Trans man
Encyclopedia
A trans man, transman, trans guy, or FTM is a transgender
or transsexual
man: a person who was assigned
female at birth, but who identifies as male
.
The label of transgender
male is not interchangeable with that of transsexual male although the two are often combined or mistaken for the same thing. The difference is that while transgender males identify with the male gender identity, transsexual males may intend to undergo physical changes to align their body with their gender identity. A transgender male is someone whose gender identity is male, but who does not necessarily change himself physically.
In the United States the ratio of trans men within the general population is unclear, but estimates range between 1:2000 and 1:100,000.
, neither, or both. "Transgender man" is an umbrella term that may include anybody who was assigned the female sex at birth but identifies as male. For instance, some drag king
s, cross dressers, androgynous, bigendered, and genderqueer
people might identify as transgender.
The FTM community has coined the phrase transfag to describe a trans man attracted to men who desire other men. However, this phrase is still controversial because of its previous usage as a derogatory slur directed towards trans women.
. In recent years, the definition of "transition" has broadened to include theories of psychological development or complementary methods of self-acceptance.
Transsexual men may seek medical interventions such as hormones and surgery to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their gender presentation. However, many transgender and transsexual men cannot afford or choose not to undergo surgery or hormone replacement therapy.
Transitioning might involve some or all of the following steps:
Being socially accepted as male (sometimes known as passing
) may be challenging for trans men who have not undergone HRT and/or surgery. Some trans men may choose to present as female in certain social situations (e.g. at work). After physical transition, trans men usually live full-time as male.
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
or transsexual
Transsexualism
Transsexualism is an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their biological sex. Simply put, it defines a person whose biological birth sex conflicts with their psychological gender...
man: a person who was assigned
Sex assignment
Sex assignment refers to the assigning of the biological sex at the birth of a baby. In the majority of births, a relative, midwife, or physician inspects the genitalia when the baby is delivered, sees ordinary male or female genitalia, and declares, "it's a girl" or "it's a boy" without the...
female at birth, but who identifies as male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
.
The label of transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
male is not interchangeable with that of transsexual male although the two are often combined or mistaken for the same thing. The difference is that while transgender males identify with the male gender identity, transsexual males may intend to undergo physical changes to align their body with their gender identity. A transgender male is someone whose gender identity is male, but who does not necessarily change himself physically.
In the United States the ratio of trans men within the general population is unclear, but estimates range between 1:2000 and 1:100,000.
Terminology
The term "trans man" is used as a short form for either identity (transsexual man and transgender man). Trans men may identify as transsexual, as transgenderTransgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
, neither, or both. "Transgender man" is an umbrella term that may include anybody who was assigned the female sex at birth but identifies as male. For instance, some drag king
Drag king
Drag kings are mostly female performance artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes as part of their performance. A typical drag king routine may incorporate dancing and singing, live as in the Momma's Boyz of San Francisco's performances or lip-synching...
s, cross dressers, androgynous, bigendered, and genderqueer
Genderqueer
Genderqueer is a catch-all term for gender identities other than man and woman, thus outside of the gender binary and heteronormativity...
people might identify as transgender.
The FTM community has coined the phrase transfag to describe a trans man attracted to men who desire other men. However, this phrase is still controversial because of its previous usage as a derogatory slur directed towards trans women.
Transitioning
Originally, the term "trans men" referred specifically to female-to-male transsexuals who underwent HRT and/or surgerySex reassignment surgery female-to-male
Sex reassignment surgery from female to male includes a variety of surgical procedures for transsexual men that alter female anatomical traits to provide physical traits more appropriate to the trans man's male identity and functioning....
. In recent years, the definition of "transition" has broadened to include theories of psychological development or complementary methods of self-acceptance.
Transsexual men may seek medical interventions such as hormones and surgery to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their gender presentation. However, many transgender and transsexual men cannot afford or choose not to undergo surgery or hormone replacement therapy.
Transitioning might involve some or all of the following steps:
- Social transition: name change, wearing clothing seen as gender appropriate, disclosure to family, friends and usually at the workplace
- Sex reassignment therapySex reassignment therapySex reassignment therapy is an umbrella term for all medical procedures regarding sex reassignment of both transgender and intersexual people...
: hormone replacement therapyHormone replacement therapy (female-to-male)Hormone replacement therapy for transgender gender variant and transsexual introduces hormones associate with the gender that the patient identifies with...
(HRT), and/or surgerySex reassignment surgery female-to-maleSex reassignment surgery from female to male includes a variety of surgical procedures for transsexual men that alter female anatomical traits to provide physical traits more appropriate to the trans man's male identity and functioning.... - Legal affirmation: name and (sometimes) sex marker correction in legal identification documents.
