Sex / Gender / Orientation Sex (biological) Gender (cultural construction/performance) Sexual Orientation (based on erotic attraction) Note: sexual orientation is not necessarily the same as sexual activity (a person who enjoys same-sex activity may or may not be erotically attracted to the same sex). Gender Identity (a person’s own sense of identification—usually with societal norms of male or female, but sometimes androgynous or other) Intersex: born with anomalies and/or ambiguous genitalia

Transgender Terminology Transgender (umbrella that includes anyone who crosses gender boundaries--including androgynous, transexual and cross-dressers, as well as many others, all referred to as “transgendered”). Gender does not necessarily indicate a sexual orientation.

A man might like to cross-dress (C.D.), for example, but can still be passionate about women only and identify as “straight” (or bi). However, if that man identifies as a woman, then we refer to that person as a woman (“she” “her”). If that biological man (gendered female) has relations with other women, s/he might feel that is gay sex—and may or may not be comfortable with it. A transgendered person might be straight, gay, bi, or other (and sexuality can be hard to classify). “Transvestite Beauty Pageant” (left) Examples

Therefore: Gender identity is not necessarily a predictor of sexual orientation.

 Homoesexual / Heterosexual Heterosexism: The assumption that being heterosexual is the only 'normal' and 'correct' type of lifestyle  LGBTQIA - Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans/Queer/Intersex/Asexual  Queer Theory (1990’s) expanded binary and categorical models to diverse sexualities/identities  Queer: a re-appropriated term used to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression that does not conform to heteronormative society.  “Genderqueer”: being outside of heteronormative society— idea that we’re all gender queer

Sex Reassignment Surgery (ref. our film Southern Comfort) (not called “sex change”) Might still be a misnomer if transgendered people are being pressured into having surgery in order to fit into a two-sex society.

Female-to-Male Most women do not actually want to have the lower genital surgery—some do it because they cannot legally marry otherwise in some states; others elect it. Metoidioplasty: clitoris is released from the skin that holds it down and enlarged via hormones. Urethera can be lengthened and rerouted and prosthetic testes created with labia minora. Phaloplasty: (more complex, less successful, but larger penis created through skin grafting) Other Surgeries: Masectomy, other. WARNING: PHOTO OF GENITALS AFTER METOIDIOPLASTY NEXT (fully healed, no blood)

Genitals Before and After Metoidioplasty

Male-to-Female Much more social pressure on men to have the lower genitals altered. Vaginoplasty and Labiaplasty (same names that are used for the surgeries to modify female genitals, but radically different procedure) Vaginoplasty: Vagina is crafted, penis is inverted, part of penis is used to craft a clitoris. Sensation varies. Labiaplasty: Vulva is crafted (usually in a second surgery) Aesthetically flawless—not perceptably different from a woman. Other Surgeries Voice Feminization, Breast Implants, Tracheal Shaving, Jaw Contouring, Hair Removal, etc. NO PHOTOS NEEDED (lacking on Internet)

 Kink : Unusual sexual desire or behavior  Kinky Sexual Activity may or may not be associated with unusual gender identity or sexual orientation for an individual.  BDSM Bondage, Discipline, Sadomasochism  Fetish Sexual fixation with inanimate objects  Dominant / Submissive / Switch BDSM roles  Service Top A dom who sees his or her role as being primarily in service to a sub.  Consent Green, Yellow, Red (foundational power lies with the sub)

Questions?