Seriously, I do not mean to tease, but I really spent a good few minutes laughing like a mad woman who came out from some hidden jungle when Edmund Smith (ex-gay ministry, RLM) started using the term ex-transgender few months back. It was just so insane thinking about it. I mean how do you EX an internal condition? How do you fix Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome? How to you cure 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency? And how the heck do you deal with Hermaphrodism? It is so crazy that for a person who does not know differences between sex and gender, having zero knowledge on Harry Benjamin Syndrome; he would claim to be ex-transgender, without realising that gender cannot be ex-ed! It is like saying I am ex-hearted (for sex) or ex-hungry (for gender). LOL. This thingy has become a nice joke whenever I need one!
14 comments:
I don't know, Yuki. Maybe Edmund Smith is ex-intelligent, ex-decent, ex-truthful...
I'm not sure I could ever find the humor in it, only despair!
alan
Hi Yuki,
I came across ur profile/blog from John Ong's podcast recommendation over a yr ago...since then, never reall read ur blog until yest, saw ur blog link again from someone's else's blog..i was wondering about ur renewal of IC, how come u couldn;t renew without a short haircut, haven't u changed ur previous 'male identity status' on ur old IC/passport, to a female one yet? And also,despite not being a trangendered person (im a gay malaysian chinese) i am wondering whats' the procedure for gender 'change' on official docus in malaysia??
@ CrackerLilo
Well "change" is possible when you just make the meaning of it vague. I guess what he similarly did was make "transgender" sound like some sort of "lifestyle", "sickness" or something. It is lies but it works.
@Alan
I do not think there is any need for despair. They are the most looney of the ex-gay ministry bunch in Malaysia. They represent all that is wrong about ex-gays. :)
@hcpen
There has been a misunderstanding here. In Malaysia, all transgenders, including those who underwent GRS, are not allowed to change their ICs, including me. When I changed my IC, it was from the one I have which was damaged to the new one. And that time those kampung officers were offended that I looked like a girl! The only place in the region in which you can change your IC after surgery is Singapore. Thanks for dropping by. Nice blog too.
thanks for the reply, wow..i didn't know that, so u're saying basically trangenderism is technically 'illegal' in malaysia? Since they don't recognise mtf or ftm even after post-op, doesn't that create a hassle or indeed huge problems when gaining employment or going overseas? omg, i never knew that..i'm sure in the region, thailand and philippines allow official change in gender also since from what i know, they're pretty liberal towards lgbt ppl and have alot of transgendered people:-)
Hi there, I've been meaning to post a comment here for some time now, but never did, but now I am here :)
Okay, so first, I would like to be the Devil's Advocate regarding the claim of Edmund Smith's " ex-transgender". I don't reall understand in which context did he, or even you, use in reference to the term "transgender".
From my knowledge of the common usage of "transgender", the term is commonly refered to as a category, an umbrella term encompassing transvestites, crossdressers, androgyne's, transgenderist, transsexual, intersex (Kleinfelter's, heamophrodite etc) and so on.
So which is this Edmund Smith classified under "transgender"? (Ahh..the dreaded labels) (Okay, I fail at being a Malaysian for not knowing him and I don't think I want to dig around the Internet to find out which is he)
He obviously can't be "ex-intersex". But if he's an "ex-transvestite" or "ex-crossdresser", good for him, I guess. At least now he doesn't need to worry about others finding out that he loves to dress in dresses or some "sexy female" clothes in the privacy of his home. "Ex-transsexual"? Perhaps....but he can't claim to be an "ex-transsexual" if he never transitioned (Trans-crossing over. He needs to at least "cross over" the gender line to even be considered "transsexual")
It would have sounded better, and more credible for him if he said that he was "cured" of Gender Identity Disorder (GiD). That would sound more "scientifically" believable. Of course, I am intrigued by how one would be "cured" of GiD. Sadly most won't do their research enough before spilling claims. Sigh...
Since it seems like you are talking more about transsexuality (people like you and me), one thing to note is there are "'ex'-transsexual".
