Upon starting the Sacramento Transgender Issues column, the author has generated much discusion with her local cisgendered [i.e. non-transsexual/transgender] friends. In short, this has been very beneficial, as it has provided her a chance to educate and overrule false assumptions. Of these discussions, however, one especially bears mention, and that is the difference between homosexuality and transgenderism/transsexuality. Though commonly confused, this essay shall seek as a means to separate the two.

First and foremost, gender identity and sexual orientation are two very different things. Whilst gender identity deals with the inner-gender the trans-individual knows her/himself to be, sexual orientation deals with the gender the individual is attracted to. With that said, it should be realized that the two are worlds apart.

Last but not least, transgender/transsexual people come from all walks of life and can be gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, so on and so forth. With that said, it is hoped that readers now hold a broader view of the trans-community.