exists, psycho-social factors may subsequently modify the outcome. However, there is no evidence that socialisation in contradiction to the phenotype can cause transsexualism, nor that socialisation which is consistent with the phenotype can prevent it. Most trans men and trans women describe their gender discomfort as dating from early childhood, increasing through adolescence and adulthood, as they struggle to conform to stereotypical gender role behaviour. This creates a great deal of stress and may even become intolerable. It can then only be resolved by undergoing transition from the gender role imposed since birth, to the role consistent with the core gender identity. So this process does not change the underlying gender identity, but confirms it by aligning the phenotype with it, thus ending the mismatch. In conclusion, although the processes of sexual differentiation of the brain are not yet fully understood, the evidence suggests that transsexualism is not a mental illness but rather a neuro-developmental condition which, as such, cannot be overcome by contrary socialisation, nor by psychological or psychiatric treatments alone. Treatment, which is regarded as highly successful, usually includes an integrated programme of hormones and corrective surgery to achieve realignment of the phenotype with the gender identity, accompanied by such psychological support as the individual may need to assist in adaptation to the appropriate gender role.

What is involved in the transition process?
The answer to this question varies depending on the needs and desires of the individual choosing the transition process. An individual may choose any combination of social, medical and legal steps that will help that person achieve the greatest level of comfort with their body and social roles.

Social steps might include asking to be referred to by a different name (perhaps one generally given to people of the "opposite sex") and different pronouns ("she" instead of "he" or vice versa), dressing in clothing traditionally worn by people of the sex they wish to be perceived as, and taking on mannerisms frequently associated with that sex/gender.

Medical steps might include hormonal treatment to achieve an appearance more consistent with the target gender expression, and/or surgery to further modify the appearance. There are a variety of surgical options to alter the transsexual person's body to help them achieve the greatest comfort with their gender expression. The transsexual person may choose some, all, or none of these surgical options.

Many transsexual people also work with the courts in their area to achieve legal recognition of their new name and gender. Steps taken vary depending on the location.

UK Government Policy concerning Transsexual People

What causes transsexualism?
No one knows the answer to this question, although there is much research currently in progress investigating it. Among the theories being investigated are genetic influences, in utero hormonal influences, and other brain structure/brain chemical influences.

Out of the closet TV. An interesting video interview of one girl's experience of transition quite late in life. If you are over 40 and considering change.. watch! Click Here

Human sex and gender are very complex, and it is unlikely that any simplistic analysis will definitively answer this question.

What is the treatment for transsexualism? Is there a "cure?"
Treatments for transsexualism based on attempting to change the individual's sense of their own true gender have proven ineffective. Accepted treatments are based on helping the transsexual person's body and presentation match their inner sense of their gender, usually through hormone treatment and surgery.

How common is transsexualism?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), Fourth edition, says the following (© 1994, American Psychiatric Assoc.):

Prevalence: There are no recent epidemiological studies to provide data on prevalence of Gender Identity Disorder. Data from smaller countries in Europe with access to total population statistics and referrals suggest that roughly 1 per 30,000 adult males and 1 per 100,000 adult females seek sex-reassignment surgery. Because these numbers reflect only people who have sought traditional medical treatment, they do not reflect the total numbers of people who have some experience of gender discontinuity.

Is transsexualism a modern phenomenon?
While advances in medical science have only in the last few decades made it possible for individuals to transition with the aid of hormones and surgery, transgendered people have existed throughout history in many societies. Jennifer Reitz's Natural History of Transsexuality provides a brief historical overview.

Is transsexualism the same as homosexuality?
No. Transsexualism is about a person's core sense of their gender. This is a separate issue from the gender of the people they are attracted to.

Just like any other individual, a transsexual person may identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. For example, a person raised as a man who transitions to living as a woman may identify as heterosexual, in which case she would seek relationships with men, or lesbian, in which case she would seek relationships with other women.

Responses to common reactions and feelings about transition
The person I thought I knew is becoming a stranger.
A person we know who undergoes gender transition will very likely look and sound quite different after their transition. A person we've known as a woman, for instance, may change his hairstyle, grow facial hair, speak with a lower voice, and adopt an entirely new wardrobe. But he's not likely to adopt an entirely new personality or set of values, and our history with this person is unchanged. Think of any person you care about, and ask yourself what qualities you value most about her or him. You are likely to think of qualities which are not gender-specific, such as sense of humor, intelligence, and loyalty. These qualities are not likely to change as a person undergoes gender transition. In fact, a person who undergoes gender transition is in a process of becoming more comfortable with himself or herself, and so their positive qualities are likely to be enhanced.

