EIEIO…
This initialism stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and trans, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual or agender, and two-spirit. The plus-sign signifies additional identity terms. Kinda like “and the rest” on early episodes of Gilligan’s Island. Not very inclusive.
Disclaimer: While I always do my homework, this is a topic (like abortion) that I acknowledge I can never fully understand because I was born a straight male. I remain open to changing my opinion based on new facts. Facts. Not feelings.
I find it odd that all these letters (nearly a quarter of the alphabet) are strung together. The associated groups are very different, and it seems a bit rude to lump them all together as if they were sexual pariah.
First and foremost, let me say that I support the rights of every individual in these groups to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That includes the right to marry and participate in the promises of American liberty. “We the people” means ALL the people, or else it means nothing.
That said, when we hear the acronym (actually, as it is not pronounceable as a word, it isn’t really an acronym but an initialism) spoken, we don’t think of lesbians or gays or bisexuals, but of trans people. Persons with gender dysphoria who address it with some degree of transitioning away from their sex at birth and toward their gender identification.
To clarify terms, gender actually is a grammar term that has been expanded to mean the sex-oriented identity a person feels, whether or not it aligns with their actual sex as based on genital presentation at birth.
Gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.
First: this is nothing to be ashamed of and should never be addressed as being wrong nor reason for embarrassment.
Second: it must be acknowledged that approximately 90% of childhood gender dysphoria cases are alleviated by puberty or otherwise resolve on their own, treated with only psychological support. Most come out of puberty identifying as gay.
Puberty blockers, an off label use of drugs headed by AbbVie’s Lupron, are prescribed to minors “off label.”They are also used for chemical castration of repeat sex offenders. There are currently no reliable studies addressing the long-term effects of these drugs on children, which makes it grossly irresponsible that some U.S. states have eliminated the need for parental consent for teens as young as 15 to start puberty blockers.
Puberty blockers, in most cases, are blocking the most effective treatment for gender dysphoria: puberty itself.
Oddly, treating children with these experimental drugs is called “Gender-Affirming Care.” One has to wonder why this is preferable to “Sex-Affirming Care” when the latter is easier, non-invasive, and 90% effective.
As I said, I welcome factual correction, but based on the research I have done, it is my position that chemical and surgical procedures to address gender dysphoria in children under the age of 18 should not be legal. As puberty tends to last through the early 20s, it is advisable that such procedures be generally avoided until 25, but 18 is the base legal age of majority and the law should not be a hindrance after that.
Adults who suffer from gender dysphoria should have their chosen care included as healthcare, because that’s what it is. It should be covered by insurance until this country progresses to single-payer universal healthcare (which I wholeheartedly support).
RESTROOMS
People should use the restroom that align with the sex they present as. Most lock and have stalls, making this a nonissue.
LOCKER ROOMS
Biological women have a right to this safe space and to be able to use it without it being available to biological males. Trans rights end where Women’s rights begin.
Therefore, there should be separate facilities for trans persons who aren’t comfortable using the dressing/locker room aligning with their actual sex. Those who object might keep in mind that that discomfort does not outweigh the discomfort that women and girls may feel having their safe space invaded by a biological male.
SPORTS
This issue seems to overwhelm discussion of the far larger topic, and also seems to narrow the topic away from trans men and toward trans women.
Women fought long and hard to establish their place in the world of sports. It is ridiculously unfair that they should now be forced to compete against biological males.
Persons born male are generally bigger, stronger, faster, and have more endurance than those born female. Women and girls are being denied medals, trophies, scholarships, records, etc. and it simply isn’t fair.
Again, one person’s rights end where another’s begin.
That said, trans persons seeking inclusion should have opportunities to participate in sports, whether by competing in leagues aligning with their biological sex, or the creation of new leagues.
It is vitally important to consider that women’s sports leagues are based on sex and not gender. Therefore gender identification is completely moot on this issue.
ADVERBS
Adverbs are issues of grammar, not personal identification. That’s what names are for.
I don’t choose adverbs and demand others use them. Nor do I insist that the rules of grammar be voided for the sake of my own comfort.
“They” is not a singular pronoun except when the sex of the person is unknown or unpresented. That’s English grammar, not bigotry.
That said, using the pronouns aligned with the sex a person presents as, is a matter of courtesy and respect, but not a matter of law or rule. People are not legally obligated to participate in anyone’s identity dysphoria. No one may force others to become a part, of nor support their self-esteem.
As I said, I support every individual’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Just not at the expense of everyone else’s. I believe in individual rights, but not scrapping women’s rights to serve trans rights.
At the end of the day, feeling like a woman is not the same thing as being a woman.