Transgender Debate: Side By Side Comparison
Summary of Polarized Opinions on Transgender Issues
Transgender Debate: Side By Side Comparison
Summary of Polarized Opinions on Transgender Issues
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Table: Transgender Debate. Side By Side Comparison.
Note: Issues related to the Concept of Transgender Medicine are very complex. Therefore it is impossible to avoid over-simplifications when summarizing those concepts in a compact tabular form. To learn about details, readers are encouraged to explore the detailed References and Resources that are listed in the References Section of this article.
Background of the Transgender Debate.
In not so remote past a peculiar diagnosis that used to be called a gender identity disorder (GID) belonged to the category of “medical zebras” - that is a group of rare medical esoterica. It naturally constituted a very serious problem to the patients affected by it. However, this was not a well known nor frequently discussed condition. It was a fascinating subject for the small group of medical sub-specialists and scientific researchers. Yet, today in the era of severe political polarization - GID renamed Gender Dysphoria, and related to it concept of Transgenderism became the ultimate cause célèbre of the Left Wing and the dreadful bête noire of the Right Wing.
As discussed previously in “Politicization, Polarization & Power Asymmetry: The Sinister Triad Affecting Modern Medicine” members of the general public and professionals who belong to the two competing political factions - tend to dwell inside their own insulated Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles (Ref). In result, they rarely read directly the texts produced by the opposing ideological camp. To close that gap we have previously collected the representative texts produced by the professional organizations from both sides of the Transgender debate. The link to this compilation is provided here: Transgender Medicine and Research: Collection of Resources from both sides of the TG debate.
To provide even more clarity on the differences between the Left and Right Wing perception of Transgender issues - the presented above table has been created. The table contains the simplified but as accurate as possible side by side comparison between views of those two political camps on the concept of Transgenderism. As can bee seen upon the review of the content of this table - both political camps agree that “Transgender” is an umbrella term describing people whose self-identification of gender differs from their biological chromosomal sex. This congruity on definition is the only matter upon which Left and Right can agree. Beside that single issue - both political Wings disagree vigorously on everything related to this subject. Such a heated discord is understandable:
The Left Wing embraces the idea of transgenderism enthusiastically since it aligns perfectly with all philosophical tenets underlying the Left Wing Worldview - including emphasis on Progressive principles such as: social justice, civil rights, equality, equity, diversity, intersectionality, inclusiveness, promotion of social welfare, etc. (Ref), (Ref), (Ref), (Ref), (Ref). Moreover, progressives by definition promote profound societal and cultural changes. They actively seek novelty in life (Ref). Hence, they are open to even most dramatic societal and cultural perturbations as long as such modifications are consistent with their philosophical views.
The Right Wing objects very strongly to the concept of transgenderism, because it is built upon the mentioned above Left Wing axions that ferociously negate the philosophical, cultural, religious and ethical principles of the Right (Ref), (Ref), (Ref), (Ref), (Ref). Therefore, the same concept that is very appealing to Progressives is highly appalling for Conservatives and it elicits their vigorous rejection (Ref), (Ref). Furthermore, Conservatives by their own nature oppose dramatic societal and cultural changes. They seek stability and not novelty (Ref). Consequently, Conservatives see Transgenderism as a threat to admired by them traditional gender roles, family structure and moral values. Certain Conservatives believe that promotion of Transgenderism imperil their religious freedom, since they perceive that concept to be blasphemous (Ref).
In the table, the issue of Pediatric Gender Identity Affirming Care (PGIAC) occupies only one row. However, it is much more important than it would appear - after looking briefly at this table. It requires special attention for numerous reasons and will be discussed separately in the future articles. In brief, PGIAC has been met with especially strong resistance by Conservatives, who argue that such approach is enormously risky, can be extremely harmful, is not based upon persuasive evidence, and constitute child abuse (Ref) ,(Ref), (Ref). Numerous laws banning PGIAC have been already passed in conservative states. This took place despite Left Wing protests and claims that PGIAC has been endorsed by all major medical societies and that denying PGIAC to children is “tantamount to torture” (Ref), (Ref), (Ref), (Ref).
