oh manthis is so offensive and stupid all rolled up into one. it reminds me of the stigma/sexualization of women of color as sex-obsessed “exotic” sluts.
this is terrible and the examiner should be ashamed for running this story.

gee!It’s just so nice to be appreciated for who we are

objectifying women as sex objectsis nothing new of course.  looks like the pigs have decided they have a new sub-group of women they can take advantage of and define on their own terms.  yech.

You Know “Straight” MenMonkey see, Monkey do.
If they see it in porn, they gotta try it LOL
You know, because it’s GLBT people who’s the sexual deviants.

Some dyssonant commentary…Good with the bad — can’t have one without the other.
1. Ethnic communities do not share anything remotely similar to the same values as “white” ones do (quotes used to indicate the questionable nature of that description).
2. Some of the statistics from the article are of value.
a. “Interest in “transsexual” topics has risen more than 5,000 percent in the past five years.” [That's an enormous change]
b. 188 million annually (visits by straight men to adult & dating combined)
c. Its interesting that many transwomen, in particular (there are also transmen chasers) see this as “gay men afraid to admit it”, when, in reality, that’s rarely the case.  The exotic nature of the appeal is based in fetishism, not sexual orientation or identity. So, indeed, they are straight, and the attraction is because they are straight.  Its no worse a fetish than reading transgender fantasies.
d. Via a former editor of AVN (Eli Cross) its about a 3 billion dollar a year industry.
e. According to Google, of the nearly 30,000 transsexual stories published in the mainstream media over the past 45 years, more than half have surfaced in the last five years alone. [So the 40 years to start only produced 15,000 stories in the mainstream media. That's all the stuff involving Renee Richards, Tula, Janice Raymond, and even Lynn Conway.  That's the entire history of the modern T movement. Half of everything. The last five years have changed all that, and, therefore, the rules for dealing with things.]
f. An August 2009 Alexa survey of the top 10 transsexual dating sites reveals that 44 million men aged 35-65 now patron trans-only dating sites.
There is a fear of sexualization among transwomen, and it is predominantly white transwomen.  Especially with misleading statistics such as 1 in 12 bandied about.
In a sex positive outlook, such efforts and attention have led to the support and growth of individuals and organizations.  These people often do more to aid the trans community financially and on a more personal level than most trans people do.
This subject lies at an intersection that must be looked at with awareness of ethnic differences and greater self awareness than we are often wont to do…

Thinking backwards

…opting instead to focus on the more sensational, controversial or pornographic elements of trans culture…

No, no, no!
There is not a “pornographic element” of “trans culture”!
There is a “transgender element” of “porn culture”!
See the difference?
Saying that there is a pornographic element to being transgender is like saying that there is a pornographic element to being a woman.
It is also like saying there is a pornographic element to being a CHILD — to make my point even more obvious.
No sane person would say that because children are used in pornography that part of childhood involves porn. Porn is not a part of childhood. But, that is exactly what they’re saying when they say part of being transgender involves porn.
This is thinking backwards. They start with an issue that really has nothing to do with being trans and draw the fallacious conclusion that is does.
Being transgender is not a “culture” or a club. It is STATE OF BEING! Being a child is a state of being. Being a man is a state of being. Being gay is a state of being.
PORN IS NOT A STATE OF BEING!
This kind of thing drives me nuts. Our schools need to start teaching logic again.  

guys who wish porn was realThis is the same group of guys that thinks all women–trans or born female–are all just sluts waiting to bust out and show how slutty they really are. These guys get pissed off when the reality hits them that most women really are not sluts and are really not interested in them. These are also the same guys that think that lesbians actually want to have sex with men–meaning them–after having sex with each other, for their viewing pleasure, of course. Unfortunately there are an awful damn lot of these guys. Which is one of the reasons why I (a straight woman, who was born female) have been celibate for ten years.

Myths vs. RealitiesBloomingpsycho, you are absolutely correct. Just ask any guy; he’ll tell you there’s no such thing as a “real” lesbian, only a woman who hasn’t met his technique, equipment, yadda, yadda, yadda. Women are all just sex-starved and constantly crave having a bigger dick in us. And women have sex with each other just to turn on men.
Bullshit. I am a woman, albeit not having been born that way (but past GCS), who has no desire for sex with a male. I am deathly afraid if I should be forced into intercourse with a male against my will, I could be torn to pieces by some idiot’s massive “tool” not to mention STDs & HIV.
That is why, with 2 exceptions (which were alcohol-soaked incidents involving a bisexual woman, pre-GCS), I have been celibate for over 9 years. I also seriously doubt that will ever change for the rest of my life.  

