Transman

A transman or transguy (often referred to as FTM) is short for transsexual or transgender man - a person who was naturally born or physically assigned as female at birth, but who feels that this is not an accurate or complete description of themselves and consequently identifies as a male. "FTM" (sometimes FtM, F2M, F→M or F>M) is short for "female-to-male", and identifies the general direction of transition (from "assigned" to "actual"), and not a conscripted "start" to "finish" process. [ [http://www.avitale.com/TherapeuticErrors.htm Notes on Gender Role Transition] ] Some transmen reject being seen as FTM, arguing that they have always been male and are only making this identity visible to other people and sometimes calling themselves MTM, (short for "male-to-male"). [ [http://www.umass.edu/stonewall/uploads/listWidget/8758/trans%20terms.pdf Transgender Terminology] ]

Terminology

Even though the same term "transman" is used as short form for both identities (transsexual man and transgender man), and sometimes transsexuality is seen as a type of transgenderism [http://www.apa.org/topics/transgender.html#whatare Answers to Your Questions About Transgender Individuals and Gender Identity] ] , in reality many transmen will identify as either transsexual or transgender, but not both [ [http://www.glaad.org/media/guide/transfocus.php Transgender Glossary of Terms] ] .

"Transgender man" is an umbrella term that may include anybody who was assigned female sex at birth, but identifies part or full time as a male. For instance some drag kings, androgynous, bigendered, and genderqueer people might self-identify as transmen. [http://www.ftmguide.org/terminology.html Hudson's FTM Resource Guide, FTM Basics: Terminology] ]

Transsexual men usually seek medical interventions, such as hormones and surgery, to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their preferred gender. They usually live or wish to live full time as members of the gender opposite to their birth sex.

Sometimes the term "new man" is used to identify a post-operative transsexual man. [ [http://www.firelily.com/gender/resources/defs.html Some Transgender Definitions] ]

Transition

For different transmen, transition might involve some or all of the following steps: [ [http://www.ftmaustralia.org/treatment/whatis.html "What is transition?"] FTM Australia]
* social transition - name change, wearing clothing seen as gender appropriate, disclosure to family, friends and usually at the workplace
* sex reassignment therapy - hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and/or surgery
* legal affirmation - name and often sex marker correction in the legal documents.Originally the term transmen referred specifically to female-to-male transsexuals who undertook a physical change by HRT and/or surgery, but in recent years the mode of transition has broadened to include theories of psychological development or complementary methods of self-acceptance. [http://www.ftmguide.org/terminology.html Hudson's FTM Resource Guide, FTM Basics: Terminology] ] [ [http://www.huc.edu/ijso/glossary/ Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation, Glossary of Terms and Usage] ]

ocial aspects of transition

Most transmen prefer to live part-time or full-time as male. Being socially accepted as male (sometimes known as Passing) may be challenging for transmen who have not undergone HRT and/or surgery. Thus, some transmen may choose to present as female in certain social situations (e.g. at work). After physical transition, transmen usually live full-time as male.

Research

In the United States the ratio of transmen within the general population is unclear, but estimates range between 1:2000 and 1:100,000. [ [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/TSprevalence.html "How Frequently Does Transsexualism Occur?"] by Lynn Conway] [ [http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid30887.asp "There are more of us than you think"] by Joanne Herman] [ [http://www.msu.edu/~alliance/faq/faqtransgendered.html The Alliance of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered and Straight Ally Students, FAQ - Transgenderism] ] Female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals and transgenders usually self-identify during their teens, 20s or 30s, often following a long period of self-identifying as lesbian. [ [http://www.asaging.org/networks/lgain/outword-063.html "Transsexuals, Transgenders, Cross-Dressers: Issues for Professionals in Aging"] by T. M. Witten, A. Evan Eyler & Cathy Weigel]

Although there is still disagreement as to how gender dysphoria begins and who should qualify for hormonal and surgical intervention, there is agreement amongst psychologists that gender dysphoria should be the subject of clinical attention separate from other disorders and that gender identity of these people are profound, deep seated, and non-delusional. With respect to transsexual men who choose to seek sex reassignment surgery (SRS), outcome studies indicate that when three conditions are met: a proper differential diagnosis, a significantly long trial period of living in the gender of choice, and a satisfactory surgical result, there is only a small incidence of post-operative regret. Indeed, in a review of the outcome literature Pfafflin (1992) reports that less than 1% of the female-to-male transsexuals who had undergone sex reassignment had any regrets. [ [http://www.avitale.com/developmentalreview.htm "Notes on Gender Role Transition"] by Anne Vitale Ph.D.] Not all transsexual men wish to undergo SRS, nor is surgery necessary for transmen to identify as male or be accepted as such by others.

Sexual orientation

The sexual orientation of transmen is usually expressed with respect to male identity, not the assigned sex at birth (e.g a transman who prefers female partners, is considered heterosexual) [ [http://www.symposion.com/ijt/ijt990302.htm Factors Which Influence Individuals' Decisions When Considering Female-To-Male Genital Reconstructive Surgery] ] .

