Here’s why you should never, ever use the term HSTS
HSTS should never be in your vocabulary, unless you’re a transphobe. (Getty)
HSTS should never be in your vocabulary, unless you're a transphobe. (Getty)
If you’re actively trying to be a decent human being, the phrase ‘HSTS’ should be as far from your vocabulary as the stars of Andromeda.
Not only is the acronym, which stands for ‘homosexual transexual’, deeply offensive to both trans and non-binary people, but it is a wholly irrelevant phrase built on discredited research that is, by all accounts, a glorified conspiracy theory.
First coined by the infamous anti-trans sexologist, Ray Blanchard, as part of his transsexualism typology theory, the term is one of two groups created to segment trans people under Blanchard’s disgraced research, those being ‘homosexual transexuals’ and ‘autogynephilic transexuals’.
Colloquially called the autogynephilia theory, Blanchard’s theory has been debunked as anti-trans naysaying, particularly from medical organisations and researchers.
Blanchard’s typology suggests that trans women develop symptoms of gender dysphoria purely on sexual desire over anything else. It purports that the gender identity of trans people is based on sexual orientation, fetishism, and sexual desire.
The term ‘homosexual transsexuals’ is used by the sexologist to refer to trans women who are attracted to men, who Blanchard claims are actually homosexual men who transition purely for sexual gratification. He specifically used the term ‘homosexual’ relative to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
‘Autogynephilic transexuals’, meanwhile, are purported as trans women who, Blanchard claims, transition purely over the sexual gratification they receive from wearing women’s clothes, essentially comparing them to crossdressers.
Blanchard’s typology has, on multiple occasions, been discredited by fellow experts, not just for the inherently “pejorative” nature of his research, but the lack of reliable evidence to justify his claims.
Biologist Julia Serano described the theory as based on “male-centric presumptions” about women and LGBTQ+ people, noting that Blanchard failed to consider cis women in his research. Later research found that 93 per cent of cisgender women could be described as ‘autogynephilic’ when using criteria posed by Blanchard’s typology.
Law professor Florence Ashley said the “discredited” theory perpetuates stereotypes rather than applying legitimate evidence towards trans women, arguing its claim that trans women are driven primarily by sexual arousal is itself enough to disregard the theory.