It’s all about the penisFrom my experience, 99% that have an interest in that kind of stuff are gay (but most likely bi) and just won’t admit it. Case in point, where is the demand for porn of post-operative trans women?
I’ve chatted with too many men online to think any differently. I’ve done a few experiments when I’ve been in a TG oriented rooms (such as Yahoo Chat). They will see my profile (non sexually suggestive or pornographic) and they will make the first inquiry (keep in mind, I am friendly but not explicit in any way on my end of the conversation). Most come right to the point on what they really want but even the ones that are nice and respectful are still after “it” in the end. I’ve talked to several of those types but when I say I’m post-op (I’m not but I wanted to test their reaction), to a person they immediately log off or end the chat session.
And If you turn on you cam, watch out. You will be inundated with requests to view. And most do not want to see your pretty face.
Call it just a straight-man’s fetish or what you will. It’s all about the down below first and foremost. They may wrap it the a more palpable word (exotic), it’s still about the penis.    

typoyour cam*

It seems like a variation on Ben Franklin’s 1845 letter

DISCLAIMER: The following is intended as parody with a sarcastic tone. Approval of the following “advice” is not to be construed from the appearance of the words.

I get the impression that Alex Ladd wants to be seen as a modern Ben Franklin. Here is a hastily altered version of the Franklin original (which recommends an affair with an Older Woman), which at least may be a more amusing read:

But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking a Commerce with the Sex inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer Women Born Transsexual to the other ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. They are these:
i. Because as they have more Knowledge of the World of Men, having once attempted to live in it, and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.
2. Because Transsexual Women strive for good looks with all sorts of plastic surgery and artifice. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply any Lack of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are in need of relief. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an Transsexual Woman who is not a good Woman.
3. Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.
4. Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, they would be less likely to sue.
5. Because the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an TranssexualWoman is at least equal, and frequently superior.
6. Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy, but lying with a Transsexual Woman isn’t at all like lying with a man.
7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a Woman Born Female miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making a Transsexual Woman happy.
8thly and Lastly They are so grateful!!

The short version, in both the “Older Women” and “Transsexual Women” version:

They don’t swell, they don’t tell, and they’re grateful!

Pardon me while I experience some nausea.

Scary.After reading your comment, maybe there are men out there who are actually thinking along the lines of the Franklin parody I just posted.  I should remember to read other comments before posting my own, instead of afterward.
The idea under “c” might be augmented by the Franklin variation:
Trans women being seen by chasers as:
* more eager to please
* unable to get pregnant
* less likely to seek publicity
* grateful for the attention
* grateful for being accepted as women
Those are a few of the things that make me grateful I am still a lesbian.  The chasers I have met all seem to be rather slimy exploiters of vulnerable people – but that’s only my observation.

Given the number of men who …Decide to friend me on facebook after making friends with one or more “celebrity” transwomen on a weekly basis (that is, averaging 12 over the last four months) I am, by anecdotal experience, hard pressed to say certain things.
The most common request, on the occasions where I decide to toy with them, is not if they can anything of mine, but if I would like to see something of theirs.
My interest in such is minimal (I’m actually a prude, but I will say that from an academic viewpoint, rather fascinating.  Psychology is my least employed skill, and I find it fascinating that they engage in such behaviors. Enough that I am able to overcome my inherent revulsion at the idea, emotionally.
In doing needs assessment work, as well, I’ve had cause to interview, in depth, many of these men, including those whom identify as Gay or Bi.  Technically, they are neither, and quite het, but the perception they have is, to a great extent derived from the perception of them by their targets of desire.
In more plain terms, they are straight men who are made gay by transsexuals.
In the interviews with them, there is a large contingent of the “horny SOB” sort — about 40% of them, based on my limited (and only applicable to Phoenix) figures. That group fits very well with your particular description, and I classify them as predatory.
The single most common statement made by them, uniformly, is that they find some transwomen to embody the ideals they seek in women in general — and cannot find that in the general population or perceive it to be unreachable.
They are very much concerned with aesthetics, and passing, and dress format — some like butch women, some like femme, but they all generally need to pay attention to their appearance.
In general, they make fairly good money (they need to — those porn sites and prostitutes are expensive), and they are willing to help someone move forward in about 30% of the time.
There is a “whispered” website where an anonymous transwomen famously says “all men are gay”, using the same reasoning, but I wanted to explore it further.
There is about a 20% exception rate — that is, about 20% of them, usually confined to the slimiest sorts — who do not see transwomen as women, but as men.  The overwhelming majority, however, see transwomen as women who are, by their physical nature, startlingly exotic.
Not because they are seen as genitals with a woman-like something attached, but because they are seen as women with genitals attached.
Since it is a fetish, this explains the reduction in interest after the surgery.
Without the object of the fetish, interest is lost. Men with lingerie fetishes suffer the same thing — if the woman isn’t interested in wearing it, they lose the fascination.
Lastly, I’ll note that for plainer women, the same standards you describe are applied: more eager to please, less likely to seek publicity, grateful for the attention — because they are plain women who “otherwise wouldn’t find a man”.
By that standard, there is some heterosexist presumptions made inherently in the assumption, which is part of what made me question it all in the first place.
And, if you are thinking that in gathering this info I subjected myself to all manner of grab-assing, well, you are correct. And I discovered that the fastest way to end such is to drop into a deeper voice, give a sharp look, and inform them of your displeasure.
In no uncertain terms.  Something like: “move your hand or I will break it in ways you can’t imagine.”