It can be scary when someone in your life tells you they need to make such a major change, and it's understandable that you may feel you don't know this person as well as you thought. But if you continue to spend time together, you will likely be comforted to find that they are in many ways the same person you have always known.

Altering the body through surgery seems like mutilation.
This is also an understandable response. To those of us who are comfortable with our assigned gender, the idea of altering those parts of our bodies that are most associated with our gender can feel alien, frightening, and disturbing.

Another person's decision to alter parts of their body can feel threatening. It may help to remember that a person undergoing transition from, for instance, a male to female gender expression, is not making a blanket statement about the value of malehood or the validity of your gender expression. She is simply seeking to become more comfortable in her body.

Sex reassignment surgery is the aspect of gender transition that is most difficult for some people to understand, and you may never feel comfortable with it. That's OK. But that discomfort doesn't preclude honoring another person's choice, treating them with respect, and even supporting them through their gender transition.

I can't imagine the person ever seeming to me like the sex they want to be.
It's hard to let go of our perceptions of someone we've known for a long time. Changes in a person's appearance and behavior can occur gradually, and may be difficult to perceive if you are in regular contact. But if you pay attention to how strangers react to the person, it may help you to see these changes. On the other hand, the gradualness of the change may help you to adapt to the new gender identity step-by-step. You may be surprised, in time, at how completely you accept the person's new chosen gender.

It is true, however, that some people who undergo gender transition will continue to have significant characteristics of their previous gender identity. Some male-to-female transsexuals, for instance, may be unusually tall for women, while a female-to-male transsexual may have small features. It may help if you avoid focusing on these specific things, but rather honor the person's chosen gender, and try to see them as they see themselves.

How can I support this person in their transition?
There are many ways you can be helpful. Perhaps the most important is to convey your intention to be supportive to the person in transition. Let them know you want to be an ally, and ask them what they need from you. Then, to the extent you are able, offer them the support they've asked for.

We can offer a couple of specific ideas as well. First, you can adopt the use of the person's new name (if they've chosen one) and appropriate gender pronouns. This change can be uncomfortable at first, and you may slip up once in a while, but eventually this change becomes habitual and comfortable. This small but very important step will demonstrate that you take the person's decision seriously.

You can also try to maintain your previous relationship with the person, whether that's the intimate relationship of close friends or once-a-month bowling buddies. Gender transition is new territory for many people, and hence can be scary. "Hanging in" with the person in transition despite feelings of discomfort with the process can be a very supportive act.

Also, you may ask the person in transition how you can help in letting others know about their transition. They may want to tell people themselves, or they may be grateful for help "spreading the word." There may be certain contexts--the softball team, a church you both attend, or the workplace--where your assistance in telling others and expressing your support will be appreciated. Let them be your guide in this.

I am a heterosexual guy and am attracted to certain transsexual or transvestite women.
Am I gay and should I feel guilty?
Answer...NO..at some point in their lives most hetero guys will be attracted to something they perceive to be sexually different or as part of a fantasy. As transgendered women have to try harder with their femininity and do not take it for granted like genetic women the end result can be attractive to a hetero man. A relationship between a hetero man and a transsexual woman is definitively a hetero relationship. A relationship between a hetero man and a transvestite ( a man who wears womens clothes) could indeed be construed as a gay one.

I am a regular guy who enjoys crossdressing.
I am nervous and scared of what will happen if my partner finds out - also am I gay ?
Answer..If you think your partner would be understanding it would be better to tell them and to explain the situation rationally rather than bottle it all up and eventually get caught out anyway. That would be worse as it could be construed as cheating in your relationship. Are you gay ? NO.

What is the Difference Between Transvestite and Transsexual?
The differences are very distinct between a person who cross dresses and someone whose brain is telling them they belong to the opposite gender role. The transvestite may just cross dress occasionally, or may enjoy dressing regularly either in the privacy of their own home or to socialise. Some live full time in female clothes, but they always retain their core identity of themselves as male and will not want to consider gender surgery. Generally TVs who are "out" are sociable and may attract a lot of attention, they may enjoy wearing outrageous or fetish outfits and spend a lot of time involved with their clothes and appearance. It has often been observed that TVs tend to be heterosexual males while drag queens and female impersonators are often gay men. Although transsexual people are often very concerned about their dress and appearance, this is not the driving force behind their cross dressing. For the transsexual person clothes are an expression of their core female identity and many strive to blend in by studying how women of their age and background dress and learning how to tailor their appearance and mannerisms to attract as little attention as possible.

