| transsexual | A person who desires or has achieved transsexualism (by having a sex change operation, etc.). A transsexual is different from a transvestite who is a person who masquerades by dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex (cross-dressing). See: transsexualism. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| transsexual surgery | Procedures designed to alter a patient's external sexual characteristics so that they resemble those of the other sex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| transsexualism | Consistently strong desire to change ones anatomic sex and belong to the opposite sex, to change gender and do so by all available means (including surgery, hormonal treatment, dress, and lifestyle). Trans- is related to the latin verb transire , meaning to pass or cross over, or pass beyond. In transsexualism, one crosses over or passes beyond ones sex to the opposite sex. Transsexualism is thus distinct from mere cross-dressing which is termed transvestism (from the latin vestitus meaning clothed ). (a publicised instance of transsexualism involved the ophthalmologist dr. Richard raskind who became the professional tennis player, ren |