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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.

Conflicting quotations:

• "As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity." Barack Obama, 2010-JUN-01. ₁
  
  
• "This is a man -- and by the way he is a man; he's not a woman -- who is one of the leaders in crusading for so-called 'civil rights' based on gender-confused behavior. ... Obama is supporting ENDA -- the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- with a transsexual provision, meaning that if that version of the bill gets through and Obama signs it, we will have businesses being forced to accommodate gender-confused individuals in the name of civil rights." Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, discussing the appointment of Amanda Simpson to a post in the Commerce Department. ₂

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 sometimes also 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." ₃

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: 1. Gender, gender identity, defining, & detecting transsexuality 2. 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 Ending employment discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity (The ENDA bill) Public opinion polls on protection in employment Studies of employment discrimination 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 Article in Christianity Today in 2008-JAN News during 2009-NOV/DEC

Reference used:

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

1. Barack Obama, "A Proclamation..." White House, 2009-JUN-01, at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/
2. Charlie Butts and Jody Brown, "Obama appoints transgendered LGBT activist," OneNewsNow.com. 2010-JAN-07, at: http://www.onenewsnow.com/
3. 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 2010 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2007-JUN-08
Latest update and review: 2010-JUN-29
Author: B.A. Robinson

Web ReligiousTolerance.org