Why,part time vs full or Trans?

[ReneeElizabeth]

i'm in the part time camp, i truly enjoy dressing as a woman, but i only do it a few times a year, i'm not sure if i would want to dress every day, but i do enjoy my time when i'm dressed,

[Martha G]

Some of our members of our local transgender society are... identify 100% as a trans women, but chooses to remain partly closeted and are only out in public part-time. They choose this way because of possible issues with family and or work. Some are on HRT though.

I do want to add that no one is more or less transgender, or crossdresser, depending on "medical and social" state.

I started out as a crossdresser, which at the time I thought was my "label", but it was more of a safe zone, partly closeted. Until I realized I was just hiding myself from true happiness.

I started out simply as a cross dresser not realizing the powerful feminine personality that was within me.

I have now stepped up to being a transsexual woman with the future possibility of transitioning.

I enjoy dressing as and being a woman. More so than my male side.

So considering transition. I would enjoy being a woman full time.

[Sarah Rene]

IMO there are tremendous differences between part time versus full time and even more when you compare either of those to being transgendered. The question of part time versus full time is dependent on the comfort level, the way they see themselves, financial and family considerations as well as society. Even full time the individual still retains a degree of maleness and while portraying and assuming the stereotypical female role they remain male on certain levels within their own mind.

Being transgendered is still quite misunderstood even within the LGBT community. Many presume because they enjoy or get pleasure from wearing the clothes of the other sex they are transgendered. Same applies for when it comes to an attraction to the opposite sex they must be transgendered. Neither could be further from the truth! For the most part those here are F2M so I will keep the discussion to that.

Full disclosure. I am transgendered, 11 years post operative, and a lesbian. I admit that in the beginning it was the draw of the clothes as I am sure most TGs will admit to however as time went on it became much more. Being a woman has nothing to do with clothes or being attracted to men but something inside. It is not easy to put into words but it is a thought process, a way of looking at things including oneself, and an essence of being. It comes from within and flows outward not vice versa. It has nothing to do with clothes, sexual attraction, looks, or body type.

My SO and soon to be wife tells me I am perhaps one of the very few that the letters L and T in LGBT apply to. I have seen and know the stereotype butch lesbian types yet they are as much a woman as I am and vice versa. Angela accepted being lesbian long ago and is what most call a lipstick lesbian. She is as much a woman as I or that butch. I remember one CD at a support meeting joking regardless of how she was dressed she was still attracted to his wife so that made him a part time lesbian.

Being a woman is not something you just decide overnight or for that matter even over a couple of weeks. It is something you have always been and will always be. It takes the assistance, love, and support of many including a properly trained professional therapist well versed in gender dysphoria to bring that woman out.

The why of part time versus full time is one can and must decide for oneself. It is not an easy decision and many factors must be considered. As for the why of transgendered? It is not a question of why, it just is whether one chooses to act on it or not. One cannot just decide to be transgendered as it comes from within and is something you are. It is there and always will be from the bottom of your soul and existence.

[Amanda R]

Well put Sarah.

One thing you omitted was the infamous question of "Why after so many years you suddenly change?" The reality is it is not a change but in reality a coming to accept. Many fight the urge be it TG or gay for years doing what society expects. No one suddenly becomes TG or gay. Generally there is a triggering event however this is not the cause rather just what starts the wheel turning.

[Anne Bonny]

OH! I am the one who started this thread...HUH! Wow, lol...

Well I certainly do appreciate all the thoughtful and kind input. Someone asked why after all these years... hum.

I became aware of this difference inside of myself at age 9. Of course at age 9 all I knew was that I liked taking my clothes off and slipping into women's clothing ...any I could find and change into in secret when no one was around...lots of adrenaline and of course I discovered pleasuring myself. Across my life understanding gradually grew, the sexual aspect lessened somewhat. Eventually I came to accept that this is part of who I am, and further to understand I am not fully male, if I were I would not be like this.
Yes it comes from within and the desire to dress is because of how I feel inside. I may have a male body but I have a woman inside too. I believe I fall toward the middle of the spectrum so that I am not fully male or female but I overlap with both and lean slightly more to the male. At 61 I do not feel any need other than perhaps to have my ears pierced, to stay thin and fit, and to keep my hair long enough to style in a true feminine styling when I find myself in that part of my range. I do feel as if I could be spending more time in the feminine part of my range which I have had to suppress nearly my whole life, I am widening my network of people who know and accept and have no problem with what I wear or how I look. I do now have the goal to overcome my fear of coming out in public, though there will always be some people I love who I can never tell. I may find I am more 50/50 or more on the feminine side some day but for now it is just a huge relief to have fully accepted that I really am partly female even with a male body.