The above is a general guideline, but this is far from being a black and white issue and most cross dressers would place themselves somewhere on a gradient between the outrageous female impersonator at one extreme and the totally integrated post operative transsexual at the other. Many people who later go on to complete full gender reassignment begin the search for their true identity within the transvestite community, perhaps this is the only obvious and safe place where they feel they can cross dress. Also there are very few social groups where transsexual people meet, so those who enjoy socialising may be attracted to transvestite clubs. Many individuals feel very confused about their true gender identity, so how can an outsider be expected to judge whether a person is TV or TS when that person themselves does not know - or cannot accept - where their true identity lies and is therefore not giving out any clear signals about themself.

What is “transgender” supposed to mean?
Transgendered people are those who have gender identities, expressions or behaviors not traditionally associated with their birth sex. As an umbrella term, transgender includes male to female and female-to-male transsexuals, male and female crossdressers, and others with unconventional gender expressions.

Aren’t transgendered people just flamboyant homosexuals ?
A few are gay, lesbian or bisexual, but most transgendered people consider themselves to be heterosexual. However, transgendered people are often perceived as gay, and thus are discriminated against in similar ways.

Aren’t transgendered people sexually perverted ?
Transgendered people are no more sex-driven than anyone else. Being transsexual has nothing to do with "Sex". Most transgendered people express their gender difference in order to be who they are, and do not connect their gender expression or identity to their sexuality or sexual orientation.

What makes a transgendered person want to change sex ?
Very few transgendered people actually go through sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Only transsexual people do this, and many of them cannot afford the costs of these surgeries. Most transgendered people do not want to change their anatomical sex, but many modify their bodies by taking hormones or by undergoing various cosmetic procedures.

Aren't transsexuals just men who want to be women ?
There may be just as many transsexual men and people born with female bodies who feel their gender identity or expression is masculine. The Female-To-Male (FTM) half of the transgendered community ranges from stone butch lesbians and passing women to transsexual men, who go through hormonal and surgical transformation of their bodies.

Isn't a ”man in a dress” just out to solicit sex from other men ?
Some are. Most aren’t. Most crossdressing males are heterosexual, married men who are faithful to their wives. This common misconception is due to the media’s mislabeling of any man who appears crossdressed in public as a gay prostitute. Most crossdressers are simply being themselves and have no interest in having sex with other men.

Aren't transgendered people just drag queens ?
Very few. Drag queens and kings crossdress as performance art. It’s a common mistake to confuse drag queens and kings, who receive a great deal of media attention, with those who crossdress for gender identity reasons. Drag performers, whose flamboyant personas are part of their acts, practice the art of female or male illusion. Many do not self-identify as transgendered.

Isn’t being transgendered just another deviant lifestyle ?
Scientific research and the self-reports of transgendered people suggest gender identity is innate. Transgendered people are born with gender identities that simply don’t match their physical sex. They don’t choose to be transgendered. Being transgendered is neither a choice nor a “lifestyle,” and thus cannot be considered immoral. Transgendered people may have choices to make with respect to how to manage their condition, but this in itself is not indicative of deceitfulness or psychological disorder.

Is there information about Aids and HIV ?
We publish an information page here Aids-HIV and Transgendered persons

Also recommended:- Healthy People 2010 Companion Document on LGBT Health, a free 488 page document about the health needs of multicultural LGBT communities and recommendations to address these needs. It’s available from the National Coalition for LGBT Health and on CD-ROM from the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

Where is there a safe place to buy hormones and anti androgens ?
Before you think about taking any medications you should see your doctor or a specialist in gender dysphoria for an initial assessment. You will find listings and information in our medical sections. You should also read about hormones carefully and their side effects.... there is much information on this website. If hormones are considered right for you then this site only recommends to purchase from Pharmacy Network via the internet as an alternative to your doctors regular prescription. Pharmacy Network operate the hormone boutique hosted on this site and to enter click the banner below.

