I have a lot of trouble understanding the mindset of transgendered people, largely because I haven’t been exposed to many in my life, and none with whom I’d be comfortable asking about what it was like pre-op, growing up, etc. that I’ve been able to ask my gay friends. I also suspect that my computer sciency brain has trouble with the whole, “Are you a man or woman” thing because the answer is never truly flipped to the new gender (in a world of 1s and 0s, there isn’t a “mostly a 1″). I also don’t know much about the ethics and thought around getting the surgery. Let’s just say I have a lot of questions.

Anyway, this has come up a few times recently, as Heidi has been blogging about a college friend who recently made the transition. His blog is also worth reading.

Anyway, the Boing Boing story linked below is just an excuse, really, to post the above paragraph. It’s an interesting story nonetheless, and I recommend reading it.

Interesting, btw, that a transgendered person can be married, but a gay couple cannot.

Update: Of course, the next next post on Boing Boing has a funny youtube clip about “Questions Never to ask a transsexual person.” So helpful, Boing Boing.

Update 2: Definitely watch the video. I feel like I should clarify my 1/0 comment above. It isn’t that I have trouble treating people as the gender they self-identify as. Rationally, I get that. I’m talking more about the philosophical piece of it. How is gender self-identification different from, say, racial self-identification? Is it OK to have surgery to change your race? (heck, do people do that and I just don’t know?). That’s what I mean by wanting to learn more about this. I suspect lots of people smarter than I have thought this through.