What do you think of this?

[quote]
I think that a case can be made that depraved indifference is being exhibited by these two solitudes: conservative religious spokespersons, and professionals active in treating transsexuals.
[/quote]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/transsexu23.htm

I like this author, as I think he keeps a very good website, but I think he goes too far with that comment, because those professionals are really trying as hard as they can to assist transsexual people. It seems to me that the author of this piece is criticizing those professionals for not engaging in serious dialogue with religious conservatives, whatever that would entail.

Thanks again

Yes there are life altering affects on everyone concerned but they are honest ones. Almost every trans-person you will every talk to will tell you they were always honest about who they were. It was the people like you that told us (and in my case beat it into) our brains that we were confused. We were treated like we were the ones that had no rights to happiness. We were told to deny who we were for the sake of everyone else. God forbid the family should be shamed by us being who we really are. This is where the lies and the crimes against transpeople began. The people we trusted only cared about themselves and their own pride.

With denial at some point the relentless nature of our condition will become unbearable. Transfolk that have the courage to stand up and say no are the real survivors and have the right to be who they really are. It isn’t easy and the road is hard, but it is their right to have a chance at happiness. And yes I know some who are happy. And if the people near to us really love us they will try to understand or be lost. There is always a price for freedom and its never cheap. Nothing worth having ever is.

Yes there is discrimination and discomfort for others but that is the only way acceptance will ever come. Human beings have an amazing ability to adapt but they have to be exposed to it first. Transpeople need to be seen and heard. Not for us, not for our children, wives, family, or employers. But for the next generation. So when some 4 year old tells their mother they are different or when some teenager gets caught exploring they will get help rather than lied to and beaten. They have a chance at a real life but it starts here.

When you transition, you cause devastation everywhere. Your spouse, family, kids, friends, all have to deal with this devastating news. Most trans people lose their spouses, and frequently their children. The news is horrific and causes enormous emotional distress to a lot of people who care about us.

It costs us our jobs. Don’t believe me? Read the statistics gathered by the NCTE. We can expect a lifetime of job discrimination.

People generally don’t like us. Being visibly trans causes significant discomfort for most people, and outright disgust by a significant portion of the populace. The ones for who experience discomfort usually do their best to hide it out of politeness, and we perceive it (mistakenly) as acceptance. FoxNews contributor Keith Ablow was speaking for something like 35% of the population when he did his piece on Chaz Bono suggesting he’s delusional, should be locked up and pumped full of anti-psychotics.

If being trans doesn’t make you feel sadness or regret out of empathy for the people it affects besides yourself, or at least make you recognize that your life would be a lot easier if you weren’t trans, then you’re either selfish beyond belief, or oblivious to the point of actually being as delusional as Ablow thinks you are (but for different reasons)