While Cher‘s daughter-cum-son Chaz Bono announced she would become a he, it’s unclear how far Chaz plans to go in the FTM arena. He could go all the way, with full-on gender reassignment surgery, or he could opt for a hormone regimen without asking a surgeon to reshape his bits and pieces. While Chaz asks for privacy, plenty of other folks are using the celebrity status as a teaching moment: Transgender actress Candis Cayne has some advice for mama, while Mara Keisling, executive director of the Washington-based National Center for Transgender Equality, has gone ahead and announced her suspicions that Chaz actually won’t go through with the surgery. “The whole media fixation on surgery is kind of misplaced,” she tells CNN. “Almost no transgender people ever have surgery. We don’t have any idea how many do.”
Fitz
I agree– and if i were a female transitioning to male, and wanted surgery, i would try to hold off (on bottom surgery) because I think tremendous breakthroughs are around the corner, and I worry that surgery today might limit surgery possibilities next year. There is great work being done on growing various tissues in the lab, and it is only a matter of time. of course, when that happens they will have to wait in line as every gay man will want a 12 inch dick.
But her point: don’t get fixated on the physical is very valid.
chris
Don’t get fixated on the physical…
Isn’t that what transgender people are doing?
I totally agree that gender isn’t just two things (male, female) and that we all, to some degree, display many gender nuances. So, if everything is blurry, then why do some people feel the need to reinforce gender binaries by making “physical” stuff, that’s really not supposed to matter, align with preconceived gender notions?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, one can do with their body whatever they want…I just have a hard time understanding that in one hand, physical stuff has no bearing on gender, but then making your physical stuff align with one particular gender…isn’t this contradictory? Shouldn’t a “bio” man wear a dress if he feels that’s what’s on the inside without also having to get breasts and a vagina? Shouldn’t a “bio” woman be allowed to live as a man without going under drastic surgery? I don’t know. Please don’t bash me. I’m willing to listen and learn.
Fitz
@chris: No one should bash you, I think these are good questions. I thought queerty’s last article on Bono was dumb because it said ‘chasity is going to become a man’, which is stupid. I got bashed for saying so— and it may have been my unfortunate wording.
I don’t think anyone should have to do about anything. If you want to wear heals, power to you. If flannel and mullets get you going- far out. As far as surgery, I think if something bothers you, change it. I think if when you undress you look down and go “Blech, yuck” then you have to something to change your attitude or your appearance or both. Life is short… you should try to enjoy the ride.
Adrian
I think Chastity is making a rather large public statement whether intentionally or not (who knows). Those who oppose gay marriage don’t see how foolish it is to say that marriage is between a man and a woman, being that anyone can “change their gender.” Determining gender is beyond genitals and chromosomes so using gender as a basis to not allow two people to enter a legal marital contract is ludicrous.
niles
she or he has always been pretty much of an embarassment seemingly after as much publicity as possible. i smell a reality series in the works.
emma
Keisling doesn’t speak for all trans people, by the way. http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11443/oh-no-mara-keisling-didnt-really-just-say-that-did-she
Kian
to transition from one gender to another is a long and arduous process. i started my transition from female to male 6 years ago and the process is still unfinished. granted, i am recognized as male in public, but in private i wish there were more options for people like me. bottom surgery for ftms is crude and expensive (over 40 grand!) and often results in a relatively good-looking penis, but one that is not usable as one would want and expect. The corresponding surgery for mtfs is cheap and it works, which is completely unfair! transsexuals are limited by available options and should not be blamed or criticized for not pursuing every single one, particularly when most transsexuals are poor and disenfranchised and cannot afford even basic medical care.
as for chaz, i’m very nervous regarding public discourse on his transition. his every decision will be scrutinized (like on this blog and many others so far) and people will assume that all ftms are like him, which is completely untrue. case in point: i love men (i’m pretty sure he’s into girls).
Cam
“”Mara Keisling, executive director of the Washington-based National Center for Transgender Equality, has gone ahead and announced her suspicions that Chaz actually won’t go through with the surgery. “The whole media fixation on surgery is kind of misplaced,” she tells CNN. “Almost no transgender people ever have surgery. We don’t have any idea how many do.”””
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If she has no idea how many do, then she can’t really say that almost none do.
jojoko
the difference is chaz can definitely afford surgery.
Andrew Triska
I’m glad he’s trying to take the emphasis off “the operation.” He’s right — most FTMs don’t have genital surgery because the results are frankly not very good. Most transguys tend to make the most of what they have instead of spending thousands of dollars on a bad outcome and possible infection. (Chest surgery’s different — the results are often indistinguishable from a regular male chest, so it’s a highly desirable surgery.)
The “real” transition is the social one — coming out to friends and family and living as a male. Hormones are also a big step (and are generally what makes people see you as a male), but surgery still remains way down on the list.
galefan2004
If you are looking at the big picture than most transgendered people don’t actually have surgery. That is for various reasons. I have a friend who is truly transgendered that won’t get the surgery because she feels at 35 she is to old for the surgery to actually make a huge difference, but she lives and works as a woman. Personally, I have a lot of strong feminist traits that make me very woman like, but I am to much in love with my genitalia to ever consider such a drastic step.
Fitz
@galefan2004: Being a feminist isn’t really the same as being feminine. And for your friend- if she’s happy, then fine.. but limiting yourself because you are 35 is absurd to me. I had some cosmetic work done when I was 40, and I love love love it. I might not have even appreciated it when I was young.
LindaMarie
Let Me get something straight here? Or at least understand something. Mara Keisling is saying: “Almost no transgender people ever have surgery.”
Is that saying, that those who Do Not have Surgery,are “less” Transsexuals than those who Do !_? Is there a “gauge”? or
“right-of-passage” anyone must go through or achieve in order for the transgender person to say they are “Truly” a Transsexual? ( Are we judged by our own,piers within the community?) As to how far we have come to clam the right to say “We” are transsexuals ! My own opinion: ” Is NO !”
I agree with,Andrew Trisks,and Galefan2004, partly.
Most transsexuals “can’t” afford surgery for obvious reasons,(expensive)! And “yes”, age is a factor a well. I am one of them ! I have been transitioning now for over 6 years,my age is 56 years young. And recently retired. Money is a factor here,age is a factor here. Am I any less a transsexual than the ones who can afford to have surgery? I don’t think so ! Wither you decide to have bottom surgery or not is no one’s business but your own. And a very serious decision to make ~for YOU and YOU alone. Not society’s out look on you,if you earned the right of passage ! He, can afford the surgery, and He, is Cher’s child,in the “lime light” of the public. No…better no less…transgender or transsexual than the guy or girl across the street living in your town. He, just has the “money” to take it to the limit…others Don’t. Don’t look down on ” Us ” who can’t afford it…and think of Us as anything less than they are, as Transsexuals.