March 15, 2008 10:41 AM
Parents: some thoughts on gender confusion
'Gender identity is very important to God.'Parents of children who struggle with gender confusion are being encouraged to raise their kids according to the gender they want to be.
Nationally, organizations are adopting gender-neutral restrooms.
And in California, students now can “choose their own gender” when deciding whether to use the boys’ or girls’ restroom and locker room.
According to the American Psychological Association, “transgender” is a term used to describe people whose self-perception differs from their biological gender. This condition is commonly referred to as gender identity disorder.
Randy Thomas is executive vice president of Exodus International, the largest worldwide Christian outreach to those affected by homosexuality. He spoke with CitizenLink about transgenderism and his own journey out of homosexuality.
Read article here
Related links: National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality: NARTH upholds the rights of individuals with unwanted homosexual attraction to receive effective psychological care, and the right of professionals to offer that care.
Posted in Gender differences, Teens and Tweens | Permalink
Comments
There was an interesting article in the journal Pediatrics a few years ago that found that about one quarter of grade 8 students were unsure about their sexual orientation. However, at the end of grade 12 only about 4% were. In other words, over high school kids figure it out. And of those who figured it out, over 90% were heterosexual.
To tell kids who would in all likelihood end up heterosexual if we just leave them alone that they may be homosexual is just ridiculous. But the activists groups want to grab those who are unsure into their camp.
In our school district, under the guise of anti-bullying, homosexual activists came in to a school to talk to grade 6-8 kids about sexuality. they invited those who were unsure of their sexual identity to come out to their youth group.
This sort of stuff has to stop. Why doesn't everybody just leave these kids alone, rather than further confusing them?
Posted by: Sheila | March 15, 2008 4:50 PM
Hi! First I'd like to introduce myself as someone who would have some background in an issue like this: I'm a freshmen male, and I identify as genderqueer. I don't consider my identification to be confusion on my part. I understand that my feelings don't fit into the role of "boy", and neither do I want to be a girl, hence my identification. I'd also like to say that I don't believe there is such thing as an "ex-gay" and that attempts to "fix" homosexuality are ultimately damaging, both spiritually and psychologically.
First, the link to the article is ridden with misconceptions both about the transgender community and the differences between gender and sex. I'm all for people having their own opinions, but there are a couple things that simply are an issue of misinformation. One being the usage of the diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder to refer to people who's perception of gender differ from the norm. This "condition"* is used to refer to transsexuals, who prefer to live their life in the body of the opposite sex, while they may or may not take on the roles of the opposite gender.
Then there was the phrase, "So if a man doesn’t know how to teach a little boy how to be a man, there’s a void there." He's right; hardly anyone these days can tell you an exact definition of what it is to be a man. Or how a man's life should be led. Many still hold onto the idea that a woman shouldn't vote or wear pants. Gender has become such a loose term. So I don't think it's really right for him to assume that the world will be a better place if people taught their boys how to be men and girls how to be women. I think it's for the children to figure out how they want to express their gender and for their parents to play more of a guiding, support role. I know that my life is insanely better because of my parents acceptance of my gender expression.
The author confuses and generalizes the homosexual and transgender activism. He assumes that all are the same, all preach the same and all have the same views. This is NOT TRUE. As an activist for gay rights, I don't believe that homosexuality, or sexuality at all is genetic, yet he mentions that we do. In fact, the majority don't. I don't know what research he's been doing, but it can't have been very extensive.
The interjection of California's laws regarding school policy on transgendered children would either be irrelivant or critisizing. Since the reason for inserting this isn't apparent to me, I'll assume it's critical. I'd like to say that I wish my state's laws were that inclusive of transgendered students. We don't "choose" our gender. We choose to be open about or identification. Because we don't fit in with the majority of society, we're labeled as having "chosen" this life. This isn't a choice. The choice we made is to express who we feel we are. But getting back to the bathroom issue, I can't imagine using either the boys or girls restroom. It's an issue of saftey. Out gays and transgendered individuals alike get from mild harrasment to death threats at school, and I've gotten both. The addition of a safe, gender neutral restroom would remove a major "bully-ground" from the school scene.
I'd like to say more, but I think that's it for now. I really do enjoy this blog. :) Thank you for the opportunity to express my views.
All the best!
*I object to the usage of the words "disorder" or "condition" to describe something that hasn't been psychologically proven to be unnatural or wrong in any way, going on the assumtion that gender is a cultural invention.
Posted by: Michael | February 13, 2010 12:06 AM
