Vp1, issue 1 by News and Views

News & Views

Volume 1, Issue 1 February 2017

Insights Anecdotes and Opinions

By Calvin Jorden PFLAG Beaumont Treasurer

Reaction to the announcement by the Boy Scouts of America that they will allow a transgender boy to participate in their program has understandably been mixed. To me it is interesting that this comes on the heels of the National Geographic’s edition regarding the “Gender Revolution”. When I was in the Scouts (six decades back!), National Geographic was THE source for all things scientific, from Archeology to Zoology. The two events probably aren't related but they are linked in my mind because of that personal history. This occurs as our Lieutenant Governor equates Transgender with Perversion. Four years ago staff in his state senatorial office told me to my face that legalizing gay marriage was equivalent to legalizing bestiality, so he obviously hasn’t changed his views, nor has he kept up with advancements in scientific knowledge. I witnessed this same deliberate ignorance on Christian radio this week: in a “newscast”, a “reporter” said that the BSA, in a continuation of its anti-Christian direction, from acceptCont on 2 as Insights

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Bob’s Blurb’s Dr. Bob says: I am disturbed again today. Parents abandoning their kids because of a medical condition is a huge problem, and unspeakably dangerous for their children. Gender Dysphoria is a medical condition. Trans people do not need to be abandoned because thier parents do not understand why their child has always wanted clothing, hair styles, and games that are common for ta different gender. The child or adolecent could need an endocrinologist or other professionals, but not abandonment by parents. LGBTQIA people do not need chronic public humiliation, which often does damage to their souls and inner cores of who they are as human beings. According to the World Professional Association of Transgender Health, Gender Dysphoria is a condition that needs to be treated with medicines, speech therapy, counseling, and sometimes surgery as needed. Without appropriate medical and other treatments, this is what has been happening: About 41% of transgender people in the US have attempted suicide one or more times. About 20 % of all LGBTQIA people have attempted suicides, as compared to less than 2 % of the US population as a whole. Approximately 25 to 33%, of par-

ents in the US tell their adolescent and young adult trans children to leave the home. This is very dangerous for all concerned. Physicians have been prescribing both Estrogen and Testosterone for many years for transgender people. This is not new, nor is it ground breaking medicine. The medicines used are relatively simple, either testosterone or a combination of both Estrogen and a hormone blocker. Hormone blockers are needed when increasing Estrogen, as Testosterone is more powerful than is Estrogen and requires a blocker during treatment. Once adolescent natal females take testosterone, they become less depressed, less anxious, and less paranoid. Once adolescent natal males start taking estrogen, they too become less depressed, less anxious, and less paranoid. If these hormones do not work, then they likely are not transgender and they need to stop taking them. When trans boys (natal females) take testosterone near or before the time of puberty (females at Tanner 2 Stage), the more likely they are to end up 6 foot tall with bulging muscles, hairy chests, deep voices, long legs, an

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We go Live with our new Website Febrary 22.check us out at www.pflag-beaumont.org

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ing gay members to accepting gay scout leaders, would now allow “a girl who thinks of herself as a boy to participate with real boys”. The “reporter” also quoted the head of a “Christian alternative” to the Scouts saying that such “perversion” would never happen in his group. Ignorance, intolerance, inflexibility- these are now Christian ideals? Welcome back to the Fifties! When America was “Great”.

Blurbs Cont. Adam’s apple, and do well in sports, which is what many trans boys want. They will not need breast reduction therapy when they start at an early age. This is also very handy when going to the bathroom and wanting to look like the common gender for that bathroom. When trans girls (natal males) take testosterone blockers and estrogen sooner they start to look like women and not like men. This also is very helpful when going to the bathroom as most people try to blend in in terms of appearance. When trans kids do not take testosterone or estrogen before puberty, they will need to go through puberty a second time, which can be very painful. The later they start, the less likely they will be to look as much like the gender they want to live as or to look like, and more like the gender they are trying to get away from. This is especially difficult for the transgender women who may be 6 foot tall, with hairy chests, hairy faces, bulging muscles, and deep voices—not good for finding an appropriate bathroom. Decisions that are made during the process needs to be well thought out. Parents will want to understand the likely consequences of starting hormones and the consequences of waiting to start hormones. This is a very difficult choice requiring a lot of thought and even prayer. Sometimes blockers can delay puberty, giving parents a few years to acclimate themselves to the fact that their child is trans and needs treatment. This can take a year or two for some parents. The kids often know who they are before the parents do, and likely will want physical

change even before the parents can understand what may be happening. More time is needed. On the other hand, people can change at any age after puberty with additional hormones, even as late I life as Caitlin Jenner did. Late starts may not work out nearly as well later in life. However, gender appearance changes can be done with some degree of success at just about any age. Additional surgeries will be needed to remove what was gained during the first puberty. This is a very complicated overall process. There are tough choices to be made for all concerned parties, including the adolescents, parents, and their medical providers.

However, abandoning the transgender child I still consider ignorant, stupid, and sinful. These children and young adults need help, not abandonment by their parents. Unfortunately well-meaning politicians in Texas often confuse trans men and trans women with pedophiles, making things dangerous for trans people of every age. That is really wrong. Politicians need to get their staffs to start reading about this. What do you do if you love your child and want the best for them?

Monthly Call To Action

PFLAG Beaumont would like citizens to write their Representatives to let them know what you think of proposed Legislation. Here is a sample constituent concern letter: Dear Representative Babin,

Thank you for holding your Tele-town hall meeting last Thursday and giving your constituents the opportunity to interact with you. You and your staff handled it very well, and were respectful of all sides. I should also commend the woman running your Woodville office when I stopped in on February 8 - very respectful and cordial.

Your love of country and your desire to do right by all whom you represent was very evident in your comments and your answers on the wide range of issues pre-

sented. However, I must say I was somewhat disappointed in your comment that “They don't seem to realize they lost the election and we won”, speaking of Democrats and the protests against President Trump’s actions. I think Mr. Trump’s eagerness to get things done (and your eagerness to support him) gives me and many others the strong impression that minority rights are irrelevant. In every election there are winners and losers, and up to now, the losers could always count on the rule of law under the constitution, and spirited, deliberate discourse to air all sides of any issue. But now, the president calls our protests “out of control”; debate is called “delay”; blatant misstatements are called “alternative facts”; pointing out those misstatements is called “dishonest” and “fake news”; disagreeing with him makes one an “enemy of the American people”. Such reckless acrimony is

Robert S. Meier, Ph.D, is Secratary of PFLAG Beaumont and a Texas Psychologist

disturbing, to say the least.

So, my comment last Thursday, cut short by time constraints, was going to be: Let us all remember, democracy is indeed majority rule, but our constitution protects the rights of all minorities, and that constitutional protection should be very dear to aging white American males like you and me, who will very soon find ourselves in the minority! Thank you sir, for your unselfish service to our country. You are in my prayers as you seek to find the right path.

Yours truly, Calvin E. Jorden (Forest Park High School, class of ‘67 Trojans Forever!)

To find your U.S. Rep’s contact info, visit www.house.gov/representatives/find To find your Texas Rep’s contact info, visit www.house.state.tx.us/members/find-your-representative/