[henry quirk]

"...there is a good deal of medical evidence to suggest that gender is less simple that we have previously considered. Quite aside from those people who are born physically male but 'feel' female."

Thing is: as pointed out up-thread, 'feeling' like a girl doesn't alter the fact that he is a boy. Reality trumps self-definition (or feelings of a bleeding heart).

#

"There are all sorts of variations on the theme. Differences in hormonal makeup for instance. Sexuality and sexual orientation are extraordinarily complex psychologically. It is a fundamental part of every person's identity, it is a fundamental part of everybody's psychological and physical development."

Indeed it is complex and Ibram should indulge his notions about his gender as he likes. The universe, however, doesn't care how he views himself. I take my cues from 'it', not him.

#

"The colour of one's skin is pretty much set from birth. The only psycholotgical impact of skin colour is where it places you in the world. Skin colour does not bring with it an ever shifting, ever developing hormonal stew. Skin colour and 'race' do not show any differences in brain structure or function.'

Er, that he has a cock and you a pussy is also pretty much set from birth.

DNA does not lie and it isn't altered by 'hormonal stew'. As posted up-thread, a significant number of folks who identify as transsexual may have been exposed to xenoestregens(sic). This makes, at least for those folks, their 'feeling' a disorder.

Again: not suggesting such folks need fixing...am suggesting such folks -- regardless of how they each go with or against those 'feelings' -- need to stop demanding obvious contradictions (he as she) be embraced by others.