Quote:1.) I Don't ascribe to ex-gay aversion therapy.


2.) I make a contextual distinction between. What may be a biological predisposition (hormonal neural) to misidentify an aspect of self (gender) and a biological ambiguation of sex (homaphraditism, genital malformation, XXY yyx etc.)


3.) I think that in the case of opposite gender identity that there should be a physical exam including chromosomal analysis to determine if there is an underlying biological malady and or cause to better understand the root of the presentation.


4.) puberty is the second most important hormonal event in brain development (the first being hormone levels in uteri that should vary wildly between male and female fetuses). This can give clues as to what a persons body is actually trying to tell them. If someone is on a normal biological track but still persists in identifying with another gender then we know its mental or environmental. Otherwise I know that as a kid there are a lot of women who were masculine pre puberty and boys that were more feminine, including me.

It's good to know you reject the concept of "ex-gay" conversion therapy.


I'm a little fuzzy on your second point. If you accept the possibility of a biological explanation, how are you so sure that they are misidentifying their aspect of self? You are wading back into the waters of "choice" by saying a person can be misidentifying themselves as gay or trans because of their biological makeup. People don't choose to be black or have red hair. But they choose to be gay or trans?


As for studying chromosomes and physicality, there have been multiple studies like that. There still remains contested opinions on the root cause despite a lot of supportive evidence (including those who only ascribe to the idea of it being solely a choice -- which I patently reject).


Your final point touches on some interesting areas. Some theorize brain structure does play a part in the self identification as gay or trans. Others focus purely on the psychological aspect. My only problem with this is.. I knew I was straight at the age of 3 when I would spend hours looking through my dad's Playboy magazines. My brain was developed enough to be as sure of that then as I am today. In my early teens a friend of mine approached me in a way which let me know he was at the very least curious about what it would be like to be physically intimate with another male. My brain was more fully developed, but even then, I politely declined as being put "on the spot" only reaffirmed my sense of self as a straight person. What age were you when you chose to be straight? If you didn't choose, how old were you when you just knew? You know now, right? Because based on what you're saying you could be mistaken depending on your environment or mental condition. Why can't gay or trans people "just know" one day? I have spoken with many who tell me they knew early in life (to some degree -- even if they didn't fully comprehend it).


I will attest again that of all the gay and trans people I know (as you could guess.. it is quite a few) not a single one of them has remotely claimed it to be a matter of choice. Knowing what many went through in the course of this self discovery I assure you they would have had easier lives if they could simply choose to be straight.


While you are finally bringing some good points to the discussion, I am still not convinced that the root cause of gay/trans self identification is NOT tied primarily to biological makeup.

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