Variations in Sexual Behavior

Sexual Minorities: 7. Transsexuals

Organizations

It is not known how many people are transsexuals. Estimates vary from 1 in several hundred to 1 in several ten thousand. In any case, they represent a relatively small minority. It seems to contain an equal number of males and females, but it also seems that the latter are less inclined to seek treatment. Actually, as already mentioned, a growing number of transsexuals do not wish to undergo surgery. For this and other reasons, we will probably never have reliable statistics.
Since transsexuals are usually under enormous psychological and social presssure, they welcome the help of support groups. As a rule, such groups are small, but they provide opportunities for their members to meet others in the same situation, to share experiences, and to join forces in educating their families and friends as well as their co-workers and the general public. Unfortunately, in many countries transsexuals still encounter serious discrimination and are victimized by unreformed, unfair civil laws. For this reason, many transsexuals are also active in larger national and international organizations dealing with Gender, Transgender and Intersex Issues. Their web sites offer a good introduction to the many unresolved problems in this area.

Typical web site of a transsexual organization
Since the number of transsexuals is relatively small, so is that of their organizations. Most of them are local or regional, but they perform an important function for their members, providing moral support and helping them in many practical matters. (In order to avoild easy identification, the name, design and several other details have been changed. However, the content as such is authentic.)