Transgender Rights and Rules

3/3/2020

For much of earth’s history, humans have been divided into two genders: male and female. Now however, more and more people are coming out about the discomfort they feel in the gender they were born with. The technology of today has allowed people not only to dress and act like the opposite gender, but to also become that gender with sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy. Some families that believe in chosen gender as opposed to assigned have let their children grow up without common stereotypes. Others realize much later that something is wrong with who they are. While some people have a great support system throughout this, others face endless discrimination. The tug of war created by these polarized opinions has been making its way into our every day lives.
Some major establishments such as Target have allowed people to enter the bathroom of the gender they are identifying as at the moment as opposed to the gender they were born with. Because of this, people started boycotting the store. Even though they might not ever know that they were in a bathroom with a person that is transgender, the thought that they could be is frightening to them. The stigma around people that are transgender, especially boy to girl, is very negative and mostly misunderstood. Others argue that the danger is far higher for the people that are transgender. Many of them face criticism and abuse from those around them because of their choices. They are discriminated in their workplaces, places of religion, and in public spaces.
Sometimes the transition is not fully complete and it is very obvious that someone is working toward a gender switch. At this point, do we ignore what we can obviously see and live by what they want us to perceive? What specific rights should be given for those in that position? If we keep that mindset, will the gender lines be blurred completely? Should people have the right to identify as what they want when it differs from the social norm? What do you think about Target's bathroom policy? Do you know anyone that identifies with a different gender than what they were born with?

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/11/transgender-politics-sympathy-cannot-trump-reality/

40 Comments

Faith

3/6/2020 10:03:57 pm

This is a very delicate and sensitive subject in today’s society. However, I think that any transgender person should acknowledge the fact that the gender they are born with is their original gender, regardless of what they want it to be. I also am not saying it isn’t okay to be transgender because anyone and everyone has the right to choose who they want to be, but it is important that they do not ignore their original gender.
Transgender people being fit into today’s society is rather complicated due to religious beliefs, the older generations and how they did not grow up around transgender people because it was not as common, and people who just don’t want to accept the fact that people can be different from other people. I am not a very religious person, but I do know that you are taught at a very early age to accept everyone around you for who they are. But when transgender people started to be more open about their identity, people began to judge and shame for being a normal human being, just like them. This also came into play with the older generations, they hadn’t seen many transgender people up until now and they have a hard time accepting the concept. Other people, even though they grew up in a generation where transgender people were being normalized and accepted, still did not know how to deal with the concept and also judge and shame them.
Overall, I think that everyone should be more accepting and not judge people based off of their gender, or their sexuality. One’s identity should be defined from their personality and qualities rather than their physics characteristics.

Kately Cockrell

3/8/2020 02:47:23 pm

I agree, you should only judge people by their character. Life’s too short to be judgmental.

Andy Gebhardt

3/8/2020 06:23:01 pm

I agree with accepting everybody but there should be legal differences based on what biological sex a person is. Having laws about this would not be discriminatory it would be based on a person’s physical gender for safety reasons. Do you think there is a better way to go about gender laws?

Brax Kauffman

3/8/2020 06:36:59 pm

Do you think as it gets easier to transition, that people will simply notice it less in their everyday lives?

EZra

3/8/2020 07:29:50 pm

I agree that the older generation are mainly the ones causing this to explode to what it is, they have not grown up around it and don't know how to react to it.

Erykah Foss

3/8/2020 01:26:32 pm

For a long time, gender and sex have been used interchangeably. However, many people today use them based on their dictionary definitions. According to MedicalNewsToday, “‘Sex’ refers to the biological differences between males and females, such as the genitalia and genetic differences. ‘Gender’ ... can refer to the role of a male or female in society, known as a gender role, or an individual’s concept of themselves, or gender identity.” This distinction is important because there are quite a few folks that believe there are more than one gender identity.

The people who identify themselves differently from their original sex are just people. They have the same needs and responsibilities as anyone else on the planet, which is why I think they deserve the same rights as anyone else. Even if everyone treated them equal, gender lines will not be completely blurred. Over time, I believe the public will begin to recognize -- but not necessarily accept -- the multitude of genders people identify as today, such as transgender, non-binary, gender-fluid, and agender. Reading about these terms and meeting people who identify with them gave me a better understanding of their views and experiences, which made me feel compassion for them and the pressures they feel from society.

I have several friends who have different gender identities. When I went to my church camp, I met a transgender male (he was born a girl) named Alex. Although he identified as male, he stayed in the girl’s cabin due to camp rules. He was super fun and sweet. Plus, he brought a duffel bag full of snacks so we could eat during cabin time before going to sleep. I also have a friend who is one of the camp counselors. They dress androgynously and identify as non-binary, which means they prefer the pronouns “they/them”. I have known them since before they came out, and they have always been super loving and supportive in my times of need.