Publicly known transmen

* James Barry (1795-1865), military surgeon in the British Army
* Willmer "Little Ax" Broadnax (1916-1994), an African-American hard gospel quartet singer
* Albert Cashier, (1843-1915), an Irish-born soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War
* Michael Laurence Dillon (1915-1962), physician and author
* Robert Eads (1945-1999), transsexual, subject of documentary "Southern Comfort"
* Reed Erickson (1917-1992), businessman and philanthropist
* Alexander John Goodrum (1960-2002), an African American transgender civil rights activist
* Brandon Teena (1972-1993), a victim of a hate crime, subject of the film "Boys Don't Cry"
* Billy Tipton (1914-1989), an American jazz pianist and saxophonist
* Ben Barres, an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University
* Balian Buschbaum, German pole vaulter
* Alec Butler, Canadian playwright and filmmaker
* Meryn Cadell, Canadian singer, writer and performance artist [http://www.meryncadell.com/]
* Patrick Califia, writer and poet [http://www.sexuality.org/l/transgen/scpc.html]
* Loren Cameron, American photographer, author and activist [http://www.lorencameron.com]
* Jamison Green, writer & educator [http://www.jamisongreen.com]
* Katastrophe (Rocco Katastrophe Kayiatos) emo-hop mc [http://www.katastropherap.com]
* Andreas Krieger, German shot putter [http://www.ftmaustralia.org/media/04/0207.html] [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/sports/othersports/26STER.html?ex=1390453200&en=bc039fed4c6ea23a&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND] [http://www.ftma.net/lib/94/0110.html]
* Lucas Silveira, rock musician.
* Rupert Raj, activist, psychotherapist, researcher, writer [http://www.toronto.ca/civicawards/2007winners.htm#pride]
* Max Wolf Valerio, poet, writer and performer
* Stephen Whittle OBE, PhD., Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, and an active member of the United Kingdom TransActivist organisation Press for Change [http://www.pfc.org.uk/campaign/people/swhittle.htm]
* Buck Angel, a transgender adult film actor

Films

* "Boys Don't Cry", drama
* "Southern Comfort", documentary
* "Transparent", documentary
* "Pick Up the Mic", documentary (features two FTM artists)

ee also

*List of transgender-related topics
*List of transgendered people

References

External links

National and international organizations
* [http://ftmi.org FTM International]
* [http://www.ftmaustralia.org FTM Australia] (also known as Men's Ts Resources in Australia) for all men with transsexualism, family members, healthcare providers
* [http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org Transgender Law Center] - The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender, transsexual and gender-variant communities in California.
* [http://www.ftmalliance.org FTM Alliance] - Los Angeles community-based advocacy group FTM Alliance
* [http://www.ftmlondon.org.uk FTM London] - London-based FTM support group
* [http://www.ftmsf.org Lou Sullivan Society] San Francisco- based FTM support group

Online resources
* [http://www.thetransitionalmale.com The Transitional Male]
* [http://www.ftmguide.org Hudson's FTM Resource Guide] A basic guide including info on testosterone, health, surgeries, binding, packing, shaving, acne, hair loss, bathrooms, and clothing, as well as other topics and links to products for transmen.
* [http://www.tgcrossroads.org/ Transgender Crossroads] A resource directory, that includes links on variety of transgender/transsexual related topics and a list of support groups in mid-west area of the US.
* [http://www.gendertalk.com/ GenderTalk] Internet radio station with the variety of programs and podcasts related to gender issues.
* [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TransMen.html Successful TransMen: Links and Photos]

Medicine and Psychology
* [http://www.nickgorton.org Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers] free ebook, ISBN 0-9773250-0-8
* [http://www.asaging.org/networks/lgain/outword-063.html Transsexuals, Transgenders, Cross-Dressers: Issues for Professionals in Aging]
* [http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/88/8/3467 Endocrine Treatment of Transsexual People: A Review of Treatment Regimens, Outcomes, and Adverse Effects]
* [http://www.symposion.com/ijt/ijtvo06no02_04.htm Towards a Transpositive Therapeutic Model: Developing Clinical Sensitivity and Cultural Competence in the Effective Support of Transsexual and Transgendered Clients]
* [http://www.wpath.org/ WPATH (The World Professional Association for Transgender Health)] formerly known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc. (HBIGDA)
* [http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/whydontyoutellthem.pdf Why Don't you Tell Them I'm a Boy] Article on raising a gender non-conforming child by Florence Dillon. A mother's experience raising a transgender (FTM) son.

Further reading

* "Becoming a Visible Man" by Jamison Green
* "The Testosterone Files: My Hormonal and Social Transformation from Female to Male" by Max Wolf Valerio
* "True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism--For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals" by Mildred L. Brown and Chloe Ann Rounsley
* "Both Sides Now" by Dhillon Khosla
* "Dear Sir or Madam: The Autobiography of a Female-To-Male Transsexual" by Mark Nicholas Alban Rees
* "FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society" by Holly Devor
* "Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transsexual Experience" by Matt Kailey
* "What Becomes You" by Aaron Raz Link and Hilda Raz