You will probably recall this song popularized by The Who as the musical introduction to the TV series Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). Although I never watched the series, I have always enjoyed its theme music. When I think about gender identity issues, I always hear this song in my head – even though that isn’t what the song is about. I think that our individual gender identity addresses an important aspect of the question, “Who are you?”
Below are two items from Friday’s Texas Medicine Today e-news.
| TMA Supports Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care in Lawsuit |
| As a lawsuit over investigations of care provided to transgender youth heads to a hearing today, TMA has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case in support of medically necessary, gender-affirming care, and opposing the criminalization of such treatment. TMA is also in talks with state leadership on the issue. Stay updated. |
| TMA in Talks With State Leaders on Gender-Affirming Care |
| In a series of meetings with state leadership, TMA has reiterated its opposition to the criminalization of medically necessary gender-affirming care and emphasized the need for protecting the patient-physician relationship with transgender youth and adolescents. At press time, the talks between TMA leaders and state leadership were ongoing. Read more on the issue. |
A day or two before this newsletter appeared in my email, I saw a post by George Takei. Now, “Uncle George” is not a physician or medical ethicist, but he was once captain of the Federation Starship Excelsior, and that has to count for something. Uncle George observed that gender-affirming care isn’t really the issue at the heart of the Texas anti-trans bill that seeks to criminalize parents who help their trans child to obtain gender affirming care. Gender affirming care appears to be just fine provided that it is for persons who are cis-gendered.
Let me explain. If you feel that you aren’t the woman you wish to be because your breasts are too small, you can get breast implants – gender-affirming care. If your erectile dysfunction keeps you from feeling like the man you used to be, you can get a prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor (Viagra and others) or a penile prosthesis, if that’s what it takes to affirm your manliness – gender-affirming care. There are other examples, but you get the point.
I don’t understand why Conservatives and religious types (often the same folks) are so preoccupied with the sexual lives of others. When other folks do exactly the same things that they do regarding their own sexuality and reproductive capacity, Conservatives see obscenity, immorality, and sin. It is the absolute height of arrogance and inhumanity.
People who claim to follow the path of faith should give everyone else the freedom to answer the question, “Who are you?” for themselves.