He looks like a pee-wee football player with long hair in pigtails - I totally see where he's coming from. I don't know what's "Say What" about this quote. More power to him.

Hi spacekatgal! Say What's just the name of our feature for notable quotes. I'm diggin' the quote too.

Ah, I feel you, Tres. Thanks for explaining.

It's sad the mind and the body are not always in sync.

I still dont know what to think about all that. I am torn about gender issues.

What's to be torn about? I get a libertarian vibe from you - isn't it someone's liberty to do what they want with their body to be happy?

no I am a republican! I am torn about how gender is defined, is it a state of mind, hormones, body parts? all of the above?

I get how some people feel trapped and i applaud them for even being able to say something and do something about it, if it makes them happy they should go for it.

BTW i used to want to be Chastity when i was a kid, because Cher would always dress him up in the best clothes....kind of ironic isnt it.

"Chaz says that he didn't want to wait until he was an old man to enjoy his life in a male body."

Good for him. How sad that not everyone in this sitaution is able/willing to enjoy life NOW how they feel most natural.

Well, for an F2M like Char, it's defined by a complex set of surgical requirements - depending on the state. A hysterectomy and mastectomy and several years on T are enough to make them legally male. It's also extremely expensive - Chaz will end up spending $60k at least, even without a metiodplasty - and that's just making a short, non-functioning micropenis.

Have you ever seen a picture of a phaloplasty? Don't google it unless you like graphic medical photos. It's the "best" they have, and it's still very unsettling to look at.

I'm in Colorado today, and am actually en route to go hang out with a transgendered relative. I have no doubt she would be dead today if she hadn't transitioned. I would argue, it's up to the person to define who they are.

I had a guidance counselor who left school a man, came back a woman....and they let her go. she probably should have sued but she didnt.

From my understanding:

sex: biological. sexual parts, hormones, etc. USUALLY pretty clear cut.
gender: how you identify yourself. much more complicated. usually in sync with sex (I have female parts and I identify as female), but for someone like Chaz, gender and sex are different.

spacecat, very cool that your relative transitioned. hope she or she is doing well !

Thanks, running. She's not, unfortunately - very depressed, and has been jobless for 7 months. It's relevant to this topic, actually. She speaks with a loud, booming male voice - and just now is going on about Ww1 war trivia to the point I needed to excuse myself. I have no idea why she transitioned, when she seems so overwhelmingly male to me. But, it's her life and I respect it.

I don't think anyone can understand the desire that hasn't lived it.

A shame she has to go through all of this.

i thank chaz for explaining transsexuality in such a succinct and accesible way. i wish him luck with his transition.

Caterpillar

Unfortunately, up until the new ENDA, it was perfectly legal to fire someone for transitioning.

@phillyeagles1- chaz is a he, not a she.

@pontneuf-thank you for bringing that up, but enda legislation hasn't passed at the federal level yet.

^^^ Just let it be, those who disagree with the above monster. its just a halloween spook that crawled out of the dark ages.

Hank is just trying to get a rise, that is all.. dont fall into the traps

I find it amazing that someone who is this known publically is so open about such a hard decision and concept for others to grasp right now. He is amazing!