Here's a post full of links and information on transsexuals and other forms of transgenderism.

A transsexual person, born to all appearance within a given physical sex, is aware of being of a gender opposite to that physical sex. This conflict, between gender identity and physical sex, is almost always manifest from earliest awareness, and is the cause of enormous suffering. It is common for transsexuals to be aware of their condition at preschool ages. (source www.transsexual.org some adult link buried on site)

Transsexualism has three criteria:
1. The desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment;
2. The transsexual identity has been present persistently for at least two years;
3. The disorder is not a symptom of another mental disorder or a chromosomal abnormality
(source http://www.hbigda.org/socv6.html)
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The history of transsexuals goes back many years, yet it wasn't until the 1900's that they started dealing with it. The modern classification of transsexuality and the medical intervention of sex reassignment was first attempted in Germany in 1930. Einar Wegener sought treatment and was operated upon. Afterwards, she lived as Lily Elbe, but alas not for long...the surgery had tragic complications. The first well known, surviving post operative transsexual was American ex-G.I. George Jorgensen, who became Christine Jorgensen in 1953. Christine became the center of a whirlwind of publicity despite an effort to avoid it, and had little choice but to capitalize on the misfortune. Christine became the first 'Media Transsexual' - or as some transsexuals put it 'Transie Martyr' , and suffered both the benefit and curse of fame. Christine starred in several hollywood movies as a result, and became celebrity enough to bring transsexualism out of the closet and into view of post-industrial society.
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(source www.transsexual.org some adult link buried on site)
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Dr. Harry Benjamin was one of the first physicians to work with gender dysphoric persons. Benjamin was born in Berlin, but, as a young physician, left Germany in 1913 for a research project on tuberculosis in the USA. Trying to return one year later, his ocean liner was intercepted by the Royal Navy and diverted to a British port, because WWI had broken out. As a German "enemy alien", Benjamin was sent to an internment camp, but managed to obtain his release on the condition that he return not to Berlin, but to New York. There, in 1915, he began his private medical practice (starting in the forties, he also practiced in San Francisco during the summer months, thus, for many years, establishing a bi-coastal professional presence). His special interest was hormonal research, and thus he became a disciple of Eugen Steinach, whom he visited in Vienna every summer through the twenties and early thirties. On these occasions, he also took frequent side trips to Berlin, where he visited both Magnus Hirschfeld and Albert Moll and also participated in their congresses. He also knew Alfred Kinsey quite well and, through him, became acquainted with a young patient who was anatomically male, but insisted that he was really female. This led to Benjamin's interest in what he himself later described as "transsexualism". In his long and distinguished career, Benjamin came to know many famous American and European scientists, scholars, and artists. From his earliest youth, he was also an ardent opera lover (the legendary soprano Maria Jeritza was a patient and close friend). He always retained a great love for his native Berlin and hoped that it would, once again, become a center of sexology.
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(source www.hbigda.org)

With all the research that Dr. Harry Benjamin did, a new field of medicine started and people who are dealing with the hormone changes and stuff can finally get the help they needed. It's still a very controversial subject in some areas, especially amongst the churches, and some doctors don't believe in it. It's those who study in the field and deal with it daily who accept it and acknowlege the existance of such interesting people.

Crossdressers and transvestites are grouped together in the TG community. As mentioned in the GLTB area, they are those who dress in the clothing of the opposite gender. Sometimes you can see the difference, sometimes if their makeup and stuff is done right, you can't tell the difference. I've seen professional pictures of a guy dressed up as a girl and I didn't know until I saw another picture of the same person.

Movies like The BirdCage and Mrs. Doubtfire are examples of crossdressing and transvestites.

A movie like "Boys Don't Cry" is a good example of a female to male transsexual who ends up being murdered because of his differences. Yes his, transsexuals identify themselves in the gender they're wanting to become, hence Teena Brandon prefered Brandon Teena.