I’m not a static person and don’t have static views. Every time I read a post from someone it has the potential to evolve my own views. I only consider myself an expert in my own personal experiences, not other’s.
When people have asked me if gender dysphoria is an essential part of being trans I’ve generally said yes. The answer was correct given my limited viewpoint, which has evolved. Recently though I’ve come to view transgender and transsexual as very different things and so my viewpoint also needs to change.
A transgender person need not have gender dysphoria and need not have any reason to need or want a transition. In fact I believe the vast majority of trans people fall into that category, living a life where their trans nature is kept quiet or hidden to all but a few. Without dysphoria there’s little reason to progress beyond something like cross dressing or other accommodations that are harmless and invisible.
Those that identify as transsexual, or transgender and needing a transition do need to be dysphoric and this is how I’ve interpreted the question in the past. With dysphoria there is psychic and emotional pain that can motivate a person to go through the painful process of transition and likely medical additions such as HRT or less likely GCS or FFS.
My Gifted Life 