Re:Fight...for your right.... (Score 1)

What constitutes normal and who judges that . . . I'll leave that to those far more intelligent than me; however, I am one of those you have a little more 'trouble' with. I am well educated, a post-op male-to-female transsexual, quite happy, own my own consulting practice with a terrific business partner and am very successful, pay way too many taxes, am well known in my community, advocate for children and families in the child welfare system and so on. Some people know and some don't . . . it just isn't an issue. We are a bit rare some say, ~1:30,000 is common held among many medical professionals though research suggests the condition occurs in about 1:2,500 based on counting sex reassignment surgeries over a fifteen year period in the US. To compare with other conditions: Cleft pallet occurs ~ 1:800 and Lou Gehrig's occurs ~ 1:50,000. And for clarity's sake, transgender is an umbrella term that covers many behaviors and conditions that fall outside the traditional, binary definition of gender, though in nature at large such conditions are common place. My take on the word transgender and its usage is all about social norms and protocols and has little to do with the scientific realities of biology and behavior found throughout nature including homo sapiens. I understand that you have ambiguous feelings and uneasiness with people who have severe Gender identification Disorder (GID, which is the DSM-IV disorder psychiatrists refer to when discussing folks like me). Many people have these same feelings. I felt the same way once, until I figured out what drove me to attempt suicide. However, with excellent counseling and medical treatment combined with wonderful support from friends I have a life I love and live it gladly every day. As for the condition, there are theories about why but nothing concrete. There are AMA standards of care for transsexuals, called the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care for Transsexuals, and study after study has found the only reliable and effective treatment is to fully adopt the gender of choice permanently. This may or may not include surgery, which is a serious and profoundly life altering experience. My own experience is that surgery joyously completed a three-year journey to enculturate as a woman. There's nothing prurient about such treatment, but it isn't for everyone who suffers GID either. Many transsexuals will tell you that the most impactful part of treatment is hormone replacement therapy and I would agree. HRT is where many of the physical and secondary gender characteristics originate from including significant mental, emotional and spiritual reprogramming that is more aligned with the gender of choice. I still prefer women, and by the way, I went from hetero to lesbian when I transitioned and nothing changed about my sexual orientation. . . I liked women before and I still like women. I am a bit puzzled about that but nobody said society is rational. I make the L word for me. Your openness to say what you said isn't wrong or deserving of criticism. You expressed uneasiness and asked a question. Some folks including myself provided feedback; life goes on. What you and others do from here is up to you all and how that defines you is in your hands . . . I won't judge. Take care . . .