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Service animals (from helper monkeys to therapy ducks) are causing some controversy.
Transgender Children
By Virginia Prescott on Monday, November 17, 2008.
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Even as a toddler, little Brandon Simms liked to dress up in his mother’s lingerie and shoes. He drew pictures of himself with long hair and pink tutus. His mother, Tina, tried to steer him away from the Barbies and dollhouses at the toy store. Tina’s pastor told her to take away Brandon’s girly clothes and toys. A therapist said it was just a phase. But Brandon never grew out of it.
Tina had never heard the term “transgender” until she watched a 20/20 t-v special about a little boy diagnosed with “gender-identity disorder”. The average age of people seeking treatment for the disorder has plummeted in the past four years, raising controversial questions about biology and destiny. Some specialists point to psychological reasons for wanting to be another gender; some say they these kids are biologically trapped in the wrong body. That rift becomes crucial as children approach puberty, and hormonal intervention could forever alter the course of a child’s life.
So, the question becomes: Whose decision is it?
Journalist Hanna Rosin explores the causes and treatments for transgender children in the November issue of The Atlantic Monthly, and she joins us on Word of Mouth to talk about it. Hanna is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and other publications. She is the author of God’s Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America.
Click here to read Hanna's article on transgender children
(Photo of Brandon Simms courtesy of the family via The Atlantic Monthly)
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Word of Mouth is all about what's new. Online and on-air, the show looks at our fascinating and ever-changing world, and puts the latest ideas under a microscope. Word of Mouth investigates everything from science and technology, to health and the environment, to new trends in popular culture. The show airs Monday through Thursday at noon and is hosted by Virginia Prescott.
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This is exactly what we are going through in our family. Our 3rd son has always been 'different'. He is now 7 and has always wanted to be a girl.. He asks us why God made him a boy! He says he doesn't really know how to be a boy, so he pretends at school. He dresses as a girl when he is home..as a boy in school (1st grade) We are all very supportive of him at home, even his 2 big brothers (12 and 17 years old). We are very worried about him approaching puberty. The school, teachers, counselor have been very supportive. The counselor actually told me about your program today! Thank you for discussing this!
How wonderful for your child- and for you all- to have such a supportive family! I'm Gail, the transwoman quoted in the program. I'm a successful professional, and am never perceived as male, or as some kind of freak. I'm just a middle-aged woman, to all appearances. It is far, far easier, though, to have a safe and happy life as a transwoman, if you don't have to transition later, after testosterone alters your facial structure, gives you hair where you don't want it, or worse, takes it away from where you do want it. In my case, these took many hours of electrolysis (ouch!) and plastic surgery (double ouch!) to correct. I remember so well pretending to be a boy. . . then pretending to be a teenage boy. . . then pretending to be a man for far too long. I never really got very good at it. . . but at least once I got out of high school I wasn't getting beat up regularly. You have hard choices ahead of you, for sure, and I wish you, and your child, all the best.
Endorine disrupting chemicals are used widely around the US on feed for animals and everything from pesticides to larvacides.
Professor Tyronne Hayes from UC Berkely(I think) has studied the affects, consequences of Atrazine, a carcinogen still dumped all over the US. Frogs exhibited both sexual organs, multiple testicles, and other abnormalities.
Is it possible our use and over-use of endocrine disrupting substances is harming the hormaonal make-up of the human species? Probable.
Hi, I'm Gail, the transgendered woman quoted in the program. We're unfortunately going to be exploring the consequences of our toxic exploitation of the earth for many generations, but that doesn't really explain transpeople. We may be news to Western culture, but the historical evidence shows that we have existed throughout history in all cultures, some which were accepting, some not. Until recently, coming out as trans in America meant losing your job, your family, and too often, your life. Now, there's good help and good information available, which is why we suddenly seem more numerous, and more visible.