hey there. I joined this site because i was excited about this section, but when I looked in it, the only topic was this. So I started reading it, and every post got my blood boiling more than the last.
First off I would like to say that using the words "shemales" or "trannies" are actually very derogatory terms to use for many transgendered people. There are a good number of trans men and women who accept these terms, but only do so because they work as sex workers, and their johns (clients) only know them by those terms. To a lot of trans woman, though, it's very rude. No term is completely safe to use when refferring to trans men and women, but the more generally accepted ones would be transsexual, or transgender, or simply trans if u want to be informal but polite.
On that note I would like to state that there are only a large number of trans women that do sex work because other work is so often unavailable to them. most trans woman are highly educated and underemployed, due to discrimination from potential employers.
to posts number 2, 6 and 9: I have this to say. Just because I am transgendered does not mean I am any less female than a woman that was assigned the female gender role since birth. In the case of sex, for example (and I am being very open with this for the sake of being informative), I'm a trans woman myself, And I date women. the distinction between me and your boyfriend is I'm a lesbian. In fact I identify more strongly as simply a woman, and as a dyke, than I do as a trans person. And my girlfriend totally gets this. so what this means is, in my case at least, where I am so disgusted with the genitals I've had since birth that sex in general is uncomfortable for me. when I'm in bed with my girl I just focus on pleasuring her, and I'll even go so far as to never take my pants off. it's tough but hey, it is what it is.
Another example: A trans guy I knew, before he transitioned, he dated men. he identified as a straight woman at the time (I'm not sure who he dates now) but every time he had sex with his boyfriend at the time, he would cry, because that is just how wrong it felt for him to be penetrated. in the 1970s there was a small community of trans men that identified as lesbians before their transition, they were called "stone butches" because of their refusal to be penetrated. now that transitioning is more widespread, there aren't nearly as many stone butches.
anyways I just wanted to point this out because I want to prove to you just how far someone who is trans may go to try to be comfortable with their own body.
This isn't to say there aren't trans men and women who are totally fine with their genitals, there are a quite a few.
you are not a homosexual for loving or having sex with a trans woman.
There is a study going on right now in europe, where they look at the brains of deceased trans men and women, both on or off hormones, and compare them to cisgendered (biologically born) men and women. the study finds that, thus far, every trans person they have studied, exhibited brain patterns more similar to that of the gender they identify with, NOT the gender they were assigned at birth. unfortunately the study is small, because there aren't that many dead trans people, and even fewer willing to get their brains opened up after they die.
also, to be safe I'd like to kill off a few stereotypes. Just because I am a trans woman does not mean that I dress like a sex worker. in fact I hate high heels and dresses, I much prefer my american combat boots, jeans, studded belts and leather jackets. I'm not a barbie doll, thank you very much.