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Human sexuality topics

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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:

bulletGenetically males and are mentally and emotionally certain that they are males; or
bulletGenetically 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:
bulletAn internal, personal, body/mind conflict between a transgendered person's appearance and what they emotionally and mentally sense their gender to be.
bulletAmong medical researchers, social/religious conservatives, transsexuals, and others about:
bulletWhat determines a person's gender: their DNA, the appearance of their genitals, or their perception of their gender.
bulletThe cause(s) of transsexuality.
bulletWhether transsexuality can be cured.
bulletHow 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:

bulletIntroduction:
bulletGender, gender identity, defining, & detecting transsexuality
bulletResponse, Terminology, Catch 22, Symbol
 
bulletCause(s) of transsexuality according to medical researchers
bulletFetal exposure to abnormal androgen levels?
bulletGenetically determined at conception?
 
bulletCauses of, and cures for, transsexuality according to religious groups
bulletBeliefs of conservative Protestant groups
bulletBeliefs of individual Christians
bulletTerms and concepts used by evangelicals
bulletBeliefs of the Roman Catholic church
 
bulletBible passages and transgender/transsexual topics
 
bulletPrevalence of transsexuality
 
bulletTranssexuals in history
 
bulletTransitioning from female to male or vice versa
 
bulletUsing medication to avoid puberty in transgendered teens
 
bulletInvoluntary sexual reassignment of infants
bulletIntersexual Genital Mutilation in North America and Europe
 
bulletIs transsexualism linked to homosexuality?

bulletDiscrimination against transsexuals
bulletReports by APA; homelessness
bulletPersonal stories of discrimination
bulletStudies of employment discrimination
bulletPublic opinion polls on protection in employment
bulletDiscrimination and lack of protection by governments
bulletInternational declaration on the rights of sexual minorities
 
bulletGlossary of terms
bulletWords beginning with A to S
bulletWords beginning from T to Z
 
bulletTranssexual information sources:
bulletWeb sites
bulletBooks for transsexuals, their families, and co-workers
bulletBiographies, books on the transsexuality, books for therapists, etc.
 
bulletNews 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:

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

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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

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