Myths & prejudices

A Primer on Transsexuality

Article published on September 15, 2003 in Transsexual.org

Sorted in Dossiers, Prejudices, Transsexuality

Transsexuality is a birth defect. It occurs because of changes in the amount of hormones in the womb. If these changes happen during certain critical times when a child’s brain is forming, the cells get the wrong ‘signal’. If it is a boy baby, the brain fails to get the signal to become a male [...]

What is Transsexuality: Definition and Cause

Article published on September 15, 2003 in Transsexual.org

Sorted in Dossiers, Facts, Uncomfortable in my skin, Prejudices, Transsexuality

INTRODUCTION: Transsexuality, also termed ‘Gender Dysphoria’ is now reaching the point of being reasonably well understood, though many myths and general foolishness about the subject still abound. This document concerns the classic definition of transsexuality, as defined by Benjamin, Money, Green, and so forth. Intersexuality and transgenderism will not be addressed other than obliquely. IN [...]

Out of The Shadows and Into The Light

Story published on July 6, 2003 by Darren Chu

Sorted in Coming out, Misconceptions & Clichés, Stories

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my lifetime, it’s that nothing goes as planned. As such, coming out didn’t happen at all the way I planned it. It was a typical story: get Mom, Dad, and my sister together, and do it in person. The same went for my friends. I’m sure you’ve already guessed that that’s not how it went.

Tales From the Outside

Article published on January 30, 2003 in AlanIlagan.com by Alan Bennett Ilagan

Sorted in Acceptance, Dossiers, Homophobia and transphobia, Prejudices

“Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.” ~ Milton, Paradise Lost Father forgive me, for I have sinned. It has been… an eternity since my last confession, and these are my sins… Okay, so there’s not enough room in an entire encyclopedia set to list all of them, and not even enough room [...]

Homosexuality Is Not An Abnormality

Story published on January 21, 2003 by Mélanie

Sorted in Acceptance, Coming out, Prejudices, Stories

For me homosexuality is not an abnormality, gays and lesbians have the right to the same rights that all have… What makes me scream is when I hear someone say: “yeah, nan, but be careful because if she likes girls, she is going to jump all over you!”

Transgender Glossary of Terms

Article published on December 2, 2002 in GLAAD

Sorted in Definitions, Dossiers, Facts

GENERAL TERMINOLOGY Sex The classification of people as male or female. At birth, infants are assigned a sex based on a combination of bodily characteristics including: chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs and genitals. Gender Identity One’s personal sense of being a man or a woman (or a boy or girl.) For transgender people, their birth-assigned [...]

Problematic Terminology

Article published on December 2, 2002 in GLAAD

Sorted in Definitions, Dossiers, Insults, Prejudices

PROBLEMATIC: “homosexual” (as a n. or adj.) PREFERRED: “gay” (adj.); “gay man” or “lesbian” (n.) Please use “lesbian” or “gay man” to describe people attracted to members of the same sex. Because of the clinical history of the word “homosexual,” it has been adopted by anti-gay activists to suggest that lesbians and gay men are [...]

Defamatory Language to Avoid

Article published on December 2, 2002 in GLAAD

Sorted in Definitions, Dossiers, Facts, Insults

“fag,” “faggot,” “dyke,” “homo,” “queen,” “she-male,” “he-she,” “tranny” and similar epithets.The criteria for using these derogatory terms should be the same as those applied to hate words for other groups: they should not be used except in a direct quote which reveals the bias of the person quoted. So that such words are not given [...]

Gender and sexual identity: The journey begins

Article published on November 30, 2002 in Health Canada

Sorted in Acceptance, Definitions, Dossiers, Coming out, Prejudices

If you are reading this booklet it may be that you are attracted tosomeone of the same gender or have questions about your sexual orientation. Hopefully this booklet will answer some of your questions,calm some of your fears &… help you understand that you are not alone. Confusion about your sexual orientation can sometimes lead [...]

Myths about bisexuality

Article published on November 30, 2002 in Safe Space Project

Sorted in Dossiers, Prejudices

MYTH: Bisexuals are promiscuous. (Bisexuals cannot be monogamous is a variation on this myth.)REALITY: Just like people of any sexual orientation, bisexual people have a range of sexual behaviours. Some have multiple partners, some have one partner, some go through partnerless periods. This has to do with the individual, and not their sexual orientation. Bisexual [...]