Being socially accepted as male (sometimes known as passing
Passing (gender)
Passing refers to a person's ability to be regarded as a member of the sex or gender with which they physically present. Typically, passing involves a mixture of physical gender cues as well as certain behavioral attributes that tend to be culturally associated with a particular gender...
) may be challenging for trans men who have not undergone HRT and/or surgery. Some trans men may choose to present as female in certain social situations (e.g. at work). After physical transition, trans men usually live full-time as male.
Notable trans men
- Ben BarresBen BarresBen A. Barres M.D., Ph.D. is an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University. His research focuses on the interaction between neurons and glial cells in the nervous system...
, an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University - Buck AngelBuck AngelBuck Angel is a female-to-male transsexual and adult film maker and an LGBT icon of popular culture. He is also founder of Buck Angel Entertainment, as a vehicle to produce media projects...
, an adult film actor and director - Willmer "Little Ax" Broadnax (1916–1994), an African-American hard gospel quartet singer
- Chaz Bono, American author and activist, the only child born out of musicians Sonny BonoSonny BonoSalvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
and CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
's marriage - Balian BuschbaumBalian BuschbaumBalian Buschbaum is a former German pole vaulter.Buschbaum's personal best is 4.70 metres, achieved in June 2003 in Ulm. This ranks Buschbaum second among German pole vaulters, only behind Annika Becker...
, German pole vaulter - Alec ButlerAlec ButlerAlec Butler is a Canadian playwright and filmmaker. Born intersex and raised as a female, he was known as Audrey and identified as a butch dyke before pursuing gender reassignment in 1999, and currently identifies as a Two-Spirit and transman.He was a nominee for the Governor General's Award for...
, Canadian playwright and filmmaker - Meryn CadellMeryn CadellMeryn Cadell is a Canadian writer and performance artist. He is an assistant professor of song lyrics and libretto writing in the Creative Writing Program at University of British Columbia.Cadell is a transsexual man who transitioned in 2003...
, Canadian singer, writer and performance artist - Patrick CalifiaPatrick CalifiaPatrick Califia , born 1954 near Corpus Christi, Texas is a writer of nonfiction essays about sexuality and of erotic fiction and poetry. Califia is a bisexual trans man.-Biography:...
, writer and poet - Loren CameronLoren CameronLoren Rex Cameron is an American photographer, author and transsexual activist. His work includes portraiture and self-portraiture which consist of lesbian and transsexual bodies in both clothed and nude form...
, American photographer, author and activist - Aaron DevorAaron DevorAaron H. Devor is a Canadian sociologist and sexologist known for research into the transgender community. Devor has taught at the University of Victoria since 1989 and is currently dean of graduate studies...
, Canadian sociologist and sexologist - Michael Laurence Dillon (1915–1962), physician and author
- Robert EadsRobert EadsRobert Eads was an American transsexual man, whose life and death was the subject of the award-winning documentary Southern Comfort.- Transition :...
(1945–1999), subject of documentary Southern Comfort - Reed EricksonReed EricksonReed Erickson was a transsexual man best known for his philanthropy.In 1964 he launched the Erickson Educational Foundation , a nonprofit philanthropic organization funded and controlled entirely by Erickson himself...
(1917–1992), businessman and philanthropist - Jack Bee Garland (1869–1936), American journalist, nurse, and adventurer
- Alexander John GoodrumAlexander John GoodrumAlexander John Goodrum was an African American transgender civil rights activist. He was the founder and director of TGNet Arizona. He was a board member of the Tucson GLBT Commission and the Funding Exchange's OUT Fund, which allocates an annual grant named after Goodrum to LGBT community...
(1960–2002), an African American transgender civil rights activist - Jamison GreenJamison GreenJamison "James" Green is a leader in the transgender rights movement.-Activism:Green is known as an activist for the legal protection, medical access, safety, civil rights and dignity of transgender and transsexual people. He has published several essays and articles, and writes a column for...
, writer and educator - Alan L. HartAlan L. HartAlan L. Hart was an American physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, writer and novelist. At birth, Hart was assigned female and named Alberta Lucille Hart. He was in 1917-18 one of the first female to male transsexuals to undergo hysterectomy and gonadectomy in the United States, and...
(1890–1962), an American physician who pioneered the use of x-ray photography in tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
detection, and helped implement TB screening programs - Ian HarvieIan HarvieIan Harvie is an American stand-up comedian who often references being a trans man in his performances.-Early life:Harvie knew he was transgender at a very early age, but didn't have a language for his gender identity at the time. Ian came out as queer at nineteen and later as Transgender at age...
