Sexual Orientation vs. Gender Identity vs. Sexual Identity

Sexual Orientation, gender identity and sexual identity are independent of each other. A person may express any variation of each of these in any combination. To discourage the free expression of identity and orientation by an individual is to impose a damaging burden of conformity.

Sexual Orientation is which sex you find erotically attractive: other (hetero), same (homo) or both (bi).

Sexual Identity is how you see yourself physically: male, female or in-between.

If someone is born female, but wishes to see their body as male in all respects, their sexual identity is male. It is generally rude to speak of such a person as female, since it denies that person their right to inhabit the social or physical role of their choosing. We refer to such a person as a transsexual, whether or not they have had any surgery. Many FTM transsexuals do not undergo genital surgery as the results so far are relatively crude. As surgical technique improves, such people will be able to achieve more satisfying realisations of their dreams. However, side it is healthier for these people to live in accord with their wishes and heartfelt need, we call them men, though they may have a vagina where one would expect to find a penis.

The situations for MTF transsexuals is equivalent, except that the surgery produces a much more satisfying result, both cosmetically and functionally.

Nonetheless, many transgender people who look like transsexuals in every other regard elect not to have surgery. Those who retain male sexual functioning tend to refer to themselves as transgenderists, since it is only their gender which is changed. Those that give up (or wish to give up) all male sexual function tend to think of themselves as transsexuals, since they change their sexual function and therefore their sexual identity. Again, not all transsexuals undergo genital surgery. Some enjoy atrophy of the penis and testicles inducted by taking female hormones, and other choose less radical surgical options such as castration (orchidectomy).

Gender Identity is how you see yourself socially: man, woman, or a combination of both.

One may have a penis but prefer to relate socially as a woman, or one may have a vagina but prefer to relate as a man. One might prefer to be fluid, relating sometimes as a man and sometimes as a woman. Or one might not identify as either one, relating androgynously.