Agender NZ - Who are Transgender People
In this 21st century super communication and knowledge economy world it is surprising that a sector of the human community is still seen as peculiar and mysterious.

Transgender people have been regarded in many different ways over human history, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. Certainly in the last two thousand years, within the western traditions that we currently occupy, until recently, the treatment has been decidedly negative.

Who are Transgender people?
James Green, President of FtM International, put it well when he described us as "A nebulous category that can include anyone who crosses gender boundaries, regardless of whether that crossing is permanent or intentional; anyone who exhibits characteristics of a gender that does not match their apparent physical sex."

Language describing our community is comparatively new, so many descriptive terms are used and often there is disagreement within the community on which should be used. However, speaking very broadly, within the transgender forest are two rivers, one called transsexual and one called cross dresser. The main difference being that transsexuals have a need to make a permanent change to their gender, while cross dressers have a need to express their opposite gender self, they have no wish to make a permanent change. It is simply a matter of degree. From each of these two rivers are a myriad of self identification streams that feed into the two main rivers. Within each river there can be male to female (MtF) or female to male (FtM).

How are Trans people created?
In short we do not know for certain, however research increasingly points to biological rather than environmental reasons.

At conception all humans are female. Several weeks into gestation hormones flood the foetus and set characteristics including male or female and it is believed that with those who will be trans, the hormones affect on the brain wiring forms differently than the average person leaving us with a body of one gender and the mind of another. Consequently these trans people usually know from earliest memory that they are different than other boys and girls.

There is also evidence that this wiring job on the brains of young people who have exhibited no transgender tendencies before can be rearranged at the time of ones second hormone rush - puberty.

However, what is more important for the individual trans person is dealing with the issue. Coming out as trans is bigger than just about anything else you can do, because you are going to, at some point, look different than those that know you are used to. How you look is important. We are a species that relies so much on vision and appearance. The concept of moving from one gender to another is difficult for most people to understand. At worst this can destroy relationships, including family and friendships. It can also alter the way you live your life in areas such as employment and housing.

However, what it can also do is free the individual from a life of "living a lie". It provides an opportunity to be your true self, not anyone else's concept of who you are and this undoubtedly is the greatest result of the journey.