What is wrong with people having conflicting beliefs about transgender identity.
To some people it's internal, and not a choice.
To others it's about external appearance, a behavioral choice.
Why not treat both approaches as creeds, and weigh and respect them equally under law?
Is that really too much to ask?
If Hindus, Muslims and Vegans don't agree on not eating beef, pork or no meat at all;
does this require govt to pass a policy imposing one and excluding another? For matters of beliefs or creeds, what happened to govt generally staying out of conflicts and letting people work it out and decide for themselves how to exercise their beliefs without stepping on each other's boundaries.
Do we see Lutherans suing to force Catholics to open up their communions to everyone to avoid discrimination? The policy of letting institutions work out their own systems works in private; why can't bathroom policies be treated as personal. Sure, where public institutions are involved, nobody should be discriminated against, but that goes both ways; a policy that seeks to CORRECT an issue of discrimination can't impose a different one and be pushed as a solution.
If a couple is the only Vegan at a dinner is there anything wrong with preparing a meal differently for that couple, WITHOUT changing the whole menu for all the other guests so they are all treated the same?
Let's compare some other scenarios, tell me if you see the similarities or not:
When Muslims want to pray at work, they may request a special arrangement with their management to have a quiet place to pray 5 times a day.
Does this mean EVERYONE has to be subject to that? No. it's kept in private.
There is nothing shameful about being different, and doing something in a private
room or corner that nobody else has to ask for and do.
If Christians want to express or share their beliefs in ways that affect others, people have the right to say NO I don't feel comfortable. Don't impose that on me in public, keep it in private. This isn't considered discrimination but courtesy to understand other people may not take it the same way it is meant.
Some people don't get how is it imposing on Christians to ask them to keep their ways to themselves. But some of their belief is based on duty to share with others, and they feel excluded and a sense of loss at being denied what is natural to them as free expression and exercise. to others it is imposing and pushing religion in public.
Here isn't something similar happening? Both sides have beliefs that impact the others.
Neither side is going to get their way without infringing on the sense of security of the others. So that is why Unisex restrooms or neutral / singlestalled facilities seem the best option which don't require EITHER side to change their views or change how they act.
The rest of the debate appears to be emotional attachment and personal meaning this issue has to different people.
Since it isn't scientifically proven what is going on with transgender identity, it's all personal beliefs and faith based. So why not respect those equally and impose none, and exclude none. Allow people freedom to work out their issues they are bringing to the table. And as for the restrooms, it seems unisex restrooms don't cause any conflict, so why not remain neutral? isn't that what govt policy should be ideally, totally neutral?
The emotional and personal factors involved here are what is really causing the debates to escalate beyond repair. The facts are simple that NOTHING is proven, so it's all faith based on both sides. The sooner we can accept that, and separate our personal stakes and meaning this has to us from the actual policies that are going to work or going to fail, the better we can take steps to avoid failure and to seek what is more effective.
I hope the hoopla and upset calms down, and people rise above the personal issues at stake to work out fair policies that respect all people and restore a sense of normal standards. Thanks for letting me share, and I hope you will also! Yours truly, Emily
Why respect a mental illness?
Hi
007 Not all cases are mental illness, this is a personal belief and faith based argument, as is the other side.
Some may have "gender dysphoria" which some may consider a mental disorder.
The worst problems I see are more like PTSD from abuse and trauma similar to vets and rape victims.
This is not a permanent state, but from circumstances imposed on the sufferers who did not agree to that.
So they feel like victims and this is a separate layer that CAN be addresssed and resolved with proper counseling.
I have a transgender friend who is perfectly mentally healthy and happy.
We discussed, before this gender issue came out, how this was a Spiritual Process.
If someone is Spiritually a female personality but born in a male body to experience
certain challenges in life in order to FORGIVE and GROW Spiritually, that is NOT a mental illness.
It is a spiritual process and the point and purpose is to focus on the positive,
so that the negative conflicts get resolved in the process.
The mental and emotional problems in facing such adversity are overcome
by Forgiveness and Healing.
Once someone is Healed spiritually, has forgiven and let go,
if they come out gay, straight, transgender or corresponding gender,
they are no longer mentally ill with emotional damage over these issues.
The healing process it takes to come out FULLY also heals causes and symptoms of illness associated.
Now you are right in that some cases where people HAVEN'T finished the whole process,
if they are stuck in anger denial and projection, that has the same root causes as mental
illness: Unforgiven conflicts that become spiritually infected with negative emotions and patterns
of thought and behavior, causing addiction and abuse.
007 the way you can tell if someone "what degree people are healed" or not
is if they reject opposition or they forgive and include it.
To determine this, Christians have traditionally used "sharing the Gospel" and praying in Christ
to tell if people are fully healed and receptive or not, or if they respond with rebellion. If they reject
that is the negative fear and unforgiveness of the past causing that, which is the same root cause
of all social, spiritual mental and physical ills in the world.
The people who are open and don't reject, even if they aren't Christian, are the
ones who are spiritually open and healed and don't have issues one way or another.
So
007 by consistent standards of what is mentally ill and repressed
MOST people on this planet suffer some % of mental illness as we
are not perfectly forgiving, rational, and healed of all the damage we have suffered emotionally.
Whether we can FORGIVE and whether we make a Commitment to forgive and receive healing
determines how quickly we can OVERCOME situations that threaten to damage our mental health.
I'd say the chances are higher for Transgender people to require deeper more specialized
counseling, similar to PTSD in Veterans that requires careful management to avoid suicide.
If not all Post War Veterans are mentally ill, not all Transgender people are mentally ill.
A lot of it is the circumstances that require careful counseling
that otherwise impose TRAUMA on the person.
Once they have signs of PTSD from ABUSE, then yes that requires counseling
and YES it is considered a mental health issue similar to vets and rape victims
with PTSD. But it is NOT a reason to reject and judge people, especially for circumstances
they don't control, don't want, and don't agree to be punished for.
