As I've said elsewhere, there are literally thousands of TS sites on the web, so
I can't offer any more than a tiny selection here, but I hope that this short list will help you on
your journey, wherever it may lead.
Tip: To collapse or expand a section, click on its section heading.
Contents
- Transsexualism:
A Primer. A comprehensive and easy to read introduction to the condition - what
it is, what it isn't and what can and can't be done about it.
- How
Frequently Does Transsexualism Occur?. A study by Prof. Lynne Conway on the prevalence
of intense gender dysphoria (transsexualism) worldwide. The conclusions may surprise
you.
- Transsexual
Women's Successes - Links and Photos. Despite the immense trauma of transition
and the ever present danger from the bigotted minority, most transfolk manage to integrate
back into society after their treatment has completed. This gallery tells a little
about some of the transwomen who've successfully done so.
Of course, we mustn't
forget the guys - they get their own page at Successful Transmen - Links and Photos.
- C4 on Transsexualism. Channel 4 seem to be the only terrestrial
TV channel in the UK to regularly screen documentaries about transsexual people. This
article on their site is a good introduction to the condition and what can be done
for those who suffer it.
- Zen and the Art of
Post-Operative Maintenance This article deals with the subject of looking after
yourself (dilation, hygene etc.) after surgery. if you are contemplating Male-to-Female
genital surgery, you should definitely read this.
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- Transsexual.org is the probably best site to start with if you're
trying to understand transsexualism. It's written by a lady called Jennifer Diane Reitz
who had reassignment surgery in the US in 1982, and contains an immense amount of information
about why the condition arises, how sufferers feel, and what can be done. Her story
is an incredibly sad indictment of the way society can react to anyone who doesn't
fit into "normal" life.
Two of the tests I took (the Moir-Jessel
Brain Sex test and the COGIATI gender-identity test) are also on this site.
- When You Love the One You're With touched me immensely. It's a
small support site written by a couple who confronted exactly the issue that my wife
and I faced, and is an honest account of their experiences and how they've coped.
The letters reproduced here are very touching - in particular Why We Lie by Janet Flecher, which eloquently describes the denial
and guilt inherent in the lives of sufferers. It's particularly relevant since she
is a Christian, and I'd strongly recommend reading it.
- TS Roadmap is something of an online encyclopedia for anyone contemplating
or undertaking a gender transition. Just about every topic is covered.
- A Kindred
Spirit is a (US based) site dedicated to changing the way we think about ourselves
and the way that society and the medical community views us. There's a great deal of
information on this site, including details of surgeons, patient accounts and support
information. Highly recommended.
- Bodies Like Ours is
a (US based) site promoting the interests of intersexed people, and in particular campaigning
to end the practice of non-consentual genital surgery on intersexed children. As well
as news, research and other information, the site also includes message forums. Highly
recommended.
- TransParentcy
A support site for transsexual parents. Highly recommended.
- Rachel's
Web is a US based TS Support site. I rather like it, but the volume of cartoon
artwork might be a bit much for some!
- Gender
Education and Advocacy (GEA) is a national US based organization focused on the
needs, issues and concerns of gender variant people in human society. They seek to
educate and advocate, not only for ourselves and others like us, but for all human
beings who suffer from gender-based oppression in all of its many forms.
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- The Gender Trust is
a UK Registered Charity which specifically helps adults who are Transsexual, Gender
Dysphoric or Transgenderist. It's probably the largest organisation of its kind in
the UK.
- The Gendys Network
is a UK support/research group for transgendered people, families and health professionals
(it has a pretty long list of doctors associated with it).
Unusually Gendys
has a chaplain (Rev. David Horton) who's written a fair bit on the subject - and in
particular on the rather closed minded book published by the Evangelical Alliance a little while ago
and the oft quoted Deuteronomy
22 verse 5.
- Press for Change is a UK pressure
group which campaigns for equal rights for transsexual men and women. They are deeply
involved in consulting with the UK Government about the contents of the Gender Recognition
Bill which we hope will soon give us back the rights that were taken from us in the
UK Courts in 1970.
