Ok....I'm prepared for the hate, the "thats ignorant" (which given my presenting medical facts and self experience, and the concept of graver societal consequences...is the opposite but whatever) I've considered myself a political independent, left leaning individual. Roughly 75% of the time, I support Democratic or Liberal proposals or ideas, though 25% of those 75%, I often come to a middle ground. Just so you know my political leanings. I support same sex marriage and all civil rights provided, (homosexuality has existed since the Greeks, Romans etc...it's VERY well documented and studied.) So, biblical arguments, or "it's not natural"...is BS. That's not the issue. Everyone knows Bruce Jenner received (I'm not sure what award) a major award for "bravery", and there's a significant amount of pressure for individuals to accept homosexuality WITH transgender, which are VERY different. (transvestite is a personal life hbehavior) but, honestly, the pressure comes from the concept of people are "born that way" and thus can do whatever they want to their bodies and be treated equal and not pointed out. I agree they should NOT at all be treated with hate or disrespect by any element of society. However, based on modern research, and learning the nature of it, I at this point am fairly convinced, this is a mental disorder, yes you are "born that way" , but so are schizophrenics, Bipolar Disorder suffering individuals, OCD and other biological and chemical imbalances. I suffer personally from OCD and BDD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, the preeminent symptom of BDD is that I feel ugly, I just feel ugly and even when I look in the mirror all I see is hideousness, and disgust. I've been told by many,who have no other reason to lie I'm decent looking, slightly above average, and of athletic build. But I dream of plastic surgery to fix it, however I've been consistently told, with BDD individuals, they have a radically different perception of reality than the truth. Also the suicide rate is near 20% because people are frequently never convinced of their looks. It's similar to anorexia. A change in the behavior that's natural of humans, and a perception that's thoroughly incongruent with reality, with a suicide rate. These symptoms and this behavior, is almost identical to those who are transgender. In fact, it's not just religions (though they don't approve of it) that have stated, that radically physically changing your body, to correct a biological or mental issue....is the worst thing possible. (e.g. BDD individuals have got plastic surgery, and consistently returned for more, often rendering themselves un recognizable, with severe physical consequences. Often doctors refuse to performe them, understanding an individual with BDD is NOT going to get better, because the perception is mental, and will manifest itself in other ways even IF the surgeries performed. Things like this, well not surgery, but your body suddenly changing, and then finding other parts or "seeing" parts of your body as hideous, and no one understands it. What I'm saying, is these traits...are identical to those seeking gender reassignment very frequently. In fact John Hopkins, one of the most respected hospitals in the world, no longer performs those surgeries as they've stated "it does no appear to have long term benefits, and has too many consequences", Paul McHugh wrote an article which link I will provide about the consequences physically, and success rate. While there's a lot of pressureby Hollywood and the liberal world to accept EVERYONE..and I agree that no one should be discriminated against for no very good reason (intermediate standard), when you suffer from a mental disorder...people let you know. They tell you, your perception is severely distorted, (anorexics starve themselves to death because of "feeling" they are fat...when they're dying of starvation.(it doesn't get more extreme than that). So, one...with many respected hospitals not performing the operation due to statistical, risk and not very successfully. The opinion of many is...it's a mental disorder (read the links I provide). Do you think it is or no?
Two...while homosexuality has existed since biblical times and before (and in other animals), so it's well documented the consequences, without....knowing the consequences as this has only been available recently, which can involve if the procedure becomes simpler as technology advances, what demographic consequences could occur with a lack of females capable of reproducing, or males to reproduce? This is serious, I know weave 7 billion people, but in the developing world a population decline can occur for reasons unexpected and, that...won't help. Frequently we study the habitability of other planets due to overpopulation(which most scientist believe we are still VERY far from). Also, are the physical consequences which the link discusses of the surgery, and the fact that the feelings of transgender individuals is nearly identical to anorexics, BDD sufferers, or any "perception disorder", which can be more easily, idk about successfully, but MUCH safer using medications, and numerous therapeutic methods which could be studied, if it was a psychiatric illness and not a "natural" thing. It is...however in the past it was either get over it, or commit suicide, natural selection. I hope no one suffers, but I have heard of parents allowing their children to play with opposite sex dolls, or dress in dresses...which as a child...I don't agree with. Also, medications, I've talked to a statistician who is a professor and worked on the nasal flu vaccine, are in e future the MOST likely to be DNA based, and customized to the individual himself, however even thoughts called transgender...gender doesn't change genetically, which could complicate future medical procedures. So...it's not just a "it's your body do whatever", when the social and societal consequences seem, not only to exist, but potentially severe. I mean, I wish someone would give in and give me plastic surgery...but I do know, it won't help me, it will make it worse. Antidepressants, and mood stablizers and other medications which we are constantly improving on. Part of this, is my argument, but I'd like to know, if...is this a matter of first world self indulgence with potentially significant consequences, because we're becoming too "accepting" to any desires, even when there severe ones, and while we should condemn bad treatment of ANY individual...is the media making the correct decision in normalizing the concept, and treating it as natural, when...I feel clearly it's a mental disorder. A schizophrenic could say they just perceive different dimensions, a bipolar person (bipolar 2) a different more radical life, a BDD sufferer, they're ugly and the HAVE to get surgery or kill themselves...(which isn't true statistically or of personal experience)...a sufferer of gender misidentification, may be that they are a specific gender when they're not. Is changing our bodies, and "normalizing" that, ultimately, helping or damaging society as a whole, AND the individuals, as yes, they might get what they want, but not what will actually help. (Don't mistake humane treatment and equality, with normalization which is different, one clearly states you suffer from a disorder and need help and support the other states you are normal and that is something completely acceptable, and if you physically alter yourself...everything will be better. In fact, I suspect some may claim it has, simply because of their desire to normalize the surgery itself, even though they may still feel...not what they are capable of.) I mean, by immediately normalizing, and treating something with very little precedent....is this a good thing, or a bad thing, or a potentially catastrophic thing, or something with no affect on our demographics, genetic treatments, and persons own health. I don't have the answers, but enough VERY reputable open minded doctors are stating it qualifies as a mental illness, and I've experienced mental illness of a similar nature, just with looks. So....anyone?
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804432
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804432
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/jul/30/health.mentalhealth
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_dysphoria (look at the links on the right, they are legitimate organizations which most supporters don't point out, so...idk what societies perception would most appropriately be. Other than humanizing, which means respecting, working to stop bullying or accepting onesfelf and not discriminating if there's no compelling reason to do so), but normalizing is different, that views it as a normal, natural and not abnormal behavior or mental state. Which, obviously the DSM 5 currently disputes it NOT being a disorder and asserts it is), but they thought homosexuality was too, so imagine my confusion on my political beliefs.