BDSM and Trans Sexuality
Several authors have noted BDSM sexual practices among transpeople, and pointed to BDSM communities as sites where transpeople have been more able to sexually express themselves. Bolin was probably the first, noting that out of twelve responding MTF transsexuals (all members of the same support group, and by no means a representative sample), nine had fantasies with BDSM themes, eight had engaged in bondage and discipline, and five "were involved in the subculture of sadomasochism" (Bolin 1988:168-9). Bolin explains this in three ways: first, that transsexuals are forced to the sexual margins of society to find sexual outlets and may find more acceptance in kink culture. Conversely, she also notes "a tendency for the stigmatized to participate in the margins of society regardless of particular subcultural affiliation, due to ease of access" (171). Finally, she argues that these practices may be an extreme way of validating female identity through enacting an exaggerated version of prevalent cultural messages about female vulnerability and submissiveness. Overall, Bolin theorizes that interest in BDSM practices "may be a phase of their own misinterpretation of women's sexuality" (172) and generally declines as they have more conventional sexual experience as women.
Clearly, this theory is at odds with an understanding of BDSM as a natural part of human sexuality, and does not at all explain interest in BDSM among FTMs. A handful of Devor's FTM participants also reported BDSM fantasies, practices and community involvement. Two reported that involvement with S/M lesbians had allowed them to express and explore masculinity prior to coming out as transsexual. One participant, in a gay male-identified sexual relationship with a non-trans biological female, reported that he frequented gay leather bars with his partner as a master/slave couple and that "there was never any problem ... at all. We were accepted" (Devor 1997:507). The authors of Different Loving: The World of Sexual Dominance & Submission (whose perspective is mostly from the world of heterosexual S/M) also assert that transsexuals and transvestites are drawn to kinky communities in part because there tends to be more acceptance of them there (Brame, Brame & Jacobs, 1993). Michael Hernandez (1996) notes that while gender play has become increasingly acceptable in lesbian S/M communities, acceptance of transmen and transwomen in the leatherdyke community -- especially at play parties and as sexual partners -- has continued to be a contentious issue, as it has been in lesbian communities in general. He notes that he has been lucky enough to find acceptance as an FTM lover and S/M player from many queer women, but others have not been so lucky. Writing in the same anthology, MTF transsexual Tala Brandeis similarly feels "extremely lucky" (1996:60) to have a supportive S/M dyke community, unlike many transsexual lesbians.
Next Section: Trans Asexuality