I'm cisgendered, so I don't have any right to decide what is and isn't offensive to trans* people. I know people who say that being bisexual is transphobic, which I don't really get? I'm pansexual, so it doesn't have anything to do with me, but I don't see how being bisexual would be transphobic. Could someone explain to me why it is? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
I think maybe because "bisexual" implies that they're not attracted to trans* people? It's honestly not, whoever said that is way misconstruing the terms.
You're right though! But thats what my friends are saying, and I was wondering if other people thought that too, and perhaps why? An explanation other than "because it is", yknow?
It isn't transphobic. It may, for some, be trans-excluding but those are completely different. Lesbians are (mostly) man-excluding but that doesn't make them androphobic. The confusion may have arisen because of pansexuality typically including transgender people while bisexuality may not for some people. But again, it isn't transphobic.
Yeah, no. I find it more insulting when people are like "oh well, pansexuals like transsexuals too" as if transsexuals aren't real men or women and a bi person can't be attracted to them.
I think it's because of the incorrect definition of bisexuality saying that we're only attracted to cisgender men and women; however the most accepted definition by the bisexual community is "attraction to the same and different gender(s)".
Yep. And winchester's got it right too. You can not like the idea that I wasn't born the right way, but I'm female dammit!
I use the term Pansexual because of my attraction to other non-binary people. I feel that bisexual would be sufficient for an attraction to binary cis and trans* folk.
Yeah, screw everyone who has their orientation set to bisexual *rolls eyes* I have never heard that as being offensive, and even if they aren't attracted because someone is trans*, then it is no reason to take offense to it. That would be the same as saying it's rude to girls if a guy is homosexual- you can't control who you're attracted to. I wouldn't say it's transphobic and should not be portrayed as such.
Bisexuality need not be exclusive to cisgenders. In my case, it means I'm attracted to both male and female bodied individuals, regardless of their orientation, gender identity, or presentation. In a lot of cases, the men and women I find attractive are nothing like the types that are popular within mainstream media. How many gay men would be attracted to Andrej Pejic, for example? It can get confusing, since I have more of a, "I like what I like," attitude towards these things, so there isn't always a neat pattern of attraction, like someone who is only into bears, or femmes. Honestly, the reason I choose bisexual is because it's simper to explain to others, I discovered it first, and there's a lot more history, information, and visibility behind the term, and a lot of those who describe themselves otherwise can rally under the label and unite.
I always figured it was offensive to consider trans people as in-betweeners instead of as whichever gender they identify. I'm not really including genderqueer or intersex in this particular example, but MtF are females, and vice-versa. So even if bisexuality is limited to two definite genders (mine isn't) then it still isn't inherently transphobic.
Trans men and women are men and women, so the argument is invalid. I identify as bisexual and I'm attracted to non-binary people too, so technically I could say I'm pansexual. But there's no such word in my language so I stick with "bi", it's simple and instantly comprehensible. Too much wondering over labels...
I've never understood, I identify as bisexual but I can be attracted (and have been) to trans* people.