I think I may be transsexual so how and what do I tell my GP ?
We had many requests on this subject so me made a complete page which will explain to you what to expect from your doctor and the possible options. "What to expect when you approach your GP"

I am a Doctor/ Health Professional and I would like to learn more about Gender Dysphoria ?
We have published a short guide for health professionals....
An Introductory Guide for GPs and Health Professionalsand there is another paper which you may find very useful:- see An introduction to Gender Dysphoria

and also... Basic Tips for Healthcare and Social Service Providers Working With Transgendered People

I am in the UK. Where can I find immediate help and advice ?
We publish all the UK National and Regional support helplines. You will find those listed here

Which are the recognised Gender Programs around the World ?

Provision of this list by no means constitutes an endorsement of any product, individual or group. We distribute this listing as a public service only. Please verify credentials and experience of service providers and seek second opinions when appropriate.

Gender programs provide a structured approach to sex reassignment. Some provide counseling only, and some provide comprehensive services including hormonal therapy, plastic surgery, and sex reassignmenet surgery.

Most transsexual persons do not go to gender programs, but take an "a la carte" approach, choosing from a variety of support groups, electrologists, endocrinologists, plastic surgeons, and sex reassignment surgeons in the same way that one might select form a menu in a restaurant. This approach tends to be less expensive than attending a gender clinic, but it has far fewer safeguards. Gender programs tend to take a conservative approach in which a multidisciplinary team carefully assesses the individual and tracks his or her progress throughout the transitional process.

United Kingdom
Charing Cross Gender Identity Program
The Claybrook Centre ( Now at the rear of Charing Cross Hospital - Fulham Palace Road)
37 Claybrook Road
London W6 8LN
United Kingdom
+44-20 7386 1253 (Gender Unit)
+44-20 7386 1348 (Centre Switchboard)
+44-20 7386 1349 (fax)
MTF & FTM SRS

The London Gender Clinic (formerly The London Institute)
3rd Floor, 25 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8GL - contact: Dr Richard Curtis
Tel: 020 7631 3164
Email: enquiries@transhealth.co.uk
contact: Dr Richard Curtis - please mention crissywild.com
Also see www.transhealth.co.uk

Holland
AZVU
P.O. Box 7057
1007 MB
Amsterdam, Netherlands
31-20-444-0542
31-20-444-0502
MTF & FTM SRS

U.S.A.
Gender Identity Program of New England, Inc.
68 Adelaide Road
Manchester CT 06040
203-646-8651
Gender Identity Project
Barbara Warren, Ph.D.
208 W. 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-620-7310

Center for Gender Reassignment
ATTN: Deborah Gilbert, RN
330 W. Brambleton Ave.
Ste. 203
Norfolk VA 23510
804-625-7622
804-625-7649
MTF & FTM SRS
Alternative Counseling Ctr.

Knoxville TS Support Group
4901 Jacksboro Pike
Knoxville TN 37918
615-687-8990

Transsexual Program
University of KY
800 Rose Street
Lexington KY 40536-0084
606-233-6677 (office)
606-233-3533 (appointments); 606-233-5321 (paging)
606-258-1944
MTF and FTM? SRS

Central Ohio Gender Dysphoria Program
Meral Crane, M.A., LPC, PCC, Coordinator
P.O. Box 02008
Columbus OH 43202
614-451-0111
Also known as Columbus Gender Program

Comprehensive Gender Services Program
University of Michigan Health System
4990 Clark Road, Suite 300
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
734-528-0895
734-528-0986 (fax)
um-cgsp@umich.edu
MTF & FTM SRS

Transgender Identity Group
c/o Ivanoff & Ivanoff
Ste. 1810, Clark Bldg.
633 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53203-1918
414-271-3323

Pathways Counseling Ctr.
2645 N. Mayfair Road, Ste. 230
Wauwatosa WI 53226-1304
414-774-4111

University of Minnesota Program
1300 South 2nd St.
Minneapolis MN 55454
612-625-1500
612-626-8311

Chicago Gender Society
Ailene Immela, Coordinator
University of Chicago Hospitak
Chicago IL
312-702-6302
MTF & FTM SRS?

