News of the transgendered

But not in the way you might think. There is so much misunderstanding and hate leveled at people born with the transgender birth defect, that trying to transition in public without horrific backlash is near impossible.

There have been many studies that prove that being transgender is indeed medically based. Just like people are born intersex, it's just a misfire of hormones in utero.

As the spouse of a transgendered woman, I speak from experience. People are cruel. The suicide rate of transsexuals is high enough without snarky comments everywhere you turn.

I have heard that the occasional hen will crow. One time, I was behind someone in line at the post office who was mailing a pollo to Mexico.

Not every transition attempt is successful. Sometimes it takes several goes, this kind of thing is *difficult*. And sometimes, rarely, it's not right for the person either.

Here's what transition entails.

First, an assessment by a psych to make sure you're not bonkers, and to give a formal diagnosis of the problem. This weeds out the deluded, and makes sure there's a gender problem. If the patient is crackers, they can't give informed consent for hormonal or surgical treatment. Yes, they have to prove they're sane.

Then, after at least 3 months of this (sometimes years), the psych has to give formal written authorisation for hormonal treatment. A man who takes female hormones will freak out (impotence being one of the initial effects), a transsexual woman will feel great relief. Again, this weeds out those whose problems are not severe enough to require a full transition.

Then, when the patient feels ready, the start of the "Real Life Experience", a period of at least a year, often much longer, where the patient publicly lives as the target gender, despite not having had surgery. This doesn't so much separate the boys from the girls, as separate the survivors from the rest.

The idea is twofold: first, to make really, really, really sure with no doubt that transition is the right thing. And second, even if it *is* the right thing, to make sure that the patient has the psychic strength to endure the verbal and physical assaults that will usually happen to older transitioners. Oh yes, just to make things harder, you have to maintain employment too, or the clock is set to zero again.

There are interesting legal issues in some jurisdictions, especially for women. Presenting as female, while still with a mostly-male body can cause arrest and imprisonment, even though it's a part of the treatment required by the AMA through the specialist organisation WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health). Being raped is all too common too, TS women often lack the training other women receive from girlhood in avoiding risks.

I think 3 women have been murdered when in the RLE in the last 3 months.

Only then, when the patient can demonstrate and document success in life while living in the target gender, can they get through the next hurdle - a letter from a psych, plus a peer-review by a PhD gender specialist who will sign yet another letter authorizing surgery.

Many genuinely TS women don't make it at the first attempt - but conversely, there are some people whose gender identity is still consolidating who find out that although uncomfortable in one sex, they're uncomfortable as the other too, so "revert to backup". The neurological problems - "man's brain in woman's body" - have degrees, it's not always a binary situation.

I have no idea if Mike is just regrouping for another attempt in a year, or a decade, or has found out that transition isn't for him. The latter way has less complication, but is no easier, and requires just as much courage, if not more.

BTW I transitioned, so I know what I'm talking about (for once).