100% True…Or so it seems to me at least.  And definitely objectified by both men and women, so…
But all that aside, I am exotic, and I AM sexy. In a world where respect for each other runs second-fiddle to self-gratification the sexual objectification of the sexy seems a normal response from the populous.

AgreedBeen there, done that.  You hit the nail on the head…

Welcome to online sexualized chat!

And If you turn on you cam, watch out. You will be inundated with requests to view. And most do not want to see your pretty face.

The gay men’s chat room is no different, I assure you.  They don’t care to see your face, they don’t care to even make small talk.  They don’t want to be friends.  Everyone’s on there for a singular purpose: getting off.

and if they want you to view THEIR cam…the first (or only) thing they show you is their weenie.  When you refuse (and I always did), their response is to the effect of: “you wanna be a woman, why don’t you like dick?”  (sigh)

“I AM sexy…”No. It is not normal.
I am an identical twin and twins are also the victims of this same kind of bizarre sexual objectification. My brother and I actually had a couple of stalkers when we were young and beautiful.
When someone decides to make their sexual fantasies come true at your expense, it is more than demeaning.
Female twins are subjected to this kind of thing more than guys. But, people have crossed the line with me and my brother more than I can count. Once we were asked to pose nude for Playgirl — together of course. Ugh! The last thing I ever want to do is get naked with my brother.
I guess to some people the thought of having sex with twins is a big turn on. For 99.9% of twins, the idea of this kind of incest is disgusting.
What concerns me most is that for many men there is a strong connection between sex and violence. When my brother and I were in the public eye, we got all kinds of sex-releated threats. Being stalked is not a pleasant experience. Having some stranger follow you to work and show up at the school of your twin’s children is more than frightening.
Being objectified is dangerous. There are too many “freaks” out there who will harm you if they view you to be a subject of their bizarre sexual fantasies.
So, I reject the concept that my being an identical twin makes me sexy. The sexual fantasies of others have nothing to do with me. My being a twin does not make me “exotic” or deserving of being turned into a sex object or a victim.

Interesting generalization.However I am a guy and I certainly do not think there is no such thing as a real lesbian.
So your theory fails.

Sex work is a type of WORK, not a type of sex.All those TS ads in the local alternate newsweekly sex business page – it’s about the bucks for these t-women, as it is for all the men and cis-women and doms and other specialists advertising their presence on the page.
Why do horny guys generalize about a group of people based on a page of adverts? Stupidity or skankiness, no doubt.

Given the number of men who … Decide to friend me on facebookNever underestimate the power of displaying major cleavage* Flies to honey.
*what, jealous? Moi?

“No it’s not normal…”I’d still have to disagree.  Seems normal, almost prevalent, that when men or women see someone they find very sexually attractive they would objectify that person pretty much instantly, love at first sight kind of thing.  I’ve never heard of respect at first sight, maybe respect after first conversation or something…
That doesn’t make it right and certainly those who dwell on the objectification are beyond the scope of right/wrong.
I know all too well about the ‘freaks’ out there, I was nearly raped and murdered by my ‘best friend’ so no need to lecture me about it but thanks anyways.  =0)