Gender Dysphoria Program of Orange Co.
32148 Camino Capistrano
Ste. 203
San Juan Capistrano CA 92675

Gender Dysphoria Program, Inc.
1515 El Camino Real
Judy van Maasdam
Palo Alto, CA 94306
415-326-4645

Institute for Psychosexual Health
5594 North Hollywood Avenue
Ste. 204
Whitefish Bay WI 53217

Los Angeles Gender Center
1923 1/2 Westwood Blvd.
Ste. 2
Los Angeles CA 90025
310-475-8880

Gender Community Advocates
Ms. Tauria Linala
P.O. Box 6333
Santa Maria, CA 93454
805-922-1309 Voice
805-549-0961 Data

Center for Special Problems
2107 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA
415-292-2261

Sexual Identity Center
P.O. Box 3224
Honolulu HI 96801-3224
808-926-1000

Ingersoll Gender Center
1812 E. Madison St.
Ste. 106
Seattle WA 98122-2843
206-329-6651

Canada
Gender Dysphoria Clinic
Vancouver General Hospital
BC Health Sciences Centre
715 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9 Canada
604-875-4100
604-875-5386

Gender Identity Clinic
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
250 College St.
Toronto On M5T 1R8 Canada
416-979-2221
416-979-6965

Australia
Craig Skinner
The Gender Centre, Inc.
75 Morgan Street
Petersham NS Australia
SRS

I am a crossdresser/ pre-op transsexual and I travel Internationally so what should I look out for ?

New Airport Body Scanners
Several new detection devices were deployed in Orlando International Airport. These prototype machines will be tested here to determine whether similar machines should be deployed nationwide. These machines may potentially expose cross-dressing or cross-living individuals to public challenge, humiliation, detainment, not to mention flight delays! Transpeople should be aware of these machines, and may want to oppose their deployment on the grounds that they pose a violation of privacy. Information on how to register opposition is given below.

The types of new machines include two for baggage:

A device that uses low level radio waves to scan for explosives residue.
The InVision CTX5500, a coherent scatter x-ray device that creates a 3-D image of a bag’s contents.
Three new devices have been developed for scanning people:

The Rapiscan Secure 1000 body scanner uses low-level x-rays that penetrate clothing and a special camera to create a computer image of metal objects in their exact locations on a passenger’s body. The Beringer Ion Scan 400B, a walk through device that uses blasts of air and a vacuum to loosen, apprehend, and analyze particles around a person’s body, seeking traces of 40 types of explosive and other hazardous material residue. It can also be programmed to test for 60 different types of drugs. The Entry Scan 3 made by Ion Track Instruments, a trace portal explosives detector, that functions like the Beringer Ion Scan device above. In particular, the Rapiscan Secure 1000 shows airport security personnel a realtime image of your naked body. If you are, for example, an FTM who is binding, they will see your breasts; if you are packing, they will see your prosthesis. Security personnel are viewing scans of same sex passengers, that is if you are presenting as male, and you are asked or volunteer to go through one of these scanners, a male security person will be viewing your scanned image. It is unlikely that these people will be trained in handling transgendered or transsexual passengers with sensitivity or respect.

Once these new machines are placed in service nationwide, the current zonal metal detection devices are likely to remain in service for initial screening. The new enhanced systems will likely be used as alternatives to the wand and pat-down searches when a scan reveals a person to have any anomalous object in his or her possession. A “profile of suspicious character” may be computer-generated at any point in the ticket purchase or passenger registration process and coded on the boarding pass so that security personnel are on alert when the passenger enters the security scan area.

According to CBS News, only passengers who volunteer will go through the Orlando checkpoint while the systems are being tested. CBS News stated: “One system, the Rapiscan Secure 1000, uses low-energy X-rays to search a person through clothing. When Rapiscan project manager Bryan Allman scanned himself, a plastic knife hidden in his shirt pocket was detected.

However, the outline of his body — every inch of it — also was clearly visible. Mindful of the machine’s revealing nature, airport officials refused to put a woman in the scanner. Security officials said the scanner would only be used when a passenger shows an “anomaly.” Also, the security worker examining the scan would be the same sex as the person being searched.

The potential for complaints about the invasiveness of the search didn’t seem to bother Allman. “Everybody has to learn that the world has changed since Sept. 11, and the world needs a much more thorough type of screening,” Allman said. But the American Civil Liberties Union says the scan is too intrusive. “This, of course, is a virtual strip-search,” ACLU associate director Barry Steinhardt said. “There’s no question this has tremendous potential for embarrassment.” Steinhardt pointed out there have been incidents across the nation where male security workers harassed female passengers during hands-on searches.

