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.
"... 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.
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/