I’ve come across people using derogatory terms, not to be hurtful, just because of being uneducated. For instance, one of my friends used the term “shemale” around me to describe a trans woman sitting across from us on the bus(I’m not out to him, but he knows my views on transgender issues.) and I kind of freaked out a little bit. After my slight freakout, he said he only used it because there was no other word.

Since I surround myself with people from the queer community, I’m used to people just knowing correct terminology. The term “shemale” just seems very, very offensive to me, and probably is to those who are trans women. Some may have reclaimed the word as a positive label for themselves, but that does not give people the right to call any trans woman a “shemale”.

My point is, if you’re going to use a term to describe somebody who’s transgender, I would highly recommend not using a term other than their preferred pronouns, “they”, or “male/female at birth”.

It would just be nice if people outside the queer community were educated on matters like this.

note: I do not use the term ‘queer’ in a derogatory term, as many of us have reclaimed the term as a positive label. Although I discussed that earlier in this post, I feel it is okay as an umbrella term for LGBT individuals as LGBT may leave some people out.