All humans have their basic needs, including going to the bathroom and being cared for by others. My hope for the future is that all people with different gender identities will become more accepted in society so they do not have to worry about finding a job to support themselves and perhaps, even, a family.

Kately Cockrell

3/8/2020 02:49:43 pm

Much of the world is still unsafe for people who are trans, which is unfortunate. I hope the same for everyone. No one should feel like they have to conform and hide themselves. Life’s too short to live unhappily.

Erykah

3/8/2020 04:12:04 pm

I totally agree. Life is also too short to live in hatred for any person who has different sexual or gender identities. I remember my friend in Helena, MT, attended a gay pride parade. He saw these rednecks throwing things, like empty beer cans, at the people performing in the parade. It makes me sick to think there are people who would go out of their way to make others' lives miserable just because they are different.

Madicyn

3/8/2020 07:48:35 pm

Your statement is very well put, I have read a book called "I am J", which is the story and development of a transgender. He goes from the transition of a female to a male, and the readers are able to walked through all of his struggles with his family, relationships, and inner-self. It's definitely a book I would recommend.

Faith

3/8/2020 04:33:51 pm

I like your story about your experience at church camp. I also hope that in the future people will be able to accept people for who they are.

Alyssa Farnworth

3/8/2020 07:47:53 pm

I enjoyed your whole post. I look forward to a future where everyone feels comfortable and loved and safe. What do you think it will take in the future to eradicate transgender discrimination?

Kately Cockrell

3/8/2020 02:45:42 pm

The world is a big place, full of people who are diverse from one another. Everyone is just trying their best to coexist on Earth, and I have no intention of telling other people how to live their lives. If someone would be more comfortable presenting as the gender they weren’t born as, there is no question in my mind that they are still the same person that their peers love. They struggle with body dysmorphia, meaning that their body does not correlate to own identity. For many, it’s a daily struggle to feel comfortable in their own skin. Everyone should have the right to feel secure in their identity. Public restrooms are very difficult subject for most people, I’m not concerned with who is using the same bathroom as myself.

I occasionally see people in public who are in the middle of transitioning, and I see nothing but people trying to live their lives as comfortably as possible. I’ve always been taught to treat others the way they treat me, I have no exceptions to that rule.

Erykah

3/8/2020 04:16:21 pm

Unless someone is disrespecting or causing harm to another, I believe they should do what makes them happy. If they feel more comfortable expressing and identifying themselves as who they want to be, why should anyone else get a say? It is already hard enough going through dysmorphia, so I think giving them love and support will guide them towards becoming a helpful part of society.

Faith

3/8/2020 04:35:50 pm

I agree with your morals when it comes to this topic (“treat people how you want to be treated”). It’s important society accepts all genders because it should not be a huge issue if they are genuine people.

Andy Gebhardt

3/8/2020 06:29:08 pm

As far as security goes I agree that people should be able to live as they want to. However, there are major differences in women and men that can cause problems in some areas. How do you think sports should be handled for people with different identities?

Brax Kauffman

3/8/2020 06:34:21 pm

I love how open you are to this subject and I think that it would be much better if people became more comfortable with this topic.

Aiden

3/8/2020 08:21:08 pm

Straight forward position. I agree but lately people transitioning have pushed their condition on others with the use of pronouns which makes it harder for people to accept it.

Josephine

3/9/2020 10:14:46 am

I agree people deserve the right to be happy and comfortable with themselves. There is no reason to place judgment on others.

Andy Gebhardt

3/8/2020 06:20:23 pm

Because of what I believe in I have never been a supporter of multiple genders or the ability to change a person’s sex. Right or wrong it is a subject that our generation has had to deal with at length and it will likely get more intense as more rules are passed just like what Target did.
I believe that a person’s biological sex should be the determinant in the rules they must follow and what bathrooms they can use. There are many “gender identities” that people can say they are but there are only two biological sexes. The reason I believe it should be based upping this is the idea of safety. People that assume another identity can use that to do things they should not do. Like in Target, if a man chose to assume a woman’s gender identity then he could go in there without consequences. This is a bad circumstance and one that no one would want to deal with. He could have few repercussions because of what he “identifies” as. As far as my view on the topic I know I am somewhat harsh but that is what I believe. If a person wants to go through a biological switch to make it so they can be a different gender then that is okay. They are assuming the responsibilities and physical traits as well as rules that gender has. Overall, I believe this is a safer way to go around the gender identities issue that will be dealt with in the future.

