...Look, I'm interested in the issue because I have two good friends who are FtM transgenders. Feel free to tell me, Truethat, that I'm a horrible friend because I'm insulting and dehumanising them by failing to think in lockstep with you. I thought this would be an interesting thread to participate in but many of your posts are making me angry so I'll bow out.
What is wrong with asking people to educate themselves even A LITTLE before joining a conversation.
For someone to ask in this day and age "how to we know the child isn't just going through a phase" when the child is diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder because the doctor can tell that they are not going through a phase as one of the criteria FOR the diagnosis, then it gets to be too much.
There are some basics you should just know.
Transgenders inwardly feel a different gender inside than is reflected outside.
Transitioning means presenting to the world as the gender you identify inside.
Some parents instead of forcing their child toconform to society will allow them to dress as their gender. This is honoring their child's identity.
Bathrooms have stalls and if a transgender is a ftm or mtf they should be allowed to use the bathroom with which they identify.
Hormones can be stopped and some things will reverse some not.
It is very important for a MTF transgender to start hormones before they hit puberty otherwise their future will be filled with costly surgeries and much stress. Therefore it is important to support a transgender in their decision to use hormones.
Most transgenders express great relief at being able to have their outside match their inside.
Complaints about surgery are not usually about changing the mind or regretting the gender identity issue, rather it's about pain, expectations that were too high, unsuccessful surgeries etc. Not regret at changing gender.
There is more and it's easy to find on the internet. Check out youtube.
