Larry King was incorrect in telling some of his guests on a recent program that if they have not gone through sex reassignment surgery, they are not transgender. And the lady doctor/specialist on the program corrected him on that.
Originally, Dr. Harry Benjamin coined the word "transsexual" to describe an individual who feels that their psychological sex and biological sex conflict. Using this definition, one is transsexual whether they have had surgery or not -- and are transsexual whether they "cross dress" or not. And it is cruel to pressure someone into having surgery as major as physical "sex reassignment" in order to be accepted as the person they feel they really are.
Eventually the word "transsexual" was revised to describe people who have either had the surgery or who are in preparation for it.
In 1980, Virginia Prince coined the word "transgender" to describe people who live full-time in the role opposite of their biological sex, but who -- for whatever reason -- do not want, or cannot have, surgery.
If someone asks me: "Have you had sex reassignment surgery?", I return their nosey question with another question: "Do you want to have sex with me?" Then, when they say "no", I say: "Then it is none of your business!"
As was stated on Larry King, the Harry Benjamin standard for surgery is that the patient live full-time in the role opposite of their biological sex for at least one year before considering surgery. I was a patient of Dr. Benjamin in San Francisco the first year I lived as Paula in 1963.
And as the lady on Larry Kingexplained -- it has nothing to do with what they have "between their legs", but rather "between their ears". I recently had Rebecca Nay, of trannywreck.com,a post-operative male-to-female transsexual, as a guest on my program. She said that her having the surgery does not make her a woman, meaning that she was a woman BEFORE she had surgery. And I totally agree.
Every one of the guests on Larry King were transgender, in the true definition of the word - whether they have had the surgery, are scheduled to have it, or are unable to have it. While there is enlightenment, yet a lot of ignorance still exists on this misunderstood subject.
Larry King is supportive of Gay people. Like many, however,he has been ignorant on the subject of transsexuality.
And every one of Larry King's guests said that they knew they were "different", "as far back as they can remember." That is so true. I knew it when I was five years old.
A book that I highly recommend is entitled OMNIGENDER, by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, a prominent evangelical feminist. She tells of transgender images throughout history, both in the scriptures and in church history.
People should be able to dress and live as they are comfortable, and be perceived and accepted in whatever role or identity they choose.
copyright 2007 -
SISTER PAULA NIELSEN,
PO Box 2206, Portland, OR 97208
Monday, August 20, 2007