Transgenderism

The idea of sex change is based on the notion that a person of one gender can be born "trapped" in an opposite-gender body. The theory plays havoc with traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity.

It has been embraced primarily by advocates of the 1960s sexual revolution such as homosexual rights activists, but rejected by the Roman Catholic Church.

Transgendered patients seek to undergo surgical sex change operations (also known as gender reassignment surgery) to change their external appearance to to that of the gender with which they identify. Patients often undergo psychotherapy, hormone treatment, and facial surgery as well. In the United States, a patient must undergo years of counseling before being approved for the surgery.^{[Citation Needed]} Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like Thailand, where anyone with the money can have the surgery.

Legality

Different states have different laws regarding the status of people who have had sex change operations. Generally, their birth certificates are reissued with their new gender. Since they are not required to divorce before surgery, this could lead to de-facto same sex marriage if they stay with their spouse.

Opposition

J. Michael Bailey wrote a book which disagrees with the "born trapped" theory.

• In his book, he argued that some people born male who want to cross genders are driven primarily by an erotic fascination with themselves as women.

Dr. Bailey has come under tremendous social and administrative pressure from partisans who disagree with his scientific views. This pressure has focused primarily upon objections to the implications of his theory, rather than objections to his empirical evidence. Rather than try to refute his empirical findings, "transgender activists worked to try to ruin Bailey professionally and personally."

Famous Patients

• Christine (George) Jorgensen: An American World War II veteran, George became Christine in a 1952 operation. This was the first widely publicized sex change surgery.
• Jan (James) Morris: A British World War II veteran, reporter, and father, Morris underwent sex change surgery in 1972.
• Dr. Rene Richards (Richard Raskin): An American doctor and tennis player. Richards made waves in 1976, when he entered amateur tennis competitions as a woman.