, American stand-up comedian - Katastrophe (Rocco Katastrophe Kayiatos) Homo-Hop MC
- Andreas KriegerAndreas KriegerAndreas Krieger is a former German shot putter, who competed as a woman on the East German athletics team at SC Dynamo Berlin...
, German shot putter - Shannon MinterShannon MinterShannon Price Minter is an American civil rights attorney and the legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco....
, attorney - Ryan SallansRyan SallansRyan Kim-Scout Sallans is an American LGBT rights advocate and out transman. Ryan began his transition from female-to-male in 2005...
, Trans-activist and public speaker - Lucas SilveiraLucas SilveiraLucas Silveira is the Canadian vocalist/guitarist and songwriter for the rock band The Cliks. He has recently released his first solo effort "MOCKINGBIRD" since founding The Cliks and is currently touring the US and Canada promoting it....
, rockRock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician. - Lou SullivanLou SullivanLouis Graydon Sullivan , born Sheila Jean Sullivan, was an American author and activist known for his work on behalf of trans men...
(1951–1991), American author, biographer and founder of FTM International - Brandon TeenaBrandon TeenaBrandon Teena was an American trans man who was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. His life and death were the subject of the Academy Award-winning 1999 film Boys Don't Cry, which was based on the documentary film The Brandon Teena Story.-Life:Teena was born Teena Renae Brandon in Lincoln,...
(1972–1993), a victim of a hate crimeHate crimeIn crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
, subject of the film Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry (film)Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 American independent romantic drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and co-written by Andy Bienen. The film is a dramatization of the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man played by Hilary Swank, who pursues a relationship with a young woman, played by Chloë... - Billy TiptonBilly TiptonBilly Lee Tipton was an American jazz musician and bandleader. Born Dorothy Tipton, he also notable for the discovery, after his death, that he was female assigned at birth.- Early life :...
(1914–1989), an American jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist and saxophonist - Del Lagrace VolcanoDel LaGrace VolcanoDel LaGrace Volcano is "one of instigators of polymorphous perverse queer culture." A formally trained photographer, Del's work includes installation, performance and film and interrogates the performance of gender on several levels, especially the performance of masculinity and femininity.-Life...
, performer and photographer - Max Wolf ValerioMax Wolf ValerioMax Wolf Valerio is an American poet, memoir writer, essayist and actor. He lives in San Francisco, California. He is ethnically Blackfoot Indian, Sephardic Jewish, and Northern European....
, poet, writer and performer - Stephen WhittleStephen WhittleProfessor Stephen Whittle OBE, PhD is an active member of the United Kingdom TransActivist organisation Press for Change. Now , Whittle is Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University....
OBE, PhD., Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, and an active member of the United Kingdom TransActivist organisation Press for Change
Films
- Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry (film)Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 American independent romantic drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and co-written by Andy Bienen. The film is a dramatization of the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man played by Hilary Swank, who pursues a relationship with a young woman, played by Chloë...
, drama - Southern Comfort, 2001 documentary
- TransparentTransparent (film)Transparent is a 2005 documentary film about the experiences of 19 female-to-male transgender parents as they are coming to terms with gender transitioning...
, documentary - Pick Up the MicPick Up the MicPick Up the Mic is a documentary film, released in 2006, which profiles the underground LGBT hip hop scene and homohop, which is a subgenre of hip-hop that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rappers, DJ's and hip-hop artists. The film was directed by Alex Hinton.The documentary had...
, documentary (features two FTM artists) - TransGenerationTransGenerationTransGeneration is an eight episode documentary series depicting the lives of four transgender college students during the 2004/2005 school year as they attempt to balance college, their social lives, and their struggle to merge their internal and external selves while gender transitioning.Two of...
, documentary miniseries - Gender Resignner, 2010 documentary
- Enough Man, 2010 documentary
- STILL BLACK: a portrait of black transmen, 2008 documentary about black transmen soldier's girl
- Becoming Chaz, 2011 documentary about Chaz Bono's transition
- Romeos (2011), drama
See also
- Trans womanTrans womanA trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
- List of transgender-related topics
- List of transgender people
External links
Medicine and Psychology- Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers free ebook, ISBN 0-9773250-0-8
- FTM International An organization serving the female-to-male trans community.
Further reading
- Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison GreenJamison GreenJamison "James" Green is a leader in the transgender rights movement.-Activism:Green is known as an activist for the legal protection, medical access, safety, civil rights and dignity of transgender and transsexual people. He has published several essays and articles, and writes a column for...
- Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transsexual Experience by Matt Kailey
- Transmen and FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities by Jason Cromwell
- FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society. by Aaron H. Devor