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- Transsexual-UK
and Transsexual OK!
are Yahoo groups providing general support to transfolk. Highly recommended.
- NuttycaTS
is an online message forum providing general support to transfolk. Highly recommended.
- TGSuicidalSupport is a Yahoo group founded in memory of Debbie
Fox - a vivacious, joyful woman who, one day, found the stress of having a transgendered
history too difficult and took her own life. If you want to do all you can to stop
the loss of another life, (perhaps yours), please subscribe to this group. Be there
if someone needs you. Know that if life starts to overwhelm you, people will be there
for you.
- TS Chat
and TARTS,
CRISPS and PALS are MSN support groups. The TS Chat group helped me out greatly
when I was trying to come to terms with who I was back in 2001. TARTS, CRISPS and PALS
has more of a social aspect to it than most groups, and also maintains a public chatroom
at on talkcity.com.
- For Self Harmers is a
support site for anyone suffering from depression or self-harm. Having suffered from
depression myself, I know how important it is to have help to get through it. This
site is run by a close friend of mine, and I can personally recommend it.
- Trans-Surgery
is a Yahoo Group for transfolk undergoing - or seeking to undergo - surgery. If you
want to know what to expect from surgery such as Reassignment Surgery, Augmentation
Mammoplasty or Facial Feminisation Surgery, this is the place to come.
 APartT is a Yahoo Group offering support for trans parents,
particularly those who are having difficulty gaining access to their children. At least
one transwoman I know has suicided as a result of such an unnecessary and cruel separation,
and although a support group can't bring back your children, it can provide
a safe place for parents to share their experiences and support each other through
the terrible pain that separation from our loved ones brings.
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- An
Open Letter to Physicians is an open letter written by Sarah Seton M.D. to others
in her profession on the subject of Gender Dysphoria and Transsexuality. This is the
best medical explanation I’ve seen of what’s behind the condition, and also contains
a challenging thought experiment for those who really don't get it.
- Anne-Lawrence's site
is probably the most comprehensive online medical resource for transsexual women. Noteable
are detailed descriptions and accounts of all the major surgical procedures, some of
which are illustrated (for those with a strong constitution).
- Dr Suporn Watanyusakul is
by all accounts one of the best (if not the best) GRS/SRS surgeons in
the world. His clinic in Chonburi Province, Thailand is where
my own reassignment and facial feminisation surgery was performed.
- The site of Dr. Becky
Allison M.D. includes a paper on the effect of hormone therapy on the incidence
of heart disease, and a European/US listing of therapists experienced in treating T*
people.
- TS Voice. Lots of information
about voice feminisation, including samples of others "having a go".
- The European
TS Information Resource is (despite the title) a site giving details of surgeons
worldwide performing Genital Reassignment (SRS or GRS) and facial Feminisation
Surgery. Although it doesn't list all of them (particularly in the Far East), it is
a very useful site to know about, particularly when used in conjunction with Anne Lawrence's
site and others.
- The New Sex
Change Indigo Pages includes comprehensive listings and contact details for both
MtF and Ftm surgeons worldwide.
- The
Neo-Vagina Monologues is a pretty unusual site - it's an attempt to create an equivalent
of the "Vagina Monologues" from the perspective of the transwomen who undergo
genital reassignment surgery. I found it to be a fascinating account of the experience
and - together with other accounts - it's helped me gain an insight into what to expect.
Be warned though that the monologues contain explicit language, and aren't for the
faint hearted!
- Lynn's
Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS). A detailed and honest account of FFS performed
by Dr. Ousterhout in San Francisco
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- God Don't Make No Junk.
Christian transfolk often hear the argument raised against changing their bodies: "God
created you to be a man [or a woman] and that is how you will always be; how you should
remain". This is Dr. Becky Allison's response, and thoughtful and heartening
reading it makes too.
- GoldenGlory's
Page Glory Anastasia Wheeler's account of her struggle to reconcile her Transsexualism
with her Faith
- Religion,
spirituality, and transsexuality. A general essay on Faith and Transsexualism focusing
mainly (but not exclusively) on Christianity
- Transgendered
Christians, Gays and our Common Bond. An essay exploring the issues which Transgendered
Christians (including those of us who are Transsexual according to the medical definition)
must confront, and comparing and contrasting them to those faced by Gay Christians.