Clearly, the debate over Transgenderism that has been ongoing for years - is not calming down. To the contrary, the deep partisan divide on this matter is expanding exponentially as the above side by side comparison demonstrates. Currently, there is no chance for the agreement between the Left and Right regarding the answers to even the most basic questions related to Transgenderism. Left and Right Wing disagree vehemently even if the concept of Transgenderism is objectively valid.
Both sides are absolutely and firmly certain that only their assessment of Transgenderism is correct, true and beneficial, while the ideas of their opponents are wrong, false and harmful. Both sides produce the expert opinions, interpretation of research studies and anecdotal reports that seem to support their point of view. The Left has a substantial advantage here since due to the discussed previously Power Asymmetry it has full control over the Academia (source of traditional expertise), Mainstream Media (source of traditional information) and Administrative Agencies such as FDA, CDC, etc. (sources of real power). Despite this discussed previously Power Asymmetry between Left and Right Wing - both sides seem to be locked in the surprising Stalemate. Yet, the members of both political sides are absolutely sure that it is their side that will prevail and the opposite side will be decisively defeated - sooner or later (Ref), (Ref). We leave the conclusions about this to the readers of this article.
REFERENCES:
References Quoted in the table:
[1] Olson-Kennedy J et a.l.: Chest Reconstruction and Chest Dysphoria in Transmasculine Minors and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 May 1;172(5):431-436. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5875384/
[2] Trotta D. Montana transgender legislator silenced after “blood on your hands” comment. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/montana-transgender-legislator-censured-after-blood-your-hands-comment-2023-04-26/ . Published April 28, 2023.
[3] What are Trans Rights? QE Website 2023: https://www.queerevents.ca/education/transgender/trans-rights
[4] LGBTQ Policy Spotlight: Bans On Medical Care For Transgender People. MAP. https://www.mapresearch.org/file/MAP-2023-Spotlight-Medical-Bans-report.pdf Published April 2023.
[5] Bans On Best Practice Medical Care For TransgenderYouth. MAP. https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare/youth_medical_care_bans Published May 23, 2023.
Other References and Resources used:
https://neutralresearcher.substack.com/p/transgender-medicine-and-research
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/cpac-speaker-transgender-people-eradicated-1234690924/
https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/05/are-conservatives-winning-the-debate-on-transgenderism/
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/07/15401/
https://www.aamc.org/news/what-gender-affirming-care-your-questions-answered
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/transgenderism-compromise-necessary-to-preserve-social-order/
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/02/11/deep-partisan-divide-on-whether-greater-acceptance-of-transgender-people-is-good-for-society/
https://apnews.com/article/politics-utah-nebraska-south-dakota-oklahoma-c87a79b602a9999023ed339056b446d0
https://aapsonline.org/aaps-statement-on-gender-affirming-care-for-minor-children/
Green, A. E., DeChants, J. P., Price, M. N., & Davis, C. K. (2021). Association of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy With Depression, Thoughts of Suicide, and Attempted Suicide Among Transgender and Nonbinary Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 70(4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.10.036
Olson-Kennedy J, Warus J, Okonta V, Belzer M, Clark LF. Chest Reconstruction and Chest Dysphoria in Transmasculine Minors and Young Adults: Comparisons of Nonsurgical and Postsurgical Cohorts. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 May 1;172(5):431-436. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5875384/
https://www.queerevents.ca/education/transgender/trans-rights
https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/transgender-rights-are-human-rights/
Smedinghoff G. What Is Left vs. What Is Right?Presentation to Anderson Read Group, Phoenix, Ariz, Sep 23, 2020. Available at: https://aapsonline.org/leftvsright.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2023.