When I say it, it is with love, respect, and a complete feeling of solidarity with their cause. It would wound me greatly if any of our great transsexual community would read anything differently in my appreciation and recognition of their HUGE contribution to our cause for equality.
When those of us who are in, or very obvious supporters of our community use it (and some other terms) it's very obvious that there is no malice.
Personally, of all the Transsexuals I've ever met (and that's not a small number), I can't imagine a single one taking offense when the word is used in the manner I used it. Heck it's quite common in our circles without offense. Even our entertainment support culture uses it regularly from Margaret Cho, to Christian Siriano, to just about every member of Ru Pauls Drag race.
However, I am a firm believer that the one who determines what is offense is not the person who is accused, but determined by the one who makes the accusation. So, I respectfully have changed the words in my OP, and most sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by it. It was certainly never my intent to insult people I'm giving my strongest thank you to.
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