How did "transgendered" come to be included in LGBT? [Details]?

Funny you should ask. This issue has become a hot item at the traditional women’s colleges in the US. Here is the NYT article about transgender issues at Wellesly College (my alma mater) of Oct.15, 2014 that has gone viral.

The comments, white papers, position papers and philosophical debates triggered by the article are already enough to fill the library at Alexandria.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/magazine/when-women-become-men-at-wellesley-college.html?_r=0

Because they as a group are oppressed because of their gender orientation, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

Excellent article, @gailcalled. But I’m confused how Timothy was a boy raised as a girl and checked ‘female’ on his application ‘because he didn’t want his mother to know?’

I had no idea what a can of peas transgender had opened.

Also segues nicely into my Colored question. ‘women of color’

@ibstubro: The one hard and fast rule in place on the Wellesley admissions application is that whoever is applying has to be a biological female, whatever the person’s proclivities, dreams, or future plans are. Therefore, I have to assume that “Timothy” had female genetalia when he matriculated. The article is a little cagey about how he ended up as “Timothy.” Hormones, surgery? His intent is clear about not being ready, as a high school senior, to share this information with his mother.

It would be a lot easier all around if we just stopped using LGBTQWXYZ and just went with GRSM: *G*ender *S*exuality *R*omantic *M*inorities.

The alphabet soup was a way to encourage alliances from those who were discriminated by the hetero male/female culture.

A lot of transgendered people start out as gay/lesbian and realize later that they feel gender is the problem and not sexuality. Some Gays and lesbians do not want to include transgendered people in “the family”. Some gays do not even accept bi-sexuals. I think we’ve come a long way from that now.

Generally speaking, transitioning does not change your sexual orientation so most transsexuals will identify as LGB at some point in their lives. Also trans people face the same prejudices as LGB people; transphobia is rooted in homophobia. That said, there are many trans people who identify as straight and who disagree with being associated with the LGB community.

Woops

Perhaps they feel a sense of kinship/camaraderie. Gays and transgendered folks, generally speaking, are fighting the same battle against the same people.

Cause thats what the ‘t’ stands for