Andy Gebhardt

3/8/2020 06:34:24 pm

I know this is a long post but I wanted to put an idea out there. I already mentioned the issue of safety for transgenders but what should the rules be for athletes. Everyone should be on a fair playing field but that is hard for transgenders, mostly when males transition to females. There is an Olympian from an African country named Caster Semenya. She underwent a biological change from a male to a woman but did not undergo a hormone change. This makes her superior to other women and it has shown in her performance in running. Also, when a male transitions to be a female, they have already built up muscle as a man and it is proven that men have more muscle then women. This is again another advantage in sports. How come there are no female to male transgenders in professional sports? Should transgenders be allowed to compete in the same events as other athletes even if they have advantages? Should they have separate sporting events?

Paige

3/8/2020 07:26:48 pm

I completely agree with this point and I am glad you addressed this issue. I feel that competing against women when you were once a man gives you an unfair advantage. I do not think that we have gotten to the point where we know how to handle situations like these. I believe that transgenders should identify with the gender they were born with when it comes to sporting events. It is not fair, correct, or right to be competing against women when you have the muscle and build of a man.

Sabrina

3/8/2020 07:27:06 pm

This bothers me as well. As time goes on, we might have more and more transgender athletes so that we can make a separate division. Until then, it would take a lot of work to become able to compete with other women.

Ezra

3/8/2020 07:34:08 pm

I completely agree that it shouldn't be aloud to change gender for the sports attributes. If the said person wants to change gender they should know the consequences of their actions, and be okay with being in a different league.

Tori Weir

3/8/2020 07:23:00 pm

It is interesting how simple things like using the bathroom can become a huge problem. Many people have different opinions on this problem and due to that, it will continue to be a controversial topic.

Brax Kauffman

3/8/2020 06:31:52 pm

While I am all for a persons right to choose what gender to associate themselves with, I have no idea about what is the best way to go about transitioning into a world that everyone agrees on this matter. I agree that there is a biological factor that is involved in some of the processes but if you like at it from a broad enough perspective, that is a problem that may very easily be changed with time. As technology progresses there will be faster and simpler ways for a person to change their gender and at this point a gender fluid society would actually have the possibility of existing. Obviously not everyone would agree to this based on beliefs but it would get rid of the biological debate on the matter. As far as the bathroom thing goes. I see the point of being open about this subject but I could also see how that would have the chance to cause many problems since not everyone would respect it in the intended way l. I do not believe this will be a topic that will be figured out any time soon.

Tori Weir

3/8/2020 07:13:28 pm

Technology will continue to advance and those types of opportunities will open up for those who do want to transition. Do you think it is easier to accept transgender people once they transition? Or will people still have a hard time accepting them?

Aiden

3/8/2020 08:23:56 pm

I agree that no one will agree anytime soon. Maybe overpopulation or some other similar problem will be the main problem we have our sights on.

Tori Weir

3/8/2020 07:09:19 pm

Since I grew up in a Christian home and believe in my beliefs, I do believe that there are two genders, male and female. Personally, I believe the gender a person is born as should stay that gender and act accordingly like that gender. However, since there are people out there who do want to change their genders, nothing is stopping them from making that decision. I will still treat them as any other person even though I do not support their decision. They still are humans which means they should be treated and respected like anyone else. At the same time, there should be an acknowledgment of what others believe in and what they believe, in order to find common ground. There are people who are uncomfortable calling them what they want to go by and this causes problems. If there can be an agreement of respecting each other’s beliefs or at least tolerating them there could be fewer problems.
As for the bathrooms, it will continue to be an issue because of beliefs and safety. I do not really have an opinion on the bathroom policy but I do agree on the safety issue. A way to solve this problem is having individual bathrooms placed in.

Paige

3/8/2020 07:17:29 pm

I like how you said that you will still treat them as any other person even though you do not support their decision. We should not dehumanize an individual based off of their choices, but we certainly do not have to support their decisions.

Sabrina

3/8/2020 07:30:18 pm

Putting in individual bathrooms will be much harder, especially in big establishments. It also makes it easier to do, for lack of better phrase, illegal things. It's almost humorous that something as simple as getting rid of human waste has become such a huge issue.

Alyssa Farnworth

3/8/2020 07:44:22 pm

I like what you said about not agreeing but still treating them as humans. If more people thought in that same manner I think there would a lot less problems in this world.

Paige Hilton

3/8/2020 07:14:30 pm

I am opposed to changing the gender you are born with. I believe we should not change who we are because we feel we are not suited for the way we were born. I find the Target bathroom policy disturbing and I do not agree with the way transgenders are being treated.
Changing genders should not even be an option but since it is it has become a problem. We can already see the role it is playing in day-to-day life and know that there will come a time when the lines are blurred on gender. I dread the day when I can no longer say "Mr." or "Ms." for fear of wrongfully assuming their gender.
I feel that a lot of gender beliefs are being skewed in this new millennium and that there will be consequences for the actions that we are taking to support everyone and make sure they are happy and comfortable in our society.

