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I've said this before here, but you make a good point. As someone actively involved in GLBT politics it became very clear to me that frankly the "T" in GLBT was a matter of political inclusion more than similarity to gay or bi-sexual people. Some social issues and barriers overlap, like discrimination and other legal protections and rights, but transsexuals are really a case of physical gender identity and not sexual orientation. Because we're lumped together though it muddies the waters to people who don't understand the distinctions and assume all gay men "want to be women" or the reverse for lesbians. They see things like THE BIRDCAGE and consider it the male gay relationship model (although media roles have progressed a lot in presenting varied examples of different types of gay men and women). Straight men who have had a fleeting thought of a sexual act with another guy go into homophobic panic, thinking it means it's the first step to drag queen hell or something. Many believe that masculinity and having occasional same sex experiences or even being gay cannot coexist. There are indeed a million shades of gray in sexuality, and they're slowing coming to light and being acknowledged. A lot of progress in the last twenty years, but a looooong way to go as well.
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