Those that transitioned and then detransitioned for various reasons. There are those that rushed through transition and ignored the obvious signs that transition isn't for them, or that they are going too fast which leads to complications. And when they reach the end, they realised they made a mistake, that this really wasn't for them. But what can they do, except to detransition, going back to their "old" life? These are probably those that are not transsexuals to begin with, but was caught up with it, fascinations, fantasies or whatever.
But then there's a problem, throughout transition, they've been convincing themselves, and everyone around them that this is who they are, a woman (for mtf). They tried hard to fight for what they want. Now they realised that it was a mistake. It would probably be shameful to admit their mistakes to others or themselves and face countless "I told you so". And I doubt most would dare to admit it. Some turned to some other way to justify their "mistakes", most popular ones would be religions. Religion cured me! The miracle that is God! Now would anyone question them? Not that much, it's God after all! Then they would go around "preaching" the words of God, on how God "delivered" them bla bla bla. Easy way out, and less humility.
And there's another type that I've observed through the readings of stories of regretful transwomen tnat became "ex-transsexual". These are the types that hold too much "hope" towards transition, thinking that transition would solve all their problems, that it's a bed of roses on the other side. But when they reached there after all the agony that they endured, they realised at the end, there isn't any so-called rainbow and sunshines or cuddly bunnies. The reality shattered their fantasies, and for some that couldn't cope with it? Well..they become "ex" or even tries suicide.
Perhaps there are more reasons for these "ex-transsexuals" to exist, but these can be said to be one of the main culprites to paint a negative picture of our community in the eyes of society.
If there were less people who actually jumped the gun and rushed to transition and even having SRS based on mere fantasies and stuff, and the regretted in the end then opted to sue the hospitals or anyone and claim that they(hospitals, therapists etc) should have stopped them from undergoing SRS. {Perhaps SRS in Malaysia wouldn't be banned that early on (Of course, SRS being banned is just the matter of time)
OMG! I never knew I wrote that much! Sorry bout that! >.< It could have been accounted as it's own post. I might post it in my blog :P
Sorry for the long rant. Anyway, perhaps we see these issues in different light, but those are my take on the so-called "ex-transsexuals".
Being a transperson is hell, with the constant knowledge of feeling "wrong", yet choosing transition, to match oneself's outside with the insde is hellish too. >.> God... either paths are baaad
-ends rants-
@hcpen
Yes, being a transsexual that chooses to be who they are is technically illegal, since it's a "lifestyle that parents should shield their children from". As for transgender being illegal...now that's far fetched. Intersex condition is not illegal, and if you are a crossdresser or transvestite who dresses only at home, the authorities probably wouldn't come and drag you to jain or something. And being a closeted transsexual (nobody else knows about you and you are still living as your birth sex), there isn't any reason for them to arrest you.
That's why I hate this country with a passion, I want to get out as soon as I can >.>
"thailand and philippines allow official change in gender also since from what i know"
I am not sure bout Philippines, but I do know it's a strict Muslim country too. The Thailand? Now that's the common stereotype of most people, just because their transsexual sex industry is huge. No, you still can't change your gender marker in legal documents, as far as I know, read about it somewhere before and they are treated as third class citizens and frequently discriminated. Thailand having a flurishing sex industry that has many transsexuals don't make them any more "tolerant".
A few things for you to note Chrissie:
1) Edmund Smith belongs to a Christianist heterosexist cult group called "Real Love Ministry" that attempts to "change" gays. To become what you would ask me. Well, in Edmund's definitions, gay is nothing but sex and sex and a bad lifestyle. So "change" to him may mean anything. But since ex-gay ministries themselves fail to offer the correct meaning of change, and they have a history of distorting information and misrepresenting science, their kind of therapy is now highly disputed by almost all medical professionals in the world. He only recently uses the term ex-transgender, but it is just a label for him to be a so-called authority over something he knows zero to zits about. Check on him.
2) Philippines is a mostly Catholic nation. There are some recognition for the transgenders in Thailand, but they are sadly known as the "third sex".
