Transgenderism, transsexualism, & gender identity

Introduction

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About gender:

The definition of the word "gender" in North American evolved during the 20^th century. It is now considered as involving at least three factors:

	One's genetic or biological gender: Every cell in a person's body contains sex chromosomes that determine a person's genetic sex. In almost all cases, genetic females have XX sex chromosomes; males have XY.
	Gender identity: This is what a person identifies as their gender. AllPsych Online defines it as: "The internal sense of being either male or female. Usually congruent with biological gender, but not always as in Gender Identity Disorder." 1 However, some people identify themselves as two spirited or of a third gender.
	One's physiological gender: The genitalia of the vast majority of newborns are clearly either male or female. However, there are individuals who are born with "anatomy or physiology which differ from cultural ideals of male and female." 2 They are often referred to as being intersexual.

About gender identity:

For the vast majority of adults, their gender identity matches their genetic gender.  For example, an individual may have female genitalia and perceive themselves to be female. A DNA analysis would reveal XX sex chromosomes. However, a small percentage of such individuals experience Gender Identity Disorder (a.k.a. Gender Dysphoria). Some are genetically female but identify themselves as male; others are the reverse. The part(s) of their brain that make them identify as a male or a female deliver a message that is opposite to their actual sex chromosomes and (usually) to their genitalia. They commonly look upon themselves as a male embedded in a female body, or as a female inside a male body. They are frequently called transgendered persons or transsexuals.

The American Psychiatric Association periodically publishes a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It lists five symptoms of transsexualism:

1. A sense of discomfort and inappropriateness about one's anatomical sex.
2. A wish to be rid of one's own genitals and to live as a member of the other sex.
3. The disturbance had been continuous (not limited to periods of stress) for at least two years.
4. The absence of physical intersex or genetic abnormality.
5. The lack of cause due to another mental disorder, such as schizophrenia. ₆

According to the Renaissance Transgender Association, before hormone treatments or sex reassignment surgery:

"The transsexual appears to be a perfectly normal male or female with normal primary and secondary sexual characteristics. ... transsexualism cannot be detected visually or by any other means. Since other people can't see anything amiss, they conclude that transsexualism is not a physical defect, but more an emotional/psychological problem. It is a common but erroneous belief that with a little self-discipline, or with counseling, a transsexual person can act normally and accept their lot in life. ..."

After decades of trying, psychiatrists have had to admit defeat in conquering this dilemma. In all the years that psychiatry has tried to 'cure' transsexualism, not one case has responded positively and permanently." ₃

There is no test for transsexuality. Transsexual infants cannot be detected. They generally become aware of their gender dysphoria early in life before reaching school age.

Since a transsexual's mind cannot be changed to harmonize with their genetic gender, the only successful treatment is the gender reassignment process. The full process involves:

	Extensive evaluation and counseling, typically by two psychologists or psychiatrists.
	The "Real Life Test" (RLT): Living as a person of their perceived gender for a year or more.
	Taking hormones.
	Perhaps undergoing sex reassignment surgery.

The American Psychiatric Association considers such a mismatch between gender perception and genetic gender to be a disorder, not a disease or mental illness.

The distress caused by gender dysphoria can be overwhelming; it leads to an unusually high suicide rate. Some suggest that about half of all transsexuals die by the age of 30, usually by their own hand." ₄ This may have been true in the past. However, with advances in sex reassignment surgery (SRA) and growing public acceptance of transsexuals, this number is probably significantly lower today, and still in decline.

The essays in this section will deal mainly with conflicts between genetic gender and gender identity, as well as the protection of transsexual people from discrimination.

About terminology:

The topics of gender identity, transsexual and transgender are a bit of a minefield. There are many conflicting definitions for each of these terms:

	Some define a transgendered person as one who experiences gender dysphoria but has not undergone sex reassignment surgery. Others define transgender very broadly to include everyone who doesn't fit into conventional gender norms: Included are: transsexuals, cross dressers, drag queens, etc.
	Some transsexuals are proud to be referred to as transsexuals. Some transsexuals are offended by the term and wish to be called simply "he" or "him"/ "she" or "her" according to their perceived gender identity.
	Some transgendered persons object to use of the word "disorder" in "gender identity disorder (GID)." Others accept the term.

We will try to use commonly used definitions. However, not everyone will agree with them.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will be updated in 2012. Some in the transgender community are urging that GID be removed from the book just as homosexuality was deleted in 1973.

We have assembled a glossary of terms related to transsexuality.

Catch-22

Transsexuals are frequently caught in a multiple Catch 22 situation:

	Their employment is often terminated when they transition from male to female or vice versa. They often experience difficulties in obtaining re-employment.
	Not having an income, many become homeless. Some enter the sex trade in order to survive.
	The vast majority of private health insurance plans do not cover sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Neither do Medicare and most Medicaid programs.
	Without SRS, they are often refused access to homeless shelters.

Some support groups for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals are now actively advocating for equal protection for persons of all gender identities. However, many social and religious conservatives are strenuously resisting this change.

The Transgender symbol:

Nancy R. Nangeroni of Nangeroni Design created this symbol and has made it generally available to the transgendered community, for everyone's use. It combines the international symbols for make and female with a third symbol representing transgender. She writes:

"The circle is a symbol of wholeness, and represents the wholeness of a society which includes the transgender. The misdirection of a society that ridicules the transgender is implied."

The symbol is used by both transgendered persons and those friends and supporters who support sexual equality. ₅

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "Psychological Dictionary," AllPsych Online, at: http://allpsych.com/
2. The Intersex Society of North America maintains a home page at: http://www.isna.org/ They have a FAQ, which describes their newsletter and other materials on intersexuality.
3. "Understanding Transsexualism," Renaissance Transgender Association, Inc., 1990-OCT, at: http://www.ren.org/
4. Jennifer Reitz, "What transsexuality is," at: http://transsexual.org/
5. Nancy R. Nangeroni, "About the TG Symbol," GenderTalk, at: http://www.gendertalk.com/
6. As cited in "Straight Answers: The Morality of 'Sex Change' Operations," The Catholic Herald, 2005-OCT-19, at: http://www.catholicherald.com/

Copyright © 2007 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2007-JUN-08
Latest update: 2009-JAN-06
Author: B.A. Robinson

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