THE FREEDOM BOOK - Cambridge University Students' Union

12 CUSU LGBT The Freedom Book 2008TranssexualityYour gender, like your sexuality, doesn’t have to conform: gender isfar more fluid than the anatomy we are born with. An umbrella termto describe the whole spectrum of life styles that challenge genderboundaries is transgender, but older terms are still used widely:A transsexual is someone who feels that they are the opposite sex tothat into which they were born. Many, but not all, transsexuals will takethe sex hormones of the gender they feel they are. For male to femaletranssexuals, this results in the development of breasts and smootherfeminine skin. For female to male transsexuals, male muscle tone andfacial hair develop. Some people go on to have surgery to reconstructtheir anatomy into that for their gender. The terms pre-op and postopare not used anymore: many transsexuals choose not to or cannothave surgery, since it is a risky operation.Two thirds of transsexuals identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.A transvestite is someone that spends time being the oppositegender or for whom some element of that gender appeals. This usuallyinvolves wearing the clothes of and getting in touch with aspectsof that gender.90% of transvestites are heterosexual.Intersex is when a person is born with ambiguous sexual physiology.Usually a gender is chosen by the parents and surgery is applied. Often,when the person grows up this choice will feel wrong for them.Trans or Transgender is the best description because it avoids prescriptiveor limiting labels.Student life in Cambridge is great for discovering yourself. If you feelyou might be trans or want to know more, e-mail anyone on the Exec,and we can put you in touch with other Trans students, if you’d like.You might also wish to join CUSU LBGT’s men’s or women’s e-mail list(see page 5).All CUSU LBGT events are trans-friendly