Who’s bullying who?

One of the most common complaints in the transgender debate is that trans-people are the subject of much bullying and harassment.  I haven’t seen statistics on the matter, but I suspect there is an element of truth to that statement, but at the same time, I also suspect the extent depends upon which side of the issue one is on.  So, with that said, I’ll begin today’s post by stating it is not my intent to change anyone’s mind regarding the matter, especially as it pertains to women’s sports, because gender dysphoria is a legitimate medical condition and I’m neither a sociologist nor a doctor. Nonetheless, there are two sides to a debate that’s restricted by the fact that the few peer-reviewed medical studies that do exist are unclear about its causes.

~ Hypotheses, not Conclusions ~

Medical experts who have studied the matter differ considerably.  Many believe gender dysphoria is caused by hormones in the womb, others believe it’s genetic, while still other attribute it to cultural and environmental factors.  In essence, the issue isn’t just a matter of not knowing, it’s a matter of not knowing what we don’t know – there is a difference.

Meanwhile, someone would have to be obtuse not to recognize that gender dysphoria has become a significant cultural issue across ideological lines.  One school of thought contends that when biological males identify as women, society should be accepting of that fact and organize itself to accommodate those who are afflicted.  At the same time however, as Charlie Kirk asked in a recent talk if that’s the case should society also allow a 6’2,” 210 lb. man afflicted with adult-child syndrome to compete in a T-ball tournament with 4-year-olds?

If we’re asking society to adapt to transgender women who want to compete with chromosomal women, shouldn’t society also adapt to adults who identify as toddlers and want to compete in preschool soccer matches?  The answer is obvious, of course not.  And it’s not necessary to understand why a given adult identifies as a child, just that they do.  But at the same time shouldn’t society be sensitive to their condition?  And how do we accommodate that?  We can pursue this line of thinking into the realm of the absurd and speculate about people who think they’re a different species and ask how far society should go to accommodate those medically recorded instances when someone believes they’re a dog.

~ A Matter of Respect? ~

One of the arguments we hear about allowing chromosomal men to compete with chromosomal women is that it’s a matter of respecting the individual because of his or her condition.  But accommodating people isn’t always respectful.  A bariatric surgeon won’t perform liposuction on someone with anorexia because they know liposuction would kill them even though the anorexic wants and believes they need it.  Sometimes common sense should reign.

And what about the elephant in the room, i.e., the legions of men and women who are genuinely uncomfortable with biological men competing with biological women?  Should we destroy standards because a minuscule few are ‘uncomfortable’ competing with people who have the same type of chromosomes they do?   As an aside, and for those who feel transgenders of either sex should be welcomed into the military, statistics reveal the suicide attempt rate in the United States ranges between ½ % – 2%, however, the suicide attempt rate for people who have transitioned ranges between 32% – 50% – begging the question, as a matter of national security, why would anyone want people who are 2,000 times more likely to commit suicide defending our shores?

Those who advocate for transgender women being allowed to compete with chromosomal women frame the issue within a context of their choosing.  Obviously, each of us has opinions and everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but isn’t the real issue how we structure society around the matter?  And that’s a completely different question than respecting or valuing someone else’s opinion.  And when we begin re-structuring society predicated on minority opinions using the power of agency, I think we have to question who’s really being bullying who.

Quote of the day: “Free speech is my right to say what you don’t want to hear.” —George Orwell