Pride

There are gender-nonconforming, transsexual, and even post-transsexual people who talk about "transgender pride." They don't want to hide who they are. They want to show off their distinctiveness.

For those who are publicly gender-nonconforming, that makes sense. If who you are is a challenge to societal norms, then you had probably better stand up for yourself and your right to be who you are. People such as gender queers are out in the open. Pride in their differences is a way of asserting their place in the world.

For those born with transsexualism, however, especially post-transsexuals, "trans pride" makes about as much sense as being proud that you were born with clubfoot—or that you still endure clubfoot. Birth defects are not something to be ashamed of, but neither are they something to be proud of. They are something to be dealt with.

The process of repairing a birth defect might be painful, tedious, and difficult. Coming through such an ordeal is something to be proud of. But it's not usually something we shout from the rooftops: "I overcame clubfoot!" No, it's usually something we keep inside, part of what makes us stronger and better people. And if anyone asks why you have a slight limp, you can tell them, quietly, that it was ever so much worse before.