On gender identity and transphobia
To say a gay person chooses to be gay is homophobic, and there is no question about this among enlightened people.
Similarly, a transgendered person does not choose his or her gender identity. A woman who happens to be born with a penis is still a WOMAN. A man who happens to be born with a vagina is still a MAN. I just wanted to make this Public Service Announcement to all who have forgotten these simple truths.
A transphobic person will be one to insist that PENIS = MAN and VAGINA = WOMAN no matter what (!!!!) This is transphobic (and homophobic too) because these people are uncomfortable with the idea of being attracted to someone who happens to have the same sex organs as they do.
This person...
...is a beautiful, transgendered, WOMAN. She was born with a penis, but she is a "she".
= new reply since forum marked as read
and wanted equal say in these discussions, epic flame wars for old du'ers 
On edit, I remember the term now I had never heard before and spent hours doing research, furries 
that a person can choose to be gay and it is not a big deal even though I don't know of a single gay person who says they have chosen to be gay. It would be just nice if it was so accepted that a person could.
One of my dear friends is overseas now, she just got herself a brand spanking new vagina! I can't wait until she gets back. She is now worried about how to keep the Republicans out of it
Gender identity is far more than what you look like or were born with. How people do not understand this is beyond me.
As long as we keep the information away from our children or even closet ourselves from information that makes us uncomfortable there will be huge misconceptions. My friend has been OUT LOUD about herself and her surgery including writing about it in the newspaper and traveling this bigoted state talking to anyone who will listen. So far she has been able to do so without violence happening, the words hurt but she has not been hurt physically (that I know of). One brave person at a time will work wonders.
*I am a long long way from understanding a lot about gender identity but have come a long long way from knowing nothing. In actuality, people just need to know that it is there and it is not abnormal and then simply forget about it. It is none of their business, they can't change it no matter what they think or do. Accept people for who they are. How hard could that be?