Aime,

You sound like the right person to address the following to:

From Walt Heyer's thoughts elsewhere (Google), Walt makes much of what he calls 'Transgender Delusional Disorder' - where he appears to contend that thoughts or wishes for changing physical gender appearance are in fact manifestation of a form of self-delusion - possibly based on his own experience of changing appearance to live for many years as "Laura Jensen', then reverting, and now living as a 'man' happily married to a woman, and now actively counselling those who find themselves having trouble with their 'gender'. And Walt now heartily regrets having some 'bits' missing.

In Walt's discussion of 'Transgender Delusional Disorder', he makes specific reference to 'non-homosexual' transgenders. In singling out this particular group he may be relating to his own experience and orientation, evidenced by his current living condition, or he was deluded before his temporary transition, or could be even more deluded now and living out some sort of a lie.

Walt makes much of the need for psychological help for the gender-confused, and infers that gender manipulation is Never the right solution - as his own and Alan Finch's experience would tend to support, as well as the pre- and post-surgery suicide rates mentioned.

Thence: Delusion may manifest when a homosexual denies his/her homosexuality (probably because of societal expectations) and thinks the solution is to change his/her appearance, to be able to act upon their sexual orientation without guilt;

And, there may really be no such thing as a non-homosexual with gender issues (inter-sex excluded), though some trans-dress or attempt transgender to 'fit in';

Therefore, one is either homosexual or not, and to deny this to one's self is delusory, and to try to fake otherwise is also delusory;

The indicated solution is to accept one's sexual orientation and cross-dress if necessary to feel comfortable; and for society to accept that there is more to sexuality than one' inherited genes.

Before taking Heyer's book "Paper Genders" too seriously in terms of what insight it brings to the issues faced by transsexuals who attempt transition, I strongly urge you to read his autobiography "Trading My Sorrows".

When I first read "Paper Genders", I couldn't understand the ridiculous leaps of logic he makes nor the attacks on the treatment community (as embodied by WPATH) made any real sense. Then I read his autobiography and a whole lot fit into place.

First, by Heyer's own admission, he wasn't transsexual to begin with. (He claims a subsequent diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Second, speaking as a transsexual myself, Heyer's story as he portrayed it in "Trading My Sorrows" is a textbook example of how to get transition tragically wrong. Everything from lying to all of the people around you about surgery and other steps to having surgery before you have been living full time in the chosen gender role are in there.

( More here: http://maplecentrist.blogspot.com/2011/10/walt-who.html )

Heyer's story is more of an affirmation of the reasons for the existence of the WPATH Standards of Care and the caution that anyone considering gender transition should heed. Above all else, be brutally honest with yourself and those who are trying to help you. To do less is to invite disaster.

Saltpeter, not quite sure what you're asking me, but I'll go out on a limb and assume that you're suggesting that some homosexuals may be confused in their gender role because of their homosexuality and believe that changing their outward gender will in some way remedy the situation?

Whilst I'm certain that some people, during their initial 'coming to terms' with their homosexuality may think that way, I believe that in very short order the person who has gone down that path would soon realise the folly of any such idea. And yes, while cross-dressers are often seen at gay clubs, bars etc, they are people far removed from that of the true transsexual.

Sometimes a TS person will attend gay venues, but often only because they feel safer in those places, especially if they're in a transitioning phase and feel they don't yet "pass" very well. The gay community tolerates them (to a certain degree) but a gay gentleman once told me he didn't have anything to do with transsexuals because "they're too female!" In response to my questioning facial expression added.... "They give off girlie vibes!"

Perhaps there's some confusion here in regards to "sexual orientation" and "gender orientation." Your brain determines which sex you're attracted to. Society tells us from birth that men are attracted to women and vice versa. A gay person first has to struggle against that notion that's been drilled into them from a very early age, however their gay identity will eventually win out.

The transsexual's brain tells them they were born into the wrong body from a very early age. Their brain's gender identity doesn't conform with the body they're born into. It has absolutely nothing to do with sex orientation or homosexuality. Sexual orientation doesn't even enter the mind of a small child. All they know and very strongly in the case of a true transsexual child, is that they should be seen and treated as a member of the opposite sex yet society constantly rebuffs that notion and the child quickly learns to suppress their torment.

Aime,

Thanks for that, I really had the bull by the tail, major blunder. Please excuse my ignorance, I think I was somewhat led astray by Walt's latching onto this idea of 'Transgender Delusional Disorder', but that is still poor excuse on my part.

I was really trying to understand, but got a bit far ahead of myself, and started delving into possible explanations and made some poor assumptions. More fool me. Thanks for setting me straight.

I don't wish to trouble you further, but I now wonder if Walt, and possibly some others, may be, or may have been, experiencing disociative disorder? From what you have said it seems highly likely that Walt's 'Transgender Delusional Disorder' is a misconstruction, an error?

Your explanation is very clear, and if I read you correctly sexual orientation/attraction is Not a major motivator for a genuine TS (someone in the wrong body), but that the relevant sexual attraction (to the opposite of the TS's revised, or corrected gender) may, or even may not, arise at a later stage, when one is more settled in their 'correct' body image. To some extent such a view may possibly be at some variance with Kif's post, which indicates that a successful TS would have to have been ".. living full time in the chosen gender role" for some reasonable period, and have become comfortable and confirmed in that role before even contemplating surgery. Then, of course, if any sexual drive is either suppressed or minor (or even absent altogether), the role Kif refers to may just be in daily living habits, and not necessarily involving any form of sexual exploration or partnership?

I'm sorry if I delve too much in my quest for understanding, but hope that clarification may prove useful to others who may be genuinely interested on a personal level, and to yet others who, like myself, may have formed some quite incorrect conclusions or preconceptions.

In the end result, Walt's piece has proven to be quite misleading, and quite erroneous in its suggestions, so it seems.

Saltpetre:

By Walt Heyer's own admission in his autobiography, he was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Although it is possible that someone who is dealing with transgender identity issues may also be suffering from other conditions such as DID, properly applied the Standards of Care would caution practitioners against recommending clients with serious comorbid (concurrent) disorders for GRS.

The most recent edition of the SOC is freely available from WPATH here:

http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH.pdf
(warning - it's quite lengthy now compared to its predecessor editions)

While it is possible for someone to "fake their way" through and obtain surgery, that requires a fair amount of intent on the part of the individual.

An honest self-assessment will stop most people who are struggling with other issues from actively pursuing transition and surgery as goals. While there is always a chance that someone who is presenting as transsexual is suffering from some other condition, a skilled therapist should be able to pick up on that fairly easily. (There's quite a battery of training and experience required, but that's why they're professionals!)

Heyer's book is more than a little misleading, especially with respect to his understandings of the transsexual experience. (Arguably, since he was subsequently diagnosed with DID, it's hard to accept his narrative as being descriptive of the transsexual community as a whole - which he never quite claims, but his writing suggests strongly that he thinks he is) ...

Dear klf,

You referred to the transsexual community. I am heterosexual, but I don't feel part of the heterosexual community since there are many things that determine my identity besides my sexuality. I do not feel any common identity with Tony Abbott although I think he is also heterosexual. It is a major decision to decide on gender reassignment. However, once it is done I imagine one tries to get on with one's life. I am not aware of knowing any transsexuals. Possibly I do. However, I hope that I have more of a sense of community with many transsexuals than I have with Tony Abbott.