The way that I understand the differences between transgender and transsexual is this:
- transgendered people do not believe that their assigned gender should define their behavior. They think and act as they please instead of what is "a proper way" for their gender.
- transsexual people believe that their "true identity" is that of a different gender than their bodies. Based on that delusion they want to behave in a manner that is appropriate for the opposite sex.
The latter are hard for me to understand, because how can one be so sure that they belong to either sex? If I thoroughly search my consciousness, there is no attached plaque "you're a man". The same is probably true for women. If I woke up tomorrow in a body of toaster - how can I be so sure that I am supposed to be a human? Maybe I just dreamed up the whole thing?
But then maybe there are some ways to tell? Maybe I don't feel anything like transsexuals because I am in a correct body? And should I be placed in a different one - I would immediately notice the difference?