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Transgender Visibility Guide: Some Myths and Facts

Note: This is by no means a comprehensive guide to transgender concepts. Instead, it is geared toward people who are just learning about transgender issues.

Here are some common myths and facts about transgender people:

Myth: Transgender people are confused.
Fact: Transgender people are no more and no less confused than most people. Gender is a much more complicated issue than most people are aware, and sorting through gender differences can be challenging. But by the time someone is ready to come out as transgender, they have thought long and hard and are generally secure in their feelings.

Myth: Being transgender is a “choice.”
Fact: Being transgender is no more a choice than being gay or straight, having brown eyes or blue, or being left or right-handed. The choice is deciding whether or not to live your life honestly with yourself and others.

Myth: Transgender people are really gay.
Fact: Gender identity and sexual orientation are two different subjects. Some transgender people are lesbian,
gay or bisexual in their sexual orientation, and some are straight.

Myth: Transgender people are sinners.
Fact: Many transgender people are people of faith. While some find hostility in their churches, synagogues, mosques or worshipping communities, still others are embraced by their spiritual peers. The number of transgender-friendly places of worship is large and growing.

Myth: Transgender people can’t have families.
Fact: Whether they come out before a relationship or while in one, countless transgender people find love and happiness in their lives. In fact, most transgender people will tell you that after coming out, they feel a new sense of wholeness and happiness that makes them a better partner and parent.

Myth: Transgender people can be cured.
Fact: There’s no “cure” for transgender people, although some do try to repress it. The most reputable medical and psychotherapeutic groups say you should not try to keep from expressing your true gender identity. Instead, they say to focus on ways to come to an understanding of yourself and share your life openly with those you love.

Myth: All transgender people have surgery.
Fact: Many transgender people have no desire to pursue surgeries or medical intervention. At the same time, many transgender people cannot afford medical treatment or have no access to it. Considering these truths, it’s important that civil rights are afforded to all transgender people equally, regardless of their medical histories.

Myth: There are more male-to-female transgender people than female-to-male transgender people.
Fact: There are no reputable statistics on how many transgender people there are in the world, nor on how many people identify as male-to-female or female-to-male. But even the best estimates show there are more or less equal numbers of MTF and FTM transgender people.