3 ms·

That's sort of an arbitrary distinction. Both are abnormal presentations that cause significant problems in day-to-day life and consequently have clinics set up

That's sort of an arbitrary distinction. Both are abnormal presentations that cause significant problems in day-to-day life and consequently have clinics set up to treat the issue. Whether the issue is voluntary for a particular patient is also similarly important in assessing an appropriate treatment modality. Putting the obvious political agenda aside, I would argue teenage girls faking tourettes is pretty much the same phenomenon as teenage girls faking gender dysphoria. It's not helpful to pretend that faking tragic mental conditions isn't a phenomenon among teenagers.

standardUser 5y ago
"Both are abnormal presentations that cause significant problems in day-to-day life" The same was one-hundred percent true about homosexuality for nearly all of human history in most societies. If the "day-to-day problems" are because other people are mindlessly hateful and intolerant, who exactly has the mental health issue? In terms of homosexuality, we now largely agree it is the bigots, not the queers, who have the problem.
- MillenialMan 5y ago
  Many groups are social pariahs, none have a suicide rate close to the transgender community. Dysphoria by itself is clearly horrible to deal with, that's why people are willing to have double mastectomies in the pursuit of easing their mental pain. A vaginoplasty is incredibly invasive and isn't going to have a meaningful impact on day-to-day social judgement. I really don't buy the claim that it's purely or even primarily about acceptance. I would also point out that the the trans community themselves are advocating for greater access to treatment, not less. It's really not the same as the gay rights movement. Unlike gay people, treatment is literally one of their objectives.
  - standardUser 5y ago
    You're speaking as if you speak for all trans people. Not all trans people desire surgery. All trans people face discrimination and hate.
    - MillenialMan 5y ago
      I was actually quite careful not to say anything like "all trans people desire surgery"

standardUser 5y ago

"Both are abnormal presentations that cause significant problems in day-to-day life" The same was one-hundred percent true about homosexuality for nearly all of human history in most societies. If the "day-to-day problems" are because other people are mindlessly hateful and intolerant, who exactly has the mental health issue? In terms of homosexuality, we now largely agree it is the bigots, not the queers, who have the problem.

MillenialMan 5y ago
Many groups are social pariahs, none have a suicide rate close to the transgender community. Dysphoria by itself is clearly horrible to deal with, that's why people are willing to have double mastectomies in the pursuit of easing their mental pain. A vaginoplasty is incredibly invasive and isn't going to have a meaningful impact on day-to-day social judgement. I really don't buy the claim that it's purely or even primarily about acceptance. I would also point out that the the trans community themselves are advocating for greater access to treatment, not less. It's really not the same as the gay rights movement. Unlike gay people, treatment is literally one of their objectives.
- standardUser 5y ago
  You're speaking as if you speak for all trans people. Not all trans people desire surgery. All trans people face discrimination and hate.
  - MillenialMan 5y ago
    I was actually quite careful not to say anything like "all trans people desire surgery"