“We fear this is going to be indiscriminately used,” Steinhardt said. “We know that even less-invasive searches are being abused at airports.” (End of CBS News report excerpt.) Airlines affected at present are Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Swissair, and British Airways flying in and out of Orlando International Airport.

There are alternative technologies available that will provide the same level of security without compromising personal privacy, for example infra-red systems that use thermal imaging of the body which is medically safer for people with pacemakers or other implanted bionic or biometric medical devices. If the proposed technology is used, it is also possible to alter the holographic image of the body to resemble a stick figure or a mannequin, thus leaving the personal characteristics of an individual hidden while still revealing weapons. This should be an enforced minimum standard to prevent unnecessary invasion of privacy.

Readers are advised to write or call their congressional representatives via the capital switchboard 202-224-3121 (just tell the receptionist what city you live in and your call will be routed appropriately) or use http://thomas.loc.gov to identify your representative and link to their email. Tell your representative that you are 100% behind the country’s need to ensure airline safety, and you are also 100% behind protecting constitutional rights to privacy. Urge him or her to advocate for the implementation of security systems that are less invasive and do not subject people to unnecessary invasion of privacy, potential embarassment and public humiliation, and unforeseen medical risks to those wearing or having implanted devices, the operation of which may be compromised by subjection to the scanning waves.

Meanwhile, to avoid potential conflicts with airport security, cross-dressers should travel in the gender presentation that matches their legal identification. Pre-op transsexual people who are cross-living should carry a letter from a therapist or physician that explicitly states they are required to present in the target designated gender as a precursor to or as part of the process of medical treatment that will actualize the true gender. The letter should state that the true gender is that of the gender presentation, irrespective of anatomic condition, and that this document is a medical affidavit.

If transgendered or transsexual people are detained or harassed in airport security procedures, please contact the Transgender Law & Policy Institute (TLPI) to report the incident so that we can track these occurrances. TLPI may be reached at info@transgenderlaw.org.

To learn more about the characteristics that will generate a computerized “enhanced surveillance profile,” go to
http://www.alpa.org/internet/americaflies/index.htm.

If you have not traveled on airplanes since September 11, 2001, you might want to check this site out to help you prepare for your next airport visit.

Please Take Precautions When Traveling
The mood of America has changed - Global objectives of America seem to have changed - and future months will doubtless see even more change. America and U.K. are beating war drums - after Iraq who is next? - but there is no clear future target for the anger. This is already translating into lack of toleration of those who are different. One obvious target for the people's rage is individuals with olive skin. Perhaps a less obvious target will be transgendered and transsexual people. We urge our readers, and especially our readers from the Middle East, to take precautions to ensure their safety, especially in public spaces like airports, train and bus stations, malls, parks, and on the streets. Increased security at airports will result in an insistence that photos on documents of identification match the individual's appearance. Those who customarily fly cross-dressed without matching ID may find themselves grounded, and may be questioned by authorities. This is an issue primarily of security, but prejudice against transpeople may make matters worse.

UK Foreign Office Guidelines on GLBT Travel

Do not fly with a passport that does not match your appearance
Those who customarily fly crossdressed might consider whether it would be wiser not to do so. For those who decide to fly crossdressed anyway, and for those who have transitioned gender roles, we suggest you make sure your photo identification matches your appearance. If it doesn't, now would be a good time to get your ID updated. You should also consider carrying supporting documents such as letters from your support group, therapist, and physician explaining who you are and what you are doing. If you should be removed from a flight, we suggest you not make a fuss at the scene. Save your complaints for later, when they will not put you in danger of being arrested.

How to legally change your identity in the U.K Transsexuals and the Law Employment Pages

If you think that you may be a transsexual get professional help as soon as possible

A short definition of the terms transsexual and gender dysphoria...

A transsexual is a person who feels him (her) self psychologically, socially, and sexually as belonging to the other sex. He/She is convinced of being born in the wrong body. This inner contradiction leads to a life-size identity problem, which has an enormous impact on the individual and on the social functioning of the person. There is urgent desire for hormonal, surgical and, if possible also legal adjustment. There is a huge aversion of the genital organs belonging to their own biological sex and secondary sexual characteristics.

