by Bob Branco
Before I address this topic any further, let me assure you that I respect everyone, no matter what race, nationality, religious preference, sexual preference, or gender preference. We are all human beings, and are entitled to be respected.
In recent years, there has been a tremendous focus on the transgender population. Legislators and special interest groups want to give these individuals more privileges. I have no problem with this. Transgender people should be as valued in society as anyone else. However, these legislators and special interest groups are taking this issue too far. Let me explain.
There are people who change genders, and then there are people who just feel like the other gender. As far as I’m concerned, those who simply feel like the other gender are still the gender they are born with. For example, if you are a boy, and suddenly you think like a girl, you are still a boy. Therefore, if there is an event for boys only, you should still be able to participate in that event. It’s not about the gender that you feel like. It’s about the gender that you are. If you are a child who questions your gender, it may be temporary, so you need time to figure it out.
There have been many news stories about transgender people participating in sports, making others uncomfortable. That’s one thing. However, let’s talk about biologically born males who are competing in women’s sports just because they feel like women? I’ll take it a step further. It’s one thing to feel like a woman if you’re a man, but what if you pretend to feel like you’re a woman in order to suit your own purposes?
I suppose we could discuss the clinical aspects of this issue. According to an article written by Alex Berezow, dated October 16, 2018, some men are born with an extra female chromosome, lower levels of testosterone, and other physical and mental abnormalities. With Swyer syndrome, a person has the XY genotype, but the Y chromosome is damaged. Though there are biological reasons why one gender identifies as the other, I believe there is too much overthinking.
As far as cultural aspects of this issue are concerned, people who don’t understand transgender, gender identity, or chromosome abnormality may discriminate against people who fit those descriptions or make fun of those people. Let’s face it. When a girl joins an activity exclusively for boys only, or if someone with female tendencies does this, many boys will resent the individual and the situation, and will become extremely territorial.
Young children with gender identity need time to sort out their thoughts, particularly without encouragement from anyone else. These kids need to grow up first.
About the Author
Robert T. Branco resides in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is the author of five self-published books. He is a community organizer, tutors persons with visual impairments, has written columns for local and international organizations, and publishes a monthly online newsletter, The Consumer Vision. Bob’s website, with full information about his books, is http://www.dldbooks.com/robertbranco/.
