transsexualism as an intersex condition in the brain

[KabitTarah]

I don't see the point,
theres already places who allow kids and teens to have homone blockers, as well as to have insurance for transgender people and those places have NOT required a scan for it to happent.
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What percentage of trans kids do you think are identified and receive the care they need? Certainly more of them than when I was growing up trying to ignore the pain... but nowhere near all of them. The very young kids that come out are one case... the teens that come out (if they even feel as if they can) are often met with strong opposition - even from relatively accepting parents.

Even at 35, from liberal parents, I'm being told to see a psychologist because my therapist clearly isn't doing enough to help me. Medical legitimacy is necessary for people to understand that this is a medical problem, not a psychological one. What we understand is not what our families understand; it's not what the general public understands.

It's wonderful to say that such tests are not necessary because it's the therapy that's important... but I see the science as nothing but a help. It legitimizes additional transgender research, it helps legitimize the condition in the public eye (something we're working toward and have a long way to get to), it legitimizes individuals' conditions to their family, and it helps detect the condition earlier to get help to those who need it.

The good transgender medical research does for our community far surpasses any fear of exclusion based on that research. As has been shown with research on various women's issues, politics looks more and more misogynistic and more and more religiously-bent (eschewing science) as the medical research advances. This is a good thing for them (despite how stupid the politics is - eventually people start to see the bigotry). It will be a good thing for us.

[Natkat]

What percentage of trans kids do you think are identified and receive the care they need? Certainly more of them than when I was growing up trying to ignore the pain... but nowhere near all of them. The very young kids that come out are one case... the teens that come out (if they even feel as if they can) are often met with strong opposition - even from relatively accepting parents.

Even at 35, from liberal parents, I'm being told to see a psychologist because my therapist clearly isn't doing enough to help me. Medical legitimacy is necessary for people to understand that this is a medical problem, not a psychological one. What we understand is not what our families understand; it's not what the general public understands.

It's wonderful to say that such tests are not necessary because it's the therapy that's important... but I see the science as nothing but a help. It legitimizes additional transgender research, it helps legitimize the condition in the public eye (something we're working toward and have a long way to get to), it legitimizes individuals' conditions to their family, and it helps detect the condition earlier to get help to those who need it.

The good transgender medical research does for our community far surpasses any fear of exclusion based on that research. As has been shown with research on various women's issues, politics looks more and more misogynistic and more and more religiously-bent (eschewing science) as the medical research advances. This is a good thing for them (despite how stupid the politics is - eventually people start to see the bigotry). It will be a good thing for us.

I won't say it may be the end of the world, yeah maybe it would be good thing whoever knows.
But what im saying is theres no garuenty of that and deep down it all depend more on the mindset of the people than anything ells.
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in a perfect world people with a good mindset of transgender would belive an scan to intersex would be good, but with a bad mindset it would only be something who could be misused im simular way that scans are used to abort people with down symdrome or "the wrong gender"

its also the reason many gay people refuse to be part of any experiement.
Some people belive if they can find the biological reason the "gay gene" then it would give understanding for the "its not a choice"
while other belives it would only give a reason for people to make medication agenst it or abort gay kid away.
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either way can happent depending on how the mindset of people are, but its not like intersex people are threat very good either, so I have my doubt of worry it would really help much in the acceptence.

[aleon515]

It's probable that there are different causes. I know of trans guys who believe that they are MALE, not trans and others, like myself, who see ourselves as not 100% binary. There are also transmasculine folks who see no reason to transition medically and some might want surgery but no T and some want T and no surgery. I am not sure right now what the term transsexual implies-- is it a complete medical transition or...?

It's reasonable to believe that there may be ways that these kinds of experiences are difference on a biological level. But who knows. I actually would advocate getting rid of gatekeeping and going to a more informed consent model. I think that therapy should be readily available but the whole concept of having a therapist validate you, well it bothers me.

Yes I would like to see kids identified and treated. I think in the end it's changing attitudes. I know 2 young kids who have socially transitioned.


--Jay

[mangoslayer]

i didn't watch the video and i only skimmed the forum but i just wanted to put my thoughts in.
I definitely believe transsexualism is physiological. No doubt about it. When i describe it to someone i often describe it as an intersex condition in the brain.
If there were a brain scan that could accurately show your gender and for some reason it said i was female, i probably wouldnt transition (unlike some previous posters). This is pretending i would have taken the scan pre-transiton, i wouldn't detransition at this point. There are other conditions that may present themselves as gender dysphoria. Knowing i wasnt transsexual would show that there is a different cause to my dysphoria. I'd rather find out what that was then go through the financially and physically taxing process of transitioning. If there were a way i could have happily lived as female i would choose that in a heart beat.

[KabitTarah]

i didn't watch the video and i only skimmed the forum but i just wanted to put my thoughts in.
I definitely believe transsexualism is physiological. No doubt about it. When i describe it to someone i often describe it as an intersex condition in the brain.
If there were a brain scan that could accurately show your gender and for some reason it said i was female, i probably wouldnt transition (unlike some previous posters). This is pretending i would have taken the scan pre-transiton, i wouldn't detransition at this point. There are other conditions that may present themselves as gender dysphoria. Knowing i wasnt transsexual would show that there is a different cause to my dysphoria. I'd rather find out what that was then go through the financially and physically taxing process of transitioning. If there were a way i could have happily lived as female i would choose that in a heart beat.

If there were a non-transition cure... I'd take it. I guess it's basically saying the same thing - though I know what my scan would show, so I suppose it's not.  Nobody chooses to be trans.

[spacerace]

With studies that show brain differences, pundits and the media would have less reason to write all trans people off as nuts, as they did in the wake of the Manning press release. I saw a comparison that said, "I've decided I'm a chair, and now everyone will have to refer to me as a chair."  Response: "Well, actually, it's a structural brain difference."  Then they are in a position where they are denying science.

That is not to say righteous ignorance won't persist even with clear cut evidence.

But at least the general educated public would see them for what they are instead of quietly agreeing with them in the back of their mind, which is what I am pretty sure happens now.

"I have an intersex brain condition, so please refer to me with male pronouns.." is way easier to process than even, "I was born in the wrong body."  There seems to be many trans people that want nothing to do with the GLB spectrum, and stuff like this really highlights the key differences and why the T doesn't always belong with the GLB for some.