Although the members of this category are extremely diverse, one common thread is that transsexuals often need medical assistance to achieve their lifestyle. This can include hormone treatment, sex reassignment surgery, cosmetic surgery and much more. Cross-dressers and transgenderists are also members of the transgender community. They are those who, for various reasons, adopt the dress and/ or characteristics of the opposite sex on a full or part-time basis. Androgynes, on the other hand, purposely adopt characteristics that define them as gender-neutral. Intersex individuals are those with physical or hormonal attributes of both sexes. There are many types of intersex people such as those who are diagnosed with androgen-insensitivity, Kleinfleter syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Drag kings and queens also make up another element of the transgender community. These individuals often crossdress with the intention of entertainment or making a political statement regarding gender roles (Boston Women's Health Book Collective 180-182).
There are many levels of diversity even within these categories. There is also much diversity in terms of sexuality. Most of the population, including medical professionals, often assumes that those who are transgender are also homosexual. However, there are many within this community who do not identify themselves as such. In fact the very nature of the community defies this type of conventional classification. Persons whose gender identities are ambiguous, transitional, or androgynous challenge the traditional sexual orientation categories of attraction to "same sex" or "opposite sex." For this reason, it is important not to make generalizations regarding the sexual orientation or preference of members of the transgender community.
Because the transgender community exists outside the mainstream, research is limited. As our society evolves, more will be known regarding the different categories and definitions that best express the diversity of these individuals.
