so am I still apart of lgbt even though?

[amyleefan101]

I don't truly identify as it?

well I've always liked guys. Masculinity attracts me for some reason it does. I've never had sex but have been sexually active enough to knowthats what I like. I always thought this made me gay but I never actually felt it was. I felt like they were the other sex and this was just normal. Well anyway I'm 15 physically things were different with puberty. I didn't grow like the average boy does and one thing lead to another and my dr. Well a specialist diagnosed me with klinefelter's syndrome. So I have an intersex condition and my body isn't either sex. I was wondering like are people who are intersex included? Where is the line drawn between people with intersex conditions and transsexuality? I mean somehow I still sorta feel I'm lgbt but I'm also in my eyes a girl who's attracted to men. And my body isn't much different from that description. So is inaccurate or not to identify with lgbt people more than not? Perhaps because of my upbringing?

[Kate*]

I think accepting yourself is more important than trying to label yourself, especially in a situation like yours where you don't fit existing labels. As long as you're comfortable with yourself that's the most important thing. Maybe intersex should be included in LGBT or maybe it will eventually be expanded to include intersex.

As for where to draw the line as I understand it the difference is that transgender people develop as one gender and identify or feel like they are the opposite. Intersex aren't biologically male or female, but instead are somewhere in between, but usually look more like one or the other, or identify as the gender they feel fits them better. I heard that there are actually 5 gender identifications, but in modern society we use only 2 of them.

If you feel like you fit with LGBT, but not completely that's ok. There really is no need to try to categorize yourself.

[Dr.Bobby]

How were you diagnosed with Klinefelter's (XXY)?

Klinefelter's is a physical condition, there's an extra 'X' chromosome. Sexuality is an emotional/psychological issue, how you actually experience yourself. The two are very different! One does in no way determine the other.

In your case, there's the obvious complication, but aside from that, the determination is made the same way any other is: How you experience who you are and who you feel emotionally closest with.

[amyleefan101]

I accept myself more than I have in the past. I know what I am and what I like I was curious as to if I was included or if people like me weren't or were lgbt either way I support you guys.

I had a karyotope blood test by my specialist.

[Sythan]

Physical doesn't matter. Sexual Orientation is who you're attracted too. You can be physically female, and identify as a male. Or be male and identify as female. Physicality has nothing to do with who you're attracted to. That being said, what gender do you identify with, and who are you attracted too? If you identify as female and like males, then no, you are not apart of the LGBT Community.

[amyleefan101]

I thought somewhat because I have similar life experiences it made me similar to transsexuals. I've read of like two with my condition who identify as transsexual yet have my syndrome. That's I guess why I asked. Also I was just wondering

Most groups that activity include trans people (this is relevent, as many LGBT groups may as well just call themselves LG or maybe LGB groups. Its sad, but it's getting better), well accept intersexed people within that community. Infact, there are places that are now adding the I into their acronym. Like the University of the Toronto's student queer group from example.

As the trans community grows, it's also spread to include under the 'trans' title a lot of gender identity issues, not just transexualism. Things like 'genderqueer', 'bi-gender' and stuff, where people may feel like both, or neither, or a mix, etc. So even without explicit acknowledgement of intersexuals, you could be included under the more liberal definitions of trans, as its tends to include those who don't feel they fit the traditional definitions of man or woman. So even if you do see yourself as a woman, it does sound as though you still feel different. But it'd depend on how you feel about that.

There is some controversy on this issue from the other side as well. Some intersex people and groups really don't want to be part of the LGBT community, because they don't feel a connection. So again, it's a very indivudal thing.

In summary:

It depends which LGBT communities you are looking it. The more liberal or progressive ones will tend to accept intersex, more traditional ones may do less often. Sometimes it is the intersex community seperating themselves from the LGBT community. There is no single answer.

At the same time, in my experience, a lot of groups will accept anyone who wants to be included, and often won't even ask you which you are identifying as. So I think it more depends on how you feel than anything else.

I may have either go on too much, or missed the point, but I hoped this helped somewhat.

Physical doesn't matter ... You can be physically female, and identify as a male. Or be male and identify as female. Physicality has nothing to do with who you're attracted to. That being said, what gender do you identify with, and who are you attracted too? If you identify as female and like males, then no, you are not apart of the LGBT Community.

The body is not entirely seperate from the mind, if one feel out of place with the sex of their body, thats often a gender issue. Even if one did not include intersexuality in this, you need to brush up on your trans issues. Because trans issues are generally related to a not feeling your gender and body match up quite right. Though not always.

As for your last sentence, would you say a straight transwoman, so a male to female, who identifies as a woman, who likes men, is not part of the LGBT community because she identifies as a woman who likes men?

Or have you just poorly explained your point?

EDIT: or did I misunderstand what you were saying. Apparently I can jump the gun sometimes.

[amyleefan101]

yeah, like I've read in different areas that it's a 5 to 10% with my condition transition. But it's like I've heard of like individuals like caroline cossey for example is an individual who had the same thing yet considers herself trans and whenever transsexuality is spoken of with the disorder it seems we are considered transsexuals. So that's why I was confused. It explains a lot though I appreciate that. It explains how people like myself are sometimes considered trans yet it says when speaking directly about transsexuality and what it is. What I have is technically different. Thanks for that elaborate advice I appreciate it.

[Tamugetsu]

Typically, LGBT is understood to be a short version of a much larger acronym. As someone with several asexual friends, I tend to alternate between LGBT and LGBTQIA (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans* Queer Intersex Asexual) or LGBTQIAetc, because some people identify as something other than those, like pansexuals, genderqueer or agender individuals, and so on. As an intersex person, you are of course a part of LGBT, your group is just often left out of the acronym.
Of course, there are those who only support people who belong to some subset or other of the community, but worrying about them won't help, and there are plenty of people (myself included) who consider LGBTetc to be an open group for anyone who defies the traditional norms of gender, physical sex, or sexual orientation.
So you're a girl who likes guys. And you almost have a body to match. Who am I, a gay rights activist, to persecute you for being who you are or liking who you like? In my opinion, you're in the LGBT community if you want to be, as long as you're not hurting anyone. And of course as someone with an intersex condition you qualify under the gender-norm-defying umbrella. While, yes, it may be a fringe within the community, (my asexual friends have a similar experience in the LGBT community) you are certainly LGBT in my book.
That's my two cents, darlin'.

[amyleefan101]

I am realizing maybe it's just different stages of life. Like if socially it is assumed later that I'm just straight and not lgbt at all what am I really to claim but for now I do feel there's a connection.