There is a huge disadvantage in the term 'transsexualism'; it is easily confused with sexual variation. It is important to make the difference between sex as having sex and sex as in the biological difference between a man and a woman. Transsexualism has almost nothing to do with sexuality and it is used in a wrong context too often. Actually the term wasn't very well chosen. The scientific name for the phenomenon is: genderdysphoria or: feeling a fundamental difference between the corporal and the spiritual sex.

Gender is the English term for sex. This doesn't only refer to the biological sex, but also to the social and psychological aspects of it. Gender identity is the psychological conviction that every individual has about his and her sex. It still isn't very clear how and when gender identity arises. Within modern scientific research, they suppose that it has already taken its final shape at the age of 3.

Transsexualism .. the term

The term transsexualism is the most current one however, and I have decided to use this term as to prevent any confusion. (However, the term transgender is more and more used as an umbrella term for transvestism, transgenderism an transsexualism).

The total misapprehensions about transsexualism are numerous. This not only among the general public, but also within medical and social assistance. Genderdysphoria is the scientific name of psychological problems at the sexual level.

The term "gender" means sex. By "gender identity" I mean the psychological sex life. Everyone has a sexual identity: the perception of being a man or a woman. When the physical sex is not the same as the psychological sex, we are faced with genderdysphoria.

This can take on many forms. Transvestism is considered to be the lightest form of genderdysphoria;... transsexualism is considered the most severe form, transgenderism as a form in between. Transsexualism occurs when a woman or a man who is physically normal is convinced he or she belongs to the other sex. This inner conflict is felt as a problem that can menace the development of the person who feels trapped in an increasing sense of weirdness. Following this experience, transsexuals feel the need to adapt their physical sex to their mental sex.

Despite the absolute fact that genderdysphoria has always existed there is not yet a simple answer to the cause of this. Nevertheless biological and psychological hypotheses exist.

Crissywild.com is International ..

Therefore.... this UK based site has been designed primarily as both a comprehensive and International transgender resource.

crissywild.com is dedicated to providing free Information, Links, News, Discussion and Views and to help build social awareness and acceptance of what is often one of the most misunderstood sections of our community. Information in these pages is updated every week to ensure accuracy and relevance. Your views are important so tell me about them and I will take them into account in these pages where they are relevant. I would like to take this opportunity here to thank all my many friends for supporting this site and for giving me so much encouragement to continue to expand it.

5 Years serving communities ..

Since this site started more than five years ago as a simple homepage it has grown beyond recognition to become one of the largest and best known transgender resource sites in the World visited by more than 2000 people a day. A very few criticised the original site as being too complex but the majority of emails I received all had positive things to say.

For those of you that had any difficulty in navigating I have added a brand new on-site search engine which you will find on the nav bar of the main channels and our team here have completely re-designed and re-worked the site from top to bottom.

I have also continued to make this a fun site as well as a very serious one so yes there are links into some more obscure areas - you will just have to search them out as always !

Advice ..

Many of you write to me in confidence expressing concern about your sexuality and the enormous difficulties faced by changing or even contemplating changing gender. From personal experience I can confirm that it is probably one of the most difficult steps that you will ever take in life. This site cannot make decisions for you but I hope some of the information here will be useful and if nothing else it will show you that you are not alone. One of the most extraordinary things I found was that in the main transsexuals are all sisters of change; pioneering new ground in what is and what is not possible under current conditions in both our society and as dictated by medical technology and thinking. Perhaps in the next 100 years or so we will be able to walk into a telephone booth or similar and dial in the gender and physical look we require and hey presto...the fact is we are who we are and it is better to be your true self than live a lie.

Email Advisory Service

Gay is nothing to do with it

"..... I was never Gay - indeed male to female transsexuals (never ever to be confused with transvestites) rarely are -  general public ignorance however quite incorrectly places TS's in these categories - Gay men are attracted to Gay men and definitively not women, TS or otherwise..... In truth it is heterosexual men who find TS's both interesting, stimulating and very often extremely attractive - one day soon society will wake up hopefully... I hate slots and labels... so please don't mess with Crissy !   I am a woman; just me, and nobody should ever doubt it ....."  

This site is and will be very different to the last crissywild.com. I hope you enjoy it and I hope to see you here many times.

Best Wishes and Hugs to you all..

An Intro to Gender Dysphoria

About Transsexuality

About Crissy Wild

About this Site

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