Why TG Butch/Lesbians/GenderQueer & Drag Kings do not qualify for the program

This program just went live again and already we are getting an onslaught of emails to the Transitional Male email account, not associated with the Binder Program, asking if they can qualify for a free binder or buy a low cost binder.

Please read below before writing in asking.

In the past, there had been no issues regarding this program and who it is for; I am hoping this will continue. This program has gotten several domated binders from Drag Kings who didn't pick at us. They have been 100% supportive.

If you need a binder and are TG Butch, Genderqueer or Drag King, visit: www.underworks.com


 

It may seem to some of you that this is discriminatory, however, this program, and website for that matter, were created for Transmen and here's why.

There is a vast difference between Transmen/FTM and TG butch/Lesbians, Genderqueer and Lesbian Drag Kings.

  • Transmen are Transsexuals andTransgendered

    Many now feel being Transgendred is the same as being a Transsexual. In the past, this was not the case but so many use the term Transgender in relation to the true meaning of Transsexual, in context of Transsexualism, there is no point disputing it. Transseuxal/Transgendered are now one in the same.

    To be Transsexual and or Transgender, in the case of a Transman, means needing to live, die, work, have relationships (women or men) work, dress, conduct themselves as men 100%, 24/7, year round, day in, day out because they feel and ARE male beyond just the need to dress and look male.

    Transmen need to be who they really are to survive, to be happy, to live productive lives and often for their own sanity. It's an innate feeling. It's often indescribable. It is not a choice, that is to say, there is no "I think I will create a new name that fits me or now say I am (add label here) to fit into this group, because I am not be GD or diagnosed with GID and then I will call myself a man" but not commit to what it really, really means to be a Transman; a man.

    That is not what being a Transman is all about.

    Being a Transman is not a choice and it is not a lifestyle. It is not a wake up one day and decide to dress like a guy. It is not about trying to act like one just because one feels more butch than feminine - just like being homosexual is not a choice and like how one identifies as a lesbian is not a choice; it's innate (born that way), how one feels naturally. There are soft butch, hard butch, dyke, bull dyke, TG butch, genderqueer meaning not quite female and not quite male feeling but this is not what a Transman is.

    A Transman's desire and need to be seen as a man, respected as a man and feel whole as a man is more important than most anything else - it is necessary to survive.

    Transmen, are female bodied or intersexed people who struggle with their female gender because they feel male, they think male, they naturally act male and wish to live as men through dress, hormone therapy and surgery; surgery to what extent varies from male to male. Some feel having all identifying female characteristics (female reproductive organs and breasts) removed is enough. Some feel having complete and total genital reconstruction is necessary.

    Genderqueer and TG butch means to Transcend Gender lines, blurring these lines for purposes of mostly self gratification rather than to make mind and body whole. It is rare to find a Genderqueer female who is not a lesbian. That's not a bad thing - calling oneself Genderqueer is a personal label preference, a conscious choice. But do not identify as a man, do not wish to live as a man, do not wish to die as a man, do not wish to work as a man, do not wish to chemically transition to male, have surgery, ect..

    There may be some comfort for TG Butch and Genderqueer females to dress as men and using a male name but this is not what being a Transman is.

    Some TG Butch and Genderqueer are straight who dress male and date only men. Do you see what is meant by 'blurring the lines'?

    Further,

    • Drag Kings are, for the most part, Lesbians -they dress male for the purpose of entertainment and income and do not feel as described above. They are mostly lesbian and live, work and conduct their lives as lesbians/women albeit some very masculine. They enjoy dressing as men while entertaining as men but do not live their lives as men, they do not wish to undergo therapy to transition to male or undergo invasive, dangerous surgeries to correct birth defects (female reproductive organs, female breasts or female genitalia) They are happy to live as female when not in drag. This is also a conscious choice and being a Drag Kings is a lifestyle.

     

  • Transmen do not think of themselves as lesbian, TG butch lesbian, TG Butch, Butch, Genderqueer or drag kings.

    Transmen need to bind for a number of reasons:

    Examples:

    • The depression statistics with Transmen pre-transition and often during, are high. The actual numbers cannot be compiled accurately.
    • Suicidal feelings living in a female body are extremely high among Transmen.
    • Many cannot look at themselves in the mirror naked because the image in the mirror does not reflect the image of themselves in their mind; breasts are right out there for all to see, in most cases and even small breasts seem huge to many Transmen.
    • Most all Transmen, pre-T and pre-transition bind because of self esteem issues
    • Many must bind to work as men
    • Many cannot get jobs as male because their breasts give them away

    So, when a Transman is going through hard times and he cannot afford to buy a new binder but needs to to feel male looking, worthy of love, a job or acceptance, who can they turn to?

    They can turn to this program, that's who and I will not apologize for this.

    Nick

 

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