3) There is no such thing as an ex-transsexual. But there are those who confused themselves as one. There are those who choose to be non-op for various reasons, but are still transsexuals. There are those who transition and detransition for various reasons, but they are still transsexuals. There are overlaps too, like transvestites thinking they area transsexuals when they are not. There are a lot of controversy in regards to transsexuality, leading to breakaway groups such as WBT (women born transsexual). That I will explain to you later when I have the time. Anyway, as a pointer, there is no decent psychiatrist in Malaysia to make any diagnosis on GID. I did mine in Australia and ended up as a classic transsexual. I would probably qualify anywhere with my case and history. And perhaps you would too. But without the recognition of GID, a lot of confusion even among the general public. There is an important need for regulation, and to an extent, segregation. Labels are bad, yes, but without them a transsexual's position would just be equal to transvestite's when they are both so different. It is because of all this mix up that some assume there can be ex-transsexuals, when in fact they can be transvestites wanting to pass, or transsexuals who have short hair and dress as boys to work and survive here.
4) You are right that I write mostly on transsexualism, but I am using the word transgender. Why? Because transgender is a friendly and neutral word, and is a social contruct. Whereas, transsexual is a medical pathological condition that many are not comfortable to be called as. And since there is a bulk of my readers from the United States, communication needs to be diplomatic. I think you can figure out more on everything I said now.
:-)
1) Ah interesting...reparative therapy similar to Exodus. Ah well...but still...nevermind XD I find religious nuts who run reparative therapies to be...very interesting bunch of people..any scientific proofs are claimed by them to be mere tools for people like us with "bad lifestyles" to push our agenda >.>
2) Ah my mistake. It's the Phillipines, not Indonesia >.< I was thinking of Indonesia when I wrote that reply. An Indonesian recently was complaining about how strict their religion (Islam) has become in their country. Other than that, I don't really know much.
3) Ah yes...but it is often used as a political label. So whether we like it or not, they are here to stay. As I wrote in my post about those that detransition and then often hang the label "ex-transsexual" and go around preaching of how they "changed" or something. Medically, I don't think there are "ex-transsexual", but I do believe you know that most labels are social constructs. :) And I agree with the label thingy. I can't say I am too fond of being labelled as a "tranny", I am just a college girl trying to survive a college "guy"'s life >.> but I am sticking to the label of "transgirl" for the moment. And yes..it's frustrating...I went to a few local psychiatrists just to be extorted of money(RM250 per session!) without gaining any help I was seeking >.>
4)Aww...it's kinda sad to know that not many locals read your blog, it's good. :) Well, I usually hang out in a US-based suicide prevention site for the tg community, volunteered as a teen mentor even, so I probably know how it is to be diplomatical :)Though we tend to know which of the subcategories under the umbrella term "transgender" that users fall under, or if they are still confused about themselves.
It's sort of an irony for me to have good friends from the US, UK, OZ and some other countries compared to our own(too anxious to interact with anyone in uni) O.O The same could be said to your blog that receive more foreign readers than locals. I wonder why it is so..hmm...
Oh, and I am very interested in your take on the "womyn born womyn vs women born transsexual" issue. They are...interesting to say the least.
"Aww...it's kinda sad to know that not many locals read your blog, it's good."
Chrissie, go slow girl. I did not say not many locals read my blog. I said:
...there is a bulk of my readers from the United States....
And WBW "VS" WBT is not what I meant. I was saying:
...There are a lot of controversy in regards to transsexuality, leading to breakaway groups such as WBT (women born transsexual)....
I am always careful with my words, and it is important people understand my words and its context. Please avoid misrepresenting me, okay girl?
As you wish. I heard about WBT and some of the interesting scuffles that they have against WBW (womyn born womyn) so I was wondering whether you had any views about that, guess you don't then. Have a good day :)
Actually, that scuffle is nothing compared to the WBT against the rest of the transsexual community especially non-transsexual transgenders. :-) But thanks for contributing to the discussion here. Really like some of your thoughts. And nice blog there too.
Post a Comment