Ezra

3/8/2020 07:27:24 pm

I personally don't care about transgender people they aren't in anyway special or different from the rest of us. It is a choice that they make and it shouldn't mean that they get special rights, but they also should not be discriminated against. They are actually just regular people and should be treated like regular people, I don't think that there should be rules that apply with being transgender. If they transition to a girl then they are a girl and use girls bathrooms and whatever else applies. The people who don't like what is happening are childish and should grow up. It goes back to if you have nothing good to say then don't say anything at all. We are a new generation and with that there is change, so it is something that we will get used to.

Madicyn

3/8/2020 07:43:54 pm

I like how you mentioned that there is change that comes with new generations, and with time as well. Things are always evolving, and many people are not open to it, which is disheartening.

Alyssa Farnworth

3/8/2020 07:41:37 pm

Everyone is human. Therefore I feel everyone deserves the same basic rights. It seems absurd how often throughout history drastic measures are taken to discriminate against the differences of each human being.
Gender has been male and female throughout all of history. Due to this many people struggle with accepting everyone for who they feel they are. They feel that if someone chooses to identify with the opposite gender or without gender, etc. they are defying nature. Personally, the way I have always looked at matters concerning most things, is if it is not detrimental to me or anyone else then accept it.Obviously there are some biological factors but with hormone therapies and gender change surgeries the change is faster. There are a lot of things that will remain unsure such as sports and the bathroom debate. I see that there are a lot of problems that could arise from the bathroom debate due to not everyone using it in the intended way. Until these matters have a conclusive answer I think the least we can do is accept who they are as human beings.
This is debated mostly due to religious beliefs so it is something that will not be resolved for a long time.

Josephine

3/9/2020 10:12:02 am

I also believe that in the end we are all human and deserve the right to be accepted for who we are. Even if some people do not agree it is important to still treat others with respect.

Madicyn

3/8/2020 07:42:12 pm

I believe that in this day and age, people should be able to have human rights and normal lives regardless of what they identify as with their gender. They should not receive special treatment due to their gender change, just as any other human. I think it is wrong to discriminate against any human being, regardless of gender, age, weight, race, or any other difference we have as humans. I think the bathroom situation has an easy fix, such as having gender neutral bathrooms in stores and public places. I have met a transgender person before, and it was sad to see and hear about the difficult times they had been through.

Erykah

3/8/2020 08:49:39 pm

I agree that all respectful, honest people deserve the right to be happy. Gender neutral bathrooms is a great idea, and I hope it they begin to be implemented in more schools. It is heartbreaking to hear about or witness transgender people not being accepted or even getting harassed for their identity.

Aiden

3/8/2020 08:17:43 pm

Gender is so important to someone’s identity. I personally believe that ones gender is to be that of when they were born. Gender dysphoria is the confusion of ones gender and feeling that they should not be the sex they were at birth. Studies heavily suggest that this is a genetic problem but also is influenced from ones environment.

I don’t not think there is any inherent problem in letting these people get surgery to change or even use hormone methods. However I do not they should be able to go into a different bathroom than there original gender. This is because it would be easy for a demented person to simply walk into a women’s bathroom to potentially physically or sexually abuse someone inside. I propose that gender neutral bathroom become more prominent but it only be a small on toilet room for one person at a time access. This could potentially prevent problems. I also detest the amount of pronoun changes that are so overused and picky. They are so used that people even make fun of it. If someone was a male at birth then they are a he and vice versa. Life is difficult enough without having to call girls boys and boys girls.

Josephine

3/9/2020 10:08:36 am

Gender and sex are two different things. Gender deals with the mind and who they feel they are and sex can be described as the person’s physical identity. When the gender of the person’s mind does not match the person’s physical sex that causes gender dysphoria and makes the person transgender or nonbinary. Dysphoria makes them feel like they are trapped in a body that is not truly their own.

I believe that transgender people and nonbinary people should be able to use whatever bathroom they prefer. Most of the time we won't even notice that the person is transgender because they pass.

This will not cause blurred lines in sexual identities because not everyone identifies as nonbinary or transgender. people that are nonbinary or transgender should receive the same rights as someone who does not identify as transgender. By allowing people to transition without hate or judgment the saves them a lot of pain and hurt and allows them to grow. I believe what causes such a stigma centered around transgender and nonbinary people is that people, not experiencing gender dysphoria do not understand this and it makes them uncomfortable. The best way to understand this is to ask appropriate questions and educate yourself about this subject. In the end, we are all just people who deserve the right to be accepted.

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