Response to The Traditional Values Coalition’s article
“Transgender Marriage Is Coming”
The Traditional Values Coalition has concerns over what they think the future holds for marriage in the US. They have used the couple Georgi Somers and Sandy Gast to illustrate their fears. They are concerned with this couples’ belief “they should have the ‘right’ to marry each other.” Gast and Somers are male-to-female transsexuals.
The TVC claims that Gast and Somers suffer from a “serious mental problem” and that their feelings that they are members of the opposite gender bizarre and in need of counseling rather than understanding and recognition. This is where the TVC makes its first mistake among many regarding this issue.
Gender Identity Disorder is not a “serious mental problem” as described by the TVC. Such a description carries a negative and derogatory impression that somehow these individuals are mentally ill. There are many Transgender peoples that are well adjusted and happy and there is nothing mentally wrong with them in any way. One perspective is that the problems associated with GID have more to do with society and their treatment of the individual than the Gender Identity issue itself and that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) itself needs to be updated. Regardless, there is nothing “bizarre” at all about the concept of Gender Identity.
The TVC uses the works of George A. Rekers, Ph.D. (Professor of
Neuropsychiatry and Behavioural Science, Research Director for Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, and Chairman of Faculty in Psychology at the
University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, S.C.) as their
source for this claim. One the surface Dr. Reker’s seems to be very well
educated and well versed in the issue but with further reseach, it is important
Documents, the 17 World View Documents, and all signed A Manifesto for
the Christian Church in 1986.
A few excerpt froms “The Christian World View of Medicine.” make
Dr. Reker’s perspective and bias very clear.
“2. Authority We affirm that the Bible is the final authority for health, medical care, and medical ethics
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 3:1). We deny that medical ethics should be determined by the desires of the patient, the ethics of a medical organization, current medical practice, technical feasibility, or governmental legislation
(2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 3:1). ….
“8. Mental Health We affirm that spiritual regeneration and Biblical obedience are absolutely essential to a Biblical concept of mental health (Ephesians 4:9-16; 2 Timothy 1:7; James 1:6-8). We deny that psychiatrists can promote mental health without evangelism of their unsaved patients and a thorough application of Biblical principles for their Christian patients (Nehemiah 8:10b; Psalm 90:10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-19; 2 Corinthians 5:17). ….
“24. Sexuality We affirm that according to Biblical design sexual stimulation and fulfillment should only take place between a man and a woman who are legally married to each other (Genesis 2:24,25; Exodus 20:14; 1 Timothy 3:12). We deny that adultery, fornication, homosexuality, or lesbianism constitutes moral behavior in any situation, and that the prescription of birth control methods to unmarried men or women is Biblical (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27,28; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). We further deny that homosexuals qualify as a specially-protected legal minority and that homosexuality is a civil rights issue.”
The next mistake that the TVC makes is their claim that “instead of a counselor helping each of them to overcome their bizarre feelings of being members of the opposite sex, these men found a surgeon who was willing to mutilate their bodies so they can become fake women.”
It is not that simple and totally untrue. One cannot simply find a “surgeon willing to mutilate their bodies” as if this is something one can do on a whim. Many individuals suffer emotionally from this conflict and seek help.
Therapy that tries to force individuals to conform to their assigned gender has been shown to fail so it has been established that the only effective course of treatment is through Gender Reassignment Therapy. This is not a quick process. Those seeking gender reassignment surgery and those providing the service are required to follow a comprehensive standard of care put forth by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association that ensures that the right decisions are made for the individual. They do receive counseling and at a minimum are required to perform a “Real Life Test” which is where the individual is required to live as the opposite gender for at least a year to ensure that they can psychologically function as that gender.
The next mistake that the TVC makes is their proclamation that “Once the same sex marriage is formally legalized, transgender activists will demand the ‘right’ to marry. It is already happening.” Of course it is but not in the way they think. The “grim” picture that is the concern is already enshrined in law and heterosexual marriage is not diminished because of it. The example put forth in the article is in regards to two trangendered females who were once males. The law they claim was broken is in the incidence that Sandy claimed to be a
different gender than the male gender Sandy was at birth. The law indicated that gender re-assignment did not change the legal gender of the person. As a result, Sandy’s claim of being female was determined as false.
The TVC quotes a Kansas Supreme Court Ruling that nullified a Transgendered marriage because the state recognized only biological gender at birth. If one takes this to its logical conclusion, then if a biological female is reassigned as a male, he is now free to marry another male, creating in appearance and function a same sex marriage. The same if a biological male is reassigned as a female, she is now free to marry another female and creates a woman/woman marriage. Recognizing Gender Reassignment does not create a new category of marriage as the TVC fears. The refusal to respect Gender Reassignment actually creates legal same-sex marriages for some couples. The TVC cries “Once homosexual marriage is legalized, she/males like Gast and Somers will line up to “marry” each other” as if this is a bad terrible thing that must be avoided at all costs. Imagine a world where couples promise to love, honour and cherish each other through sickness and health, poverty and riches, forsaking all others until death parts them. How sad that one thinks this should be avoided at all costs.
Not only is the Traditional Values Coalition ignorant on the issue of Gender Identity they are also oblivious to the consequences of their ignorance.
Copyright March 19, 2005, by CDMum. All rights reserved, except that free
distribution via any medium is permitted as long as author's credit is given and no profit is involved.
The TVC Propaganda Piece is located here.
