First let me say I have never seen a TS.  At times have had urges but never been with one.  That's to say I don't have anything against them.  Hey to each their own.  But one of the most common things I've seen written on this and other boards is the question, if I see one does that make me gay?

Well, some say yes and some say no.  For me, it was settled by a ts I thought strongly about seeing.  TS Nataly in NY.  She seems extremly beautiful and passable.  But wanted to see more (too bad she doesn't have her own website).  Anyway was googling her name and came up with a defunct website she used to run on geocities (it's since disappeared).  On that site she had various pics and a couple that caught my eye were of her on an ethnic parade float at the 2001 NYC Gay and Lesbian pride parade.  

Well, like I said, I'm no judge.  She like everybody else has the right to do whatever they want.  But seeing this beautiful TS on a Gay parade float made me rethink what I was thinking about.  And if she chooses to see herself as a gay man (or not) that's her right but it made me realize that seeing her would be like seeing a gay man.  

It's just my two cents regarding the common question, but its something for anyone "curious" to think about.

Most people are neither 100% gay or 100% straight.

Under the right conditions, most are bisexual.

Cultural conditioning prevents people from expressing it.

For god's sake can we please drop this thread right now and not enter into this discussion for the billionth time.

MyReality;
    I think that you're attraction is what defines your sexuality.  The gay/straight discussion as it applies to guys on this board leads nowhere, and I don't want to reply to that.
    Transgendered are grouped with gays/lesbians all the time.  She obviously perceives herself as a woman.  How she perceives herself doesn't deny the fact of your attraction.  If she didn't participate in the parade and you didn't see the photograph, would that mean you could "date" her and be confidant that you weren't gay?  If you don't take action does that deny you attraction?  Would a celebate man attracted to gay men be straight?
    There are a few visitors who visit this board from time to time that pose the same question.  The one main concern that is brought up is the concern of whether seeing a TG provider makes one gay.  The concern is with how friends/society see them.  I would venture to say that the majority of the posters here don't see themselves as gay.  If we're all in denial, I don't know and don't want to entertain that discussion because it is never resolved and ALWAYS deteriorates.
    I hope that I havn't said anything to offend anyone, because it wasn't my intent.  Good Luck, MyReality.

First of all, it's a little scary how quick you judge someone just by seeing her in one situation.  Maybe she has some gay friends she was supporting?  (There are straight people that march in those parades to show support for loved ones too, you know.) Maybe she got offered to ride on the float and she thought it would be fun?  Who knows?  In any case, I doubt very much that she sees herself as a "gay man".  

That being said however, they say that politics makes for strange bed fellows.  The transgender community faces many of the same issues as the gay & lesbian community does.  We face the same job discriminations, marriage limitaions, adoption rights, hate crimes, rejection from family and friends, and more. By standing together with our gay & lesbian brothers and sisters, we face a better chance to end discrimination and make changes in certain laws.

If you are that concerned by what label to call yourself or what others may think of you, it's probably best for you NOT to see a T girl.  

Peace & love

"Poor is  the man whose pleasures depend on  the permission of  another"

Dude, I totally agree with you.  I've whacked off to TS fantasy's more times than I can remember, and they are my favorite whack off material and I've come so close to visiting one.  But when its all said and done, especially when I'm done-ha ha, I wonder why I would ever want to do that. And then from time to time it dawns upon me that the reality is that I would be gettin it on with another man which would mean I was gay and that's a line I'm not ready to cross. And I'm still not all done with women so I could get remarried, and how would I ever explain that if I were to be totally truthful? Kinda like being the ex smoker (hmm, whats up with this oral thing)I am - at this point its easier just not to have a smoke and keep being a non smoker than to take it up again. Anyone who reads this and is offended, so sorry, but this is how I feel. Too many questions in my mind for now. Someday I may lighten up and take the plunge, but I feel your pangs, too.

Myreality,

Here's two cents on the subject from a guy yet to take the plunge:

My relatively recent attraction to TS women developed by unknowingly working alongside a TS a few years ago and realizing later that she was just as much a woman in mind,spirit,and in this case, BODY, as any genetic woman that I've ever been with. She probably wasn't quite as "passable" as other TSs out there, but she was attractive nonetheless, and served as a bellwether in my new found interest and desire to find out more about this third sex I never really knew existed.
I found that if it looks like a duck,walks like a duck,and quacks like a duck,it therefore becomes a duck. I see many of the passable effeminite type of TSs as women without making any distinctions from GGs by placing a "TS" label in front of them. Simply put, THEY ARE women but with a little something extra to take hold of our fantasies of sexuality to an experience a GG could never take me to. Defining them as women as I have therefore circumvents any thought or fear about whether to consider myself gay or not. I love WOMEN, so therefore I do not consider myself gay because of my attraction to these women.Does this make sense ? The only thing stopping me from indulging in my fantasy of hooking up with one of these women are my finances at this point.I've had some financial setbacks in the last few months,so I'm just waiting to get caught up before I finally take the plunge with one. I'm sure it will be an "E" ticket of an experience I'll never forget.

Cabriac,

What the hell is your problem ??? Didn't you ever question your attraction to these women initially ? I've felt the same way in some respects and have scrolled back to similar questions from others such as Myreality and I've come to learn a lot from the others in here willing to take the time to answer this very question and concern. I applaud all those who have taken the time to enlighten those of us who wonder the same thing. Thank all of you who have!!!

Why does it have to be a choice between straight or gay?  This reminds me of something I read (can't remember where)  A guy was worried that he was gay because he liked watching videos of men receiving oral sex.  The shrinks response was, "No it doesn't mean your gay, it just means you like watching oral sex"

The way I see it, a Pre-Op TS is not really a man or a woman, almost a third sex.  (Until they are post op anyway)  So if you enjoy seeing transexuals doesn't it mean that you just enjoy seeing transsexuals??  

Just my newbie two cents