When I hear “This is my friend _____ , she’s transgendered”, I cringe. It may seem innocuous, but using the word “transgendered” indicates that being transgender is something you have done to you. Imagine someone saying “this is my friend Andy, he’s gayed” or “this is my best friend Betty, she’s lesbianed.” Like being gay and lesbian, being transgender isn’t something that you have done to you, it’s part of who you are. I’m proud to be of Irish, Scot, German, and native American descent. But I’d never say I’m “Irished and Proud.”
But don’t feel bad, even folks at the National Center for Trangender Equality have made the same mistake:
If you make the mistake it’s not too big of a deal, but please try and remember to say transgender? There’s a rumor that if you say “transgendered” too many times, the transgender fairy will visit you in the night and transgender you! It’s just a rumor, but better safe than sorry. 
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Buki,
Slight oversimplification but I agree with you. Words have the meanings you assign to them but they also have separate meanings that are culturally influenced and understood. The meaning of words, culturally, is different from the personal meaning of words. An Important distinction in my mind.
Buki,
Slight oversimplification but I agree with you. Words have the meanings you assign to them but they also have separate meanings that are culturally influenced and understood. The meaning of words, culturally, is different from the personal meaning of words. An Important distinction in my mind.
Words don’t have meanings. They just apply to what- or whomever identifies with them.
Words don’t have meanings. They just apply to what- or whomever identifies with them.
I’m sort of lukewarm with “transgendered,” personally my pet peeve is “transgenders.” I think it’s because I have seen it too many times on hate literature. Bugs me almost as much as “she/male.”
I’m sort of lukewarm with “transgendered,” personally my pet peeve is “transgenders.” I think it’s because I have seen it too many times on hate literature. Bugs me almost as much as “she/male.”
I call myself transgendered because I see it as an adjective in the same sense bearded is an adjective.
I also sometimes see being trans* as a verb; a verb that nature/the gods did to me before I was conceived and/or in utero.
Generally I prefer trans*, as it can include most trans* identities. Trans*man for instance, includes: transman, trans man, transsexual man, transgender man, transgendered man, and probably many others.
And I think asterisks look cool. ^.^;;