Homosexual transsexual

Homosexual transsexual is a controversial term used by some sexologists. In particular it is used to describe male-to-female transsexuals who are exclusively or predominantly attracted to the men sexually. This taxonomic type of transsexual is characterized by conspicuous cross-gender behavior from childhood through adulthood, and attraction to masculine heterosexual males.

When this term is employed in psychological research, it is defined by way of psychological test or self report. The most common definition is that a "homosexual transsexual" measures a Kinsey Scale 5-6. Alternatively this group as measured by the Modified Androphilia Scale rates 9.86±2.37. Overtime this type has been refered to as a classic transsexual or even a "True Transsexual" as in the DSM III.

Homosexual transsexuals are also part of a two-type taxonomy in which all other male-to-female transsexuals are presumed to have a condition called autogynephilia. Critics of this taxonomy point out that the label "homosexual transsexual" is demeaning because it implicitly identifies as male those people who self-identify as female. This taxonomy does not apply to female-to-male transsexuals.

Historical scientific development of this concept.
The concept that stereotypically effeminate boys would grow up to live as women as adults has been documented throughout history and is not a recent invention of just one person. There are historical records of such people existing through recorded history (see Transgender in non western cultures). The concept of a two-type taxonomy based on transsexual sexuality was first scientifically stated by Magnus Hirschfeld and codified for transsexual people by Harry Benjamin in the Benjamin Scale. Due to this history there exist a notion of a homosexual transsexual as being the classic, primary transsexual and somehow more genuine thus motivating non-homosexual transsexuals to exaggerate any feminine qualities they have.

Kurt Freund proposed two types of cross-gender identity, based on his observations that gender identity disorder is different for homosexual males and heterosexual males. Ray Blancahrd observed that homosexual transsexuals were younger when applying for sex reassignment, reported a stronger cross-gender identity in childhood, had a more convincing cross-gender appearance, and functioned psychologically better than nonhomosexual transsexuals. Blanchard found them comparatively shorter and lighter in proportion to their height than nonhomosexuals. Independent research done by Smith confirmed most of Blanchards findings, except for the difference in height weight and height-weight ratio. Dorner reported that when injected with Premarin, homosexual transsexual men showed an increased luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone response compared to hetero- or bisexual transsexual men. Other researchers have observed several correlations to homosexual transsexuality, including lower IQ, lower social class, immigrant status, non-intact family, non-Caucasian race, and childhood behavior problems, which are unrelated to gender identity disorder.

In the 2003 book "The Man Who Would Be Queen" J. Michael Bailey states that about 60% of homosexual transsexuals he studied were Latina or black, about three times the rate of ordinary gay men (p. 183). He states that most learn to live on the streets, often resorting to prostitution, shoplifting, or both (p. 184).

Sexual activity
Leavitt and Berger further categorized homosexual transsexuals by three patterns of sexual activity: Each group showed varying levels of masculinity in development and levels of emotional disturbance.
 * Inactive group (44%): sexually inactive
 * Avoidant group (19%): sexually active but avoided using their penises
 * Pleasure group (37%): sexually active and derived pleasure from their penises

Studies have variously reported that between 10% and 36% of homosexual transsexuals report a history of sexual arousal to crossdressing. Bentler reported 23%, and Freund reported 31%. Leavitt and Berger reported 36% among all homosexual transsexuals, and 24% of the sexually active subjects. Blanchard reports significantly lower numbers than his peers: 15% in his first study on the topic, and 10% in a paper two years later. Blanchard reported autogynephilia in lower levels when comparing homosexual and nonhomosexual transsexuals, with notable levels of anatomic autogynephilia among some of the 117 androphilic subjects. A lower percentage of the homosexual transsexuals reported being (or having been) married and sexually aroused while cross-dressing.

Blanchard, Bailey, and Lawrence theory controversy
The "BBL Controversy" also known as the "Autogynephilia Controversy" is an ongoing and heated line of discussion in the transgendered community. The concept had not received much attention outside of sexology until sexologist Anne Lawrence, who self-identifies as an autogynephile, published a series of web articles about the concept in the late 1990s. Lynn Conway and Andrea James responded to Lawrence's essay. Conway started an investigation into the publication of Bailey's book by the United States National Academy of Sciences. Accusations of misconduct by Bailey were leveled. Northwestern University investigated Bailey, but did not reveal the findings of that investigation and did not comment on whether or not Bailey had been punished. According to intersex activist and bioethics specialist, Prof. Alice Dreger, Ph.D., who is now one of Bailey's supporters, two of the four transwomen who accused Bailey of misusing their stories were not mentioned anywhere in the book, and Bailey's critics' publication of obscenely titled photographs of his minor children constituted an unconscionable harassment campaign.

Some scientific concerns have been raised. A transgendered psychologist writing under the pen name of Madeline Wyndzen identified four possible scientific concerns with Blanchard's model:
 * Blanchard's findings had not been replicated independently at the time of publication.
 * Blanchard did not include control groups of typically-gendered women.
 * Blanchard did not statistically standardize age differences in his data, and
 * Blanchard hypothesized causality from observational data.

Some of these concerns are common to any new idea (independent replication takes time), and others can not be tested in any practical or ethical fashion (causing people to be transsexual to prove causality).

Wyndzen is concerned that Blanchard's research promotes the politically and socially dangerous idea that transsexual people are mentally defective: "Rather than asking the scientifically neutral question, “What is transgenderism?” Blanchard (1991) asks, "What kind of defect in a male's capacity for sexual learning could produce … autogynephilia, transvestitism …?" (p. 246)." "

Furthermore, critics claim that the distributions of sexual orientation among transsexuals do not reveal two categorically distinct groups, however researcher Yolanda Smith found in a follow up study conducted in the Netherlands:

In this study the two subtypes were indeed found to differ on many characteristics. Replicating some of the previously observed differences, we found that compared with nonhomosexual transsexuals, homosexual transsexuals reported more cross-gendered behavior, appearance and preference in childhood, and they reported less sexual arousal while cross-dressing in adolescence, applied for SR at a younger age, and fewer were (or had been) married."

Study of this theory is ongoing and it is not either accepted or rejected by a majority of psychologists.