Transgender why

He had just launched a study — the first of its kind — that would follow people such as Arren through their transition and for years afterwards. Arren would be the third person to enrol. On a snowy day earlier this year, she returned to the hospital, as she does annually, to give blood and answer surveys. He is busy these days: the study has now reached 2, participants across 4 clinics in Europe.

That has left scientists and physicians with little data about the long-term effects of such treatment on health, such as cancer susceptibility, or how the brain and body change as people transition both socially and medically.

ENIGI and a handful of other emerging studies could provide invaluable information. Media attention on transgender issues and a general shift in public opinion over the past decade has allowed more people than ever to open up about how they identify and to seek treatment. ENIGI and a few other studies hope to change that by providing data on the best treatments and outcomes.

The research could also reveal some of the basic biology underlying differences among sexes. Tantalizing hints are already beginning to emerge about the respective roles of hormones and genetics in gender identity.

And findings are beginning to clarify the medical and psychological impacts of transitioning. The topic was not discussed. Nevertheless, he moved on to launch the ENIGI consortium in , at a time when things were starting to improve for transgender people in Europe. But patients at the hospital had all received different courses of treatment: physicians generally use their own judgement in choosing a hormone and dosage for each person.

It can sometimes be hard to recruit transgender people to studies: a history of discrimination and exploitation has left many reluctant to trust researchers. Like Arren, nearly everyone he asked to be part of the study said yes.

In fact, limited resources have occasionally forced him to turn people away. The cohort grew as taboos around being transgender started to recede in Belgium. In , a popular television presenter came out.

His growing visibility brought more people to the university, and to the study. Ghent University Hospital enrolled more than participants in , compared to the year before, and the hospital now has a waiting list. The numbers mean that the ENIGI researchers can finally draw some significant conclusions about the effects of standard care. So far, hormone treatments seem to be safe, with few side effects.

The most common complaints from people are lowered sexual desire and voice changes. But the most significant change the researchers have measured is something positive — a decrease in anxiety and depression after treatment 1. Tristana Woudstra, a year-old university student with waist-length curly hair, tells Defreyne that her hips hurt from the oestrogen treatment she began taking nine months ago.

The hospital sees participants every three months at first and eventually once per year, collecting data each time. After a consultation, participants typically have their blood taken. Researchers track biological indicators, such as stress hormones and immune markers.

Later, they collate these with other data, such as psychological examinations, brain scans and DNA sequences. Senne Misplon, a transgender man, describes his experience taking testosterone. What challenges do trans people face? Some of the specific issues facing the trans community are: Lack of legal protection — Trans people face a legal system that often does not protect us from discrimination based on our gender identity.

Despite a recent U. Moreover, state legislatures across the country are debating — and in some cases passing — legislation specifically designed to prohibit trans people from accessing public bathrooms that correspond with our gender identity, or creating exemptions based on religious beliefs that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people.

Poverty — Trans people live in poverty at elevated rates, and for trans people of color, these rates are even higher. Despite this progress, the trans community still faces considerable stigma due to more than a century of being characterized as mentally ill, socially deviant and sexually predatory. While these intolerant views have faded in recent years for lesbians and gay men, trans people are often still ridiculed by a society that does not understand us.

This stigma plays out in a variety of contexts — from lawmakers who leverage anti-trans stigma to score cheap political points; to family, friends or coworkers who reject trans people upon learning about our trans identities; and to people who harass, bully and commit serious violence against trans people. This includes stigma that prevents them from accessing necessary services for their survival and well-being.

Too often, harassment has led trans people to avoid exercising their most basic rights to vote. Psychiatry has long been enamored with the theory of mothers harming the development of their children for example, the refrigerator mother theory posited that autism was caused by a lack of maternal warmth. They found these mothers had more symptoms of both.

Sounds convincing, right? Children must become transgender because their mothers are mentally ill. And that doing so makes them sad and impacts their self-esteem. In each case, researchers were hyperfocused on finding a problem with either the kids or their parents. But in the end, these scientists failed to establish one.

Instead of supporting these kids, the researchers labeled them unattractive or painted their parents as mentally unstable. The logic of so-called gender identity conversion therapy is that if the environment is the cause, then we can simply alter the environment to nip things in the bud. Several U. Similar research into the psychological causes of transgender identity continues even today. A physician at Brown University recently conducted an anonymous survey of respondents recruited via Web sites for parents who believe peer pressure and online influences have made their children transgender.

People whose gender is not male or female may use many different terms to describe themselves. One term that some people use is non-binary , which is used because the gender binary refers to the two categories of male and female. Another term that people use is genderqueer. If you're not sure what term someone uses to describe their gender, you should ask them politely. It's important to remember that if someone is transgender, it does not necessarily mean that they have a "third gender.

For more information about what it's like to have a gender other than male or female or how you can support the non-binary people in your life, read NCTE's guide Understanding Non-Binary People.

Telling someone that a core part of who they are is wrong or delusional and forcing them to change it is dangerous, sometimes leading to lasting depression, substance abuse, self-hatred and even suicide. However, many transgender people find it helpful to get counseling to help them decide when to tell the world they are transgender and deal with the repercussions of stigma and discrimination that comes afterward.

Transitioning is the time period during which a person begins to live according to their gender identity, rather than the gender they were thought to be at birth. While not all transgender people transition, a great many do at some point in their lives.

Gender transition looks different for every person. And some people undergo hormone therapy or other medical procedures to change their physical characteristics and make their body better reflect the gender they know themselves to be.

Transitioning can help many transgender people lead healthy, fulfilling lives. All transgender people are entitled to the same dignity and respect, regardless of which legal or medical steps they have taken. Some transgender people make or want to make legal changes as part of their transition, like by changing their name or updating the gender marker on their identity documents.

Not all transgender people need or want to change their identity documents, but for many, it's a critical step in their transition. For many transgender people, not having identity documents like driver's licenses or passports that match their gender means that they might not be able to do things that require an ID, like getting a job, enrolling in school, opening a bank account, or traveling.

Some transgender people who use an ID that doesn't match their gender or their presentation face harassment, humiliation, and even violence. Transgender people may need to change a number of documents in order to live according to their gender identity, such as their:.

It's important to know that not all transgender people be able to make the changes they need to their IDs and other official documents. Unfortunately, these changes are often expensive, burdensome, and complicated, putting them out of reach for many people. For example, some states still require proof of surgery or a court order to change a gender marker. In many states, the process can be time-consuming and involve many steps, or cost hundreds of dollars.

NCTE works to modernize all of these outdated requirements. States are increasingly adopting more accessible and straightforward policies for changing one's name and gender marker.

Some, but not all, transgender people undergo medical treatments to make their bodies more congruent with their gender identity and help them live healthier lives. While transition-related care is critical and even life-saving for many transgender people, not everyone needs medical care to transition or live a fulfilling life. Different transgender people may need different types of transition-related care.

People should make decisions about their care based on their individual needs. Medical procedures can include:.