In usual student fashion I shall watch it later on iplayer, but if I like it that will be a first for programmes about this condition.
As you will be aware, though I had no access to medical support, and thus hit a temporary road bump at puberty, in many respects my own childhood in the 1960's and early 1970's was a prototype for this. I was allowed considerable freedom of gender expression at home and at school and chose what I think modern gender groups would describe as a demi-girl. It was close enough.
At 55, and now 3 decades happily fully transitioned and sugically corrected, I think I am probably living proof that the system works. So those that shout it down and say that the kids will be screwed up might need to explain how it is that, for not one but three of my career choices, I passed with flying colours through some pretty tough psychological screening to be selected. I mean once could be luck but...
This is the right way to treat us. It works and I'm affraid this is one of very few circumstances in life where I would say with absolute certainty that those who disagree or think differently are not only flat out wrong, but clearly haven't understood how this thing works at all.
Done right the whole basis of this is that at EVERY point up to the moment in late teens when irreversible surgery takes place you give the child every opportunity to consciously CHOOSE who they will become. Those that change their minds can drop out at any point with no penalty, and because they are doing no more at any point than being allowed to choose how they want to present, even if they do then drop out they don't suffer any hurt from it.
Those who don't change our minds however are saved from a lot of suffering and needless cruelty and pain. I've lived it. So in effect if you disagree with this what you are arguing is that all kids should be FORCED to coform to the gender expression that they are assumed to own whether they want to or not. The only pain I had in growing was in puberty when the lack of puberty blockers and medical support (until I reached the age of 21) did cause exactly that, and that was quite difficult, but I lived enough of the path to say "I know it works."
