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Transgenderism, transsexualism,
gender dysphoria & gender identity

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The term "LGBT" is an acronym for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender/Transsexual. Sometimes, additional letters are
added, like "Q" for Queer or questioning, "I" for Intersexual.

Gender identity and transsexuality, etc:

This section discusses gender identity. That is what a person perceives their gender to be.

For the vast majority of individuals, their genetic gender (as defined by the sex chromosomes in every cell of their body) matches their gender identity (as defined by the section or sections of their brain that supply their gender awareness).

That is, most people are:

	Genetically males and are mentally and emotionally certain that they are males; or
	Genetically females and firmly aware that they are females.

They would be quite unable to change their gender perception, even if they wanted to. They know that they are of a particular gender. They also know that it is quite impossible to change.

However, in rare cases, a mismatch happens. The individual will experience gender dysphoria. They will often describe having a permanent feeling of being a woman trapped in a man's body, or vice versa. This is sometimes described as having a male brain in a female body, or vice-versa. They can become profoundly depressed. Their suicide rate is enormous when compared to the general population. It appears that therapy, counseling, and/or prayer have a zero success rate at resolving their internal conflict.

It is a story of two kinds of conflicts:

	An internal, personal, body/mind conflict between a transgendered person's appearance and what they emotionally and mentally sense their gender to be.
	Among medical researchers, social/religious conservatives, transsexuals, and others about: What determines a person's gender: their DNA, the appearance of their genitals, or their perception of their gender. The cause(s) of transsexuality. Whether transsexuality can be cured. How transsexuals should be treated in society.

The term "transgendered" is often used to refer to individuals who experience gender dysphoria. "Transsexual" often refers to transgendered individuals who attempt to resolve their problem by undergoing hormone therapy and/or sexual reassignment surgery (SRS). These medications and procedures change their appearance so that they much more closely resemble the gender that they sense themselves as being. Success rates of this path are very high, as long as proper treatment protocols are followed.

Jennifer Reitz of www.transsexual.org comments that transsexuality:

"... occurs in humans and in other animals, such as apes, monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, and mice, among those studied." ₁

Unfortunately, much of the public is not well informed about gender identity and gender dysphoria. Many people tend to fear and reject those that they do not understand.

Topics covered in this section:

	Introduction: Gender, gender identity, defining, & detecting transsexuality Response, Terminology, Catch 22, Symbol
	Cause(s) of transsexuality according to medical researchers Fetal exposure to abnormal androgen levels? Genetically determined at conception?
	Causes of, and cures for, transsexuality according to religious groups Beliefs of conservative Protestant groups Beliefs of individual Christians Terms and concepts used by evangelicals Beliefs of the Roman Catholic church
	Bible passages and transgender/transsexual topics
	Prevalence of transsexuality
	Transsexuals in history
	Transitioning from female to male or vice versa
	Using medication to avoid puberty in transgendered teens
	Involuntary sexual reassignment of infants Intersexual Genital Mutilation in North America and Europe
	Is transsexualism linked to homosexuality?
	Discrimination against transsexuals Reports by APA; homelessness Personal stories of discrimination Studies of employment discrimination Public opinion polls on protection in employment Discrimination and lack of protection by governments International declaration on the rights of sexual minorities
	Glossary of terms Words beginning with A to S Words beginning from T to Z
	Transsexual information sources: Web sites Books for transsexuals, their families, and co-workers Biographies, books on the transsexuality, books for therapists, etc.
	News in the media concerning the transgender/transsexual community

Reference used:

The following information source was used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlink is not necessarily still active today.

1. Jennifer Reitz, "What transsexuality is," at: http://transsexual.org/

A movie:

Tom Murray produced and directed a video concerning transsexuality. It is titled: "Almost Myself: Reflections on mending and transcending gender." See: http://www.almostmyself.com/

Copyright © 2007 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2007-JUN-08
Latest update and review: 2009-JAN-11
Author: B.A. Robinson

Web ReligiousTolerance.org