You see this is probably in part where we differ….I personally don’t see a child of 11 as being able to make the decision that his/her gender is wrong……from having quite a few kids of my own I can absolutely say that none of them could make a rational, far reaching, important decision as that at that young age…….what other decisions do you think young kids have the maturity to make ? Have sex ? Drive cars ? Work full time in a factory ?…..of course you don’t…..so then why should changing gender be any different. And still at 16…..kids are easily manipulated, easily coerced, easily cajoled into thinking or saying what is expected of them or what someone else wants them to think. We don’t let people make the decision of drinking alcohol or smoking till their 18….so why should this be any different ? Of course we won’t agree….however I respect your views
I definitely think that it should be made easier in general but this does seem to be a huge curveball and unnecessary, again from my experience, which is limited, they’d be way more other stuff more important and pressing in the first three months.
I suspect your mind would be changed if you walked a mile as a parent of a trans teen, let alone as a trans person. The work, drink, smoke and have sex are things we do not what we are, so not a great comparison. Not being trans I can’t put myself in their shoes and comprehend what it feels like, but seeing what people are prepared to put themselves through, seeing the happiness, the relief when they have the feeling they are living their authentic selves is quite something. A parent to a trans teen put it very well. Someone asked them what it was like to lose their daughter (who identified as a boy).. they replied, their daughter had been lost a long time ago (to being a very unhappy, reclusive, unresponsive child) when he presented as male (no surgery, etc) they had their child back.
Our opinions on this are always gonna differ, and we aren’t gonna change each other’s……however respect
@Staines R's knowing your sexuality, whilst not ideal is a better comparison, whilst still not perfect. Do you think you knew your sexuality before you were 18? You also need to factor in that you are going to get negativity from society if you’re coming out as either gay or trans, so you mentioned coercion, the biggest coercion is to fit into societies ‘norms’. Hence why some people hide this.
You knew your sexuality before you were 18 right? But you’re saying a trans person can’t know they are trans before they are 18. How come? Societal norms/expectations are surely the biggest cohesion to adhere? And we grow up with societal norms being you grow up, get a job, get married and have kids. To go against that is only going to make your life more difficult.
I’m trying to follow this debate without joining in because it covers issues which I am profoundly ignorant about. But this post has confused me. Sexuality/sexual orientation compared to gender identification?Aren’t these radically different things, completely different categories? I don’t think they can be compared.
You’re right. I only use it because I don’t think their is a better comparison. Again whilst me and Staines disagree on this I respect his views but I consider something like sexuality which you know about yourself, which I believe to be the case on gender, is more comparable than something we chose to do like smoking, drinking etc.
I was thinking the same, not really sure anyone can have an understanding other than those who have gone through gender transition or have had a close family member who has gone through the process. I would be surprised if my 11 year old daughter did have any thoughts regarding gender identity though, although as previous posts have stated maybe that is because she is happy being a girl?
With respect I’ve never mentioned my sexuality and maybe, just maybe I’ve experimented with the same sex…..I would add that I know more than a few men and women who lived as “straight” only to come out as “gay” many years later….not through repressing their feelings but because they just didn’t know who they were. Always found the subject of quite interesting when discussed this with a gay mate of mine, who was a bit of a ladies man up to his 30’s, then gradually realised that he liked men better. He couldn’t really say when he realised but definitely didn’t know who he was at a young age.
Keep the story of those experiments to yourself Unless what you mean by experimenting with the same sex was two girls
Do you not think that society had anything to do with them not realising their sexuality till later in their life? As I’ve mentioned growing up the norm/what was represented was heterosexuality, get married have kids. If that is what you see over and over, well it might have an influence on a person who may have subconsciously suppressed their genuine feelings?
Can’t help but think Sturgeon is turning this into an anti English/Westminster thing for political gain thereby taking away from the whole and more important issues of gender/sexuality. I do hope it back fires on her. I do think 16 is too young to make a final decision and that with maturity waiting two years for any final decision and/or reassignment would be worth it. Some US states allows 16 to decide but then they have so many more issues to contend with. Being 16 some are mature and some are not enough to decide, so this along with having the vote and drinking, 18 is a safer bet.
i blame wimmins lib and all the estrogen being flushed down into the water system for ****ing with the kids or it could be all the microplastics they are drinking or it could be something else
rnli will be bankrupt by march please log in to view this image Robert Jenrick @RobertJenrick Last year at least 4,000 migrants attempted to enter the UK in HGVs. We’re increasing the fine for bringing stowaways into the country from £2k to £10k per migrant. The penalties hadn’t changed for 20 years. We’re restoring deterrence to the system.
its your favourite kelvin again Kelvin MacKenzie @kelvmackenzie Starting salaries to hit £30K...average pay a couple of quid off £40K...and the real winner is the employer pension contribution of 23.6% compared with the private sector often receiving less than 4%. Throw in 13 weeks holiday and being a teacher doesn't seem too bad.
