Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation* ()
ABSTRACT
Cisgender men who
have sex with transgender women (MSTGW) are a relatively invisible population,
known primarily through porn, erotica, kink, or diagnostic
categorization. Labeled gyandromorphophilic,
trans-amorous, trans-erotic and tranny
chasers, the monikers used to describe the sexuality of MSTGW do not
consistently encompass the nuances of orientation, attraction, identity and behavior of this population. Because they
challenge conventional sexual orientation categories, MSTGW are often reduced to designation as subsets of
existing binaries or variant type of sexuality, excluding them from the
validation, support and connection that
comes with community identification. In an
effort to challenge the heteronormative, cisnormative and transphobic oppression inherent in MSTGW
designation, the authors utilize the sex
positive term trans-attraction.
This article seeks to address the research
question: What is the lived experience of a self-identified trans-attracted cisgender man? Using a qualitative auto-ethnographic approach, the authors
describe and analyze a case study (Randy’s story) to expose readers to the
praxis of our collaborative autoethnography. The authors utilize reflexivity to
contemplate a lived experience of trans-attraction, explore the limited
binaries of sexual orientation, and consider trans-attraction as less of an
urban phenomenon and more of a legitimate sexual orientation.
Share and Cite:
Ashley, W. and Robertson, R. (2020) Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation*.
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
8, 212-227. doi:
10.4236/jss.2020.810014.