A Mr. Jerry Clifford’s recent letter to a local weekly’s editor suggests that those who insist on biology over sociology trivialize gender identity. That editorial questioned whether genitalia alone, in Mr. Clifford’s interpretation, determine a biological male. I agree with him that “Gender is a part of a person’s total being”, the biological part. We are all endowed with a sexual identity via our chromosomes. He justifies disavowing genitalia as signifying gender by noting “infants born with both genitalia, which the physician often modifies immediately”. Those born with both female and male genitalia are rare errors of development, which can be corrected by surgery and long-term medical treatment. That is not pertinent to discussion of those who feel, emotionally and sociologically, that they have been born in the “wrong body”. Strong evidence, biologically, neurologically, and psychologically, now exists suggesting that some percentage of persons develop as individuals who prefer sexual concourse with members of their own biological gender. That again is not pertinent to the discussion of transgenderism. Those persons run the gamut from behaving as members of the other biological gender to seeking to undo their biological gender via hormonal therapy and surgical removal/conversion of their born genitalia. But as stated in Clifford’s reply to the editor, “Medication, surgery, and desire don’t transform a person’s gender identity”. Note the segue from “gender” to “gender identity”. Behavior, public or private, that harms no other is a freedom with which we are all endowed. This even extends to “self-improvements” via cosmetic surgery and use of hormonal replacement therapy. It may certainly extend to “self-correction” via gender surgery and gender hormonal therapy once the individual has made a fully informed, mature decision about the probably lifelong irreversible changes they are choosing. Such a decision cannot be made by minor individual or supported socially in a minor and not in an adult without prolonged supportive medical/psychiatric evaluation and counsel. Although we socially specify adulthood arbitrarily somewhere between the ages of 18 to 21, developmental biology tells us that on average that our bodies may be fully mature then, but our minds are not “finalized” until around age 25 (See my prior Substack “The Adolescent Citizen”). Until these points in time behavior, evaluation, and counsel may be harmless and beneficial. Fifty years ago, as a medical student in rotation at the Titus Harris Psychiatric hospital in Galveston, Texas, I witnessed a program for transgender transformation, the medical and surgical parts of which began only after adults had undergone a year of intensive evaluation and counseling. At that time and place, these were notably rare events. Medical and surgical interventions are not harmless and may cause lifelong harm both physically and psychosocially. No minor should be subjected to permanent interventions in their developing biology, even as they receive evaluation and support for their developing socio-psychological identity.
Despite the desires of some to support mature decisions regarding the still controversial “gender dysphoria” concept, we cannot invent another gender. Title IX was passed not based on a universal gender but on the scientific fact of two biological genders. While many young individuals undergo confusion about their identities, biological and otherwise, the motivations of some athletic transgender persons are clearly suspect. Lia Thomas did poorly for years as a male swimmer before converting a matured, densely boned, heavily muscled body into a female persona that immediately outdistanced all biologically female women in swimming. Several track and field athletes in high schools and colleges have demonstrated the same. Conversion hormonal therapy seems, in principle, just as disallowable as supportive hormonal therapy (anabolic steroids, erythropoietin, etc.) in competitive sports. At best, we may need to develop third and fourth categories of competition for transgender males and females, or an “open” category, wherein individuals of whatever biological or social gender can compete together. Doing otherwise eviscerates Title IX’s language and intent. Enabling physically and psychologically immature individuals to attempt to alter their biological identity eviscerates our morality.