Ask someone who's transgender anything!

That's how I feel, I am a woman because I am one. If you wanted to become a dog, and it didn't interfer with your functionality, then why not? What's the harm in letting a person express themselves how they want to?

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One day I think yes. Right now I'm more worried about affording hormones then anything else though.

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I am 20. Turning 21 in the fall.

 

Thank you for responding, Kranes.
If you are 20 then you are old enough for me to comfortably ask the next question...
I have read several times that Michelle Obama is a transvestite, and her original name was Michael Robinson. Since your understanding and experience is so much greater than mine I would really like to hear your opinion on this...if you are comfortable discussing it.

 

Sure!
I don't know anything about this, it sounds made up and honestly it sounds incredibly transphobic and racist.

 

Now I've heard everything. I think becoming a canine would interfere with a persons ability to function.

Everyone deserves compassion and understanding, but I'm not sure if the rights of a few, should over ride the privacy rights of the majority. There are many places that have family bathrooms...use those. Now if there was a real reason why some COULDNT use certain bathrooms ( like disabled people) then yes, that would be a valid reason.

I cant believe what Obama wants the high schools to do. Ridiculous.

 

Why would it interfer with a person's ability to function? I'm not asking this to start an argument, but a genuine why do you think this way?

 

Inter species mating might become an issue.
Bathrooms ? just use the nearest pole.

Look, I know there are people who struggle with these issues...don't take my silliness as mocking you personally.

but! I also think its being made into something bigger than it really should be. PC run amok.

 

Not PC, just rather what it means to be human. Rather instead of thinking of it as a problem, think of it more so as a question. What does it mean to be x? That's a good philosophical question if any to ask. Someone who wants to be a dog inevitably must ask the question of where the line is between human and another animal. Someone like me who is a woman trapped in a man's body asks what does it mean to be a female. Again, so long as it doesn't interfere with a person's ability to function, then it's alright.

 

You said you want SRS and want hormone therapy.

Surgical castration is simple day surgery, only takes minutes and there is no risk. The cost is miminal and would definitely be cheaper than scripts for hormone therapy. There are even eunich groups where you could get that done for free. Castration (removing your testicles) would virtually eliminate any testosterone and would feminize you quickly. You would lose male muscle tone and if balding runs in your family that process also would stop. Facial hair may decline or stop, though not a certainty.

The penis is not fully removed for SRS surgery and depending on the method used to create a vagina portions of it is used. The penis is not removed with castration. After a while you would no longer be able to have a errection and would lose male libido, but then you couldn't with SRS surgery either obviously. However, the testicles are not used for SRS so castration would not affect the ability to have SRS later.

Is there any reason you would oppose being castrated if you are certain you are transgender? If you could have this done for free, would you have it done now? If not, why not?

 

I'm not a medical expert so when I go for hormones I can ask about it, but I think this is the reason I would say yes to both, but hormones first:
Because I'm older my bones will start going through a process called ossification which is when the bones stop changing, so if i wanted to reverse my bone structure I would need female hormones to change that. Plus female hormones would speed up other changes as well, which the sooner they happen the better.

 

WOW !!!! what an expert on SRS !
Did you attend Harvard ?

 

If there is any of what I stated that you disagree with, explain it.

 

let's try this again

I would like to know how you see the following example

In California, and soon elsewhere, a male can simply say that they identify as female and then must be allowed access to female locker rooms, showers, bathrooms etc.

They are then permitted by law to undress, parade around in that state of undress in front of biological females regardless of whether or not the biological females do not like it, are offended etc. If the females complain, the biological male simply states that he identifies as female and nothing can be done to him.


Now, if that same exact biological male walked into that same locker room and undressed, and the biological females complained, but the biological male did not profess to identifying as female, then he would be subject to Penal code 314 pc.

In your opinion, can you explain how by not saying that you identify as female makes it illegal but if you say the words, it is OK?

 

So you touch on an important part of philosophy- why should a minority be given a public identity?