Thought provoking and challenging reading.
- Good News! Jesus
Loves Us, T*OO. The site of Michelle Dee, a Christian TS lady living in the US.
There's a number of thought-provoking articles on this site.
- Emergence Ministries
is an online ministry dedicated to serving the spiritual and physical needs of the
transgendered community.
- Grace &
Lace Letter International. An Evangelical Christian Newsletter for Crossdressers,
Transgendered and Transsexual Christians. There's lots of articles and letters on this
site, and I'd recommend taking some time reading and understanding them.
- The Anti
Transsexual Lobby. A Christian woman's perspective on groups like the Evangelical
Alliance and Parakaleo who believe that being TS is a "Lifestyle Choice"
and oppose our efforts to gain medical treatment and legal recognition.
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- TNUK Digest
is a free Internet News Service acting as a 'news' focal-point for the UK's
Trans Community, including some carefully selected relevant news stories covering the
World's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities.
- For detailed information on The Gender Recognition Bill both The Gender Trust and Press For Change maintain comprehensive areas on their sites.
Highly recommended.
- "Equality, Equity, or the
Best Deal?" is a discussion forum dealing with the proposed Civil Partnership
Legislation. Once the Gender Recognition Bill has (hopefully) passed into Law I expect
trans organisations like PFC to start studying this proposed legislation in some detail,
but it's certainly worth being aware of the issues involved now.
- Amnesty International needs
no introduction to anyone who's aware of human rights issues worldwide.
- The Equality Project
is an online organisation which aims to encourage those who run websites to show their
support for equal rights for all humanity and therefore encourage the public at large
to educate themselves about different sexualities, genders, religions, races, cultures,
physical/mental abilities, etc.
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- From
Within tells the story of the life of a young transwoman, from childhood through
to transition and her new life beyond it. If you're anything like me emotionally, I
guarantee that her story will have you in tears.
- Susanna's Little KnooK on the Net the website of my friend Susie,
and contains not only TS support information (including a detailed account of her reassignment
surgery with Dr. Suporn in Thailand), but also a significant amount of her own poetry.
Like me, she is a Christian. As she says: "I have what I call a Christian Faith.
Not a Religion". Although her site was only started recently it's evolving
quickly and I can certainly recommend it!
- Steph's Story is
Stephanie Robinson's site and tells her remarkable story. Especially notable
is her account of her recent encounter
with Don Horrocks of the Evangelical Alliance - a Christian organisation which has
so far consistently opposed attempts to give us back our legal rights in the UK. Highly
recommended.
- Ginny Bourne founded
the MSN TS Chat Group. She's put an incredible amount of her time into helping others,
and I'm proud to have met her - even if not yet in person!
Her site includes
an honest account of the conflict dysphoric people feel and what's involved in transition
and surgery (she went to the same clinic I hope to, so it's particularly relevant to
me). This
page is particularly revealing since it includes "before" and "after"
portraits, which give some idea of what can be achieved by hormone therapy and facial
surgery.
- Calpernia Adams became well
known as a result of the brutal murder of her boyfriend - Pfc Barry Winchell - by two
of his colleagues in the 101st Airborne Division who couldn't deal with the fact that
he was dating Calpernia - then a pre-op transwoman. The movie Soldier's Girl tells the story of their unexpected love
and the tragic consequences transphobia can have. I can't recommend it highly enough,
although it's next to impossible to obtain a copy outside the US.
- Melanie-Ann Philips
is something of a celebrity in the TS world. As well as a very detailed and
frank transition diary, her site offers advice on many aspects of transition. Worthy
of note is a voice training CD she produced - which I've found to be very, very useful
in starting to sort out my own voice.
- Diana Neuborg
is a good friend of mine and quite a jet-setter! She's helped me hugely over the last
few months, and I owe a lot to her.
- Planet
Carol is the homepage of Carol-Nerise, a TS friend of mine and, like me, a Christian.
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