Transphobia and attraction

I have read a few threads on this site dealing with the issue's surrounding attraction or lack of to transsexuals and if these preferences can be considered transphobic.

I am not convinced a lack of attraction to someone can be considered a phobia. It does not constitute an irrational fear. A straight guy would not be considered to have an irrational fear of other men just because he is not attracted to them. There would be a good chance that he had male friends.

Personally I think (and hope) that when someone on this site makes a statement about attraction they mean no harm or offence to anybody.

There is a problem though, a big problem in that such a comment makes a assumption about every person based on a stereotype. Based on a generalised view of a group of people who although sharing something in common are all individual and should be judged by there own individual merits.

Within any large group of people there are going to be many different personalities and styles, some you may find attractive, some you may not.

I think it would be foolish to say outright that there is no possible way that you could not find a transgender person attractive.

If it were a case that a person ticked every one of your boxes and was attractive to you but upon finding them to be transgender you dismissed them as a partner. I think that would be prejudiced in the same way as refusing to date a bisexual purely on the basis of there sexuality.

It must be heartbreaking to be either dismissed or fetishised by a large portion of the population. I am sure this is a feeling that many bisexual people can relate to.

The type of person we find attractive is a very personal thing, difficult to express in a public forum without marginalising someone. We have to think clearly about the things we say.

Words are powerful things and should be used wisely.