Fighting for the right to use a bathroom is nothing new. Whether it is African Americans being accused of trying to take advantage of white women, homosexuals being accused of pedophilia and of course, both groups being accused of spreading STIs, this is not a new topic. Heck, it apparently goes back to the 1880's when people started worrying about the purity of women. But this is where if you read into the messages being made, a trend emerges. The arguments say that whatever group x is trying to use the bathroom is unclean, undignified and more importantly should be denied the right to a public identity. Therefore the real question has nothing to do with bathrooms or changing rooms, the real question is whether or not transgender people should have a public identity.

Therefore to answer your question, let's not talk about bathrooms or changing rooms. Instead let's talk about this idea of a public identity. It doesn't have as many negative connotations behind it, and it's what you really want to talk about.

 

There's already a word for that; feelings.

 

Basic anatomy and common sense.

Ten year olds have a lot of crazy ideas. That's why they still need permission from their parent before going under any medical procedures. What if he said that he knew he was a dog? Would you still use the same argument or would've thought he needed help?

 

You see, I am not white and never will be. You reached for the "African American" parallel and one can see black skin, there's no denying that. You then go against your own argument and discuss how one feels as opposed to biological reality.

You created this open thread where we can ask questions to a transgender person

I cited a penal code as well as scenarios. I really am curious to your opinion on the example cited. I would like to hear how in one case it's illegal, but by simply stating the words that "I identify as a girl" that exposing oneself to the biological opposite sex is no longer illegal.

Perhaps you are looking for acceptance? If that is the underlying motivator then what of my daughters who do not wish to see male sexual organs in their locker room? What of my daughters who do not wish to get into their team uniforms in front of a person with male sexual organs?

 

No you're a male that feels like a female. That is a scientific fact. I hate to break it to you but you are not nor ever be a woman unless you can change your chromosomes, bones, muscles, blood, and everything else.

I can pretend to be a dog all I want but that doesn't make me one. I can put on a police uniform but that doesn't make me one. In fact I would be arrested for impersonating an officer for doing that. And pretending to be a dog does interfere with my daily life. I lose the respect of close family and friends for one.


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I'm 19 turning 20 in the fall as well.

 

I'm not too sure what you mean by this, could you explain what you mean by this?

I don't really mind if you don't accept me. As far as I'm concerned people want me to be my happiest and safest. Who knows, maybe presenting myself as a woman in public and private will actually hurt me in the long run. So this means I have to keep my heart and mind open. When it comes to questions that you posed me, I want to break it down into its simpler parts and talk about what's going on underneath it. The penal code is difficult to talk about, so why not talk about what's really important here, namely giving a public identity to a marginalized group? Or we can address something else your question touches on as well, such as sexism. Whatever you're most comfortable with.

 

This is actually really interesting. I don't know how much of a philosopher you are but have you ever read Descartes' meditations? They're really fascinating and I promise relevant to this discussion. What Descartes is saying and what you're saying are very similar.

Sure, this is why in psychology mental disorders are in part diagnosed based on one's ability to function and cultural values. Of the two, I would say functionality is more important of the two. Can the person live a normal or functional life? Being transgender doesn't interfere with my life though. If anything coming out has made me healthier. There are downsides yes, family time sucks now when nobody uses the right name or pronouns but that's not who I am, that's them. They are the ones who decided to treat me that way.

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Cool! Are you in college?

 

Umm, who is even discussing accepting you or not.

yes, my question to you is difficult because it demonstrates how a bioligical male showing his privates to biological females can result in arrest but if that same biological male in that same situation simply claims that he "identifies as female" then it is no longer a crime.

Are you OK with that or do you think that in the case of crimninal code that the biological qualifier should be used in all cases regardless of how one claims to "identify"?

Next, and this is where it gets heavy, why should the desire of a biological male to undress in front of biological females be forced upon the biological females with little regard for their privacy and desires to not be exposed to biological males inside of locker rooms? To make the question even more dififcult for you, why should minor children have this forced upon them?

 

So to make sure I understand the question correctly, what you are asking is what separates someone who is transgender from a pervert?

 

When did you get a degree and still not 20. You are an expert on how another person is?
Please give us your qualifications to tell someone they are not who they are, but who you say they are. You must have a wealth of knowledge and information to share on the subject.

 

Hey it's alright, this is about discussions and if Maccabe has something to say I want to make sure people feel safe saying it.

 

Cool. I don't think he wants to discuss anything. But we'll see.

 

I hope we have a good discussion. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?