LGBTQ2-I? – The “I” stands for Intersex

“Around 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits - comparable to the number of people born with red hair.” (1)
Intersex people are different from Transgender people who have clearly male or female biology at birth but do not identify with the apparent gender. Intersex people have ambiguous biological indicators - a combination of male and female external anatomy, internal anatomy, hormone levels and/or DNA. This is not always noticeable at birth.

Babies with visible intersex features have traditionally received gender assignment surgery right after birth. The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) now recommends that such surgery should only be done once a child is able to make an informed decision as to the gender they identify with. The above information and more can be found on the ISNA website found here:
http://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex

For an excellent video (18:12 min.) on the complex subject of gender identity and assignment, please use the following link to hear from Alice Dreger in her TEDX talk. She explains how gender assignment at birth is, at best, a guess:
https://www.ted.com/talks/alice_dreger_is_anatomy_destiny?language=en&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

The following link is to a video (11:27 min.) by Emily Quinn who learned of her intersex identity near puberty and identifies simply as “Queer”.
 “What it Means to be Intersex with Emily Quinn”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnfOnUweew

(1)    “It is Intersex Awareness Day - here are 5 myths we need to shatter,”
Posted in: LGBTI Rights, Amnesty International Canada. Friday, October 26, 2018
https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/it-intersex-awareness-day-here-are-5-myths-we-need-shatter

How is it that some people are transgender?

The origins of being transgender have been studied for decades. A University of Ottawa journal article “A Review of Transgender Health in Canada”(1) cites a conservative estimate of the number of transgender individuals in Canada to be approximately 100,000. Research into the origins of being transgender has discovered that it has a biological basis involving brain structure and genetics.

From a Harvard University website (2) by Katherine Wu: “…Transgender people appear to be born with brains more similar to the gender with which they identify, rather than the one to which they were assigned.” The website provides a detailed summary of the research with diagrams as well as some definitions of transgender language. 

Below are two links to TEDx videos by parents of transgender children.

The first video (16 min.) is by a mother about her transgender daughter and includes a piece by her teenage daughter after her transition.
“Transgender: a mother’s story” by Susie Green
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZiVPh12RQY

The second (21 min.) is by a self-described “old, conservative, Catholic, ex-military” father about his 21-year-old son.
 “Proud to call you my transgender son” by Skip Pardee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8Plf_IXGs





(1)Travis William Davidson, MSc, “A Review of Transgender Health in Canada”. University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine. 2: (Nov. 2015), 40-45.
A Review of Transgender Health in Canada - ottawa.scholarsportal.info

(2)Katherine Wu, “Between the (Gender) Lines: The Science of Gender Identity,” Blog, Special Edition: Dear Mister/Madam President. Harvard University,
October 25, 2016.
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2016/gender-lines-science-transgender-identity/

"T" Stands For "Transgender"

The “T” in LGBTQ2 stands for transgender and is linked to a person’s own gender identity for who they are – not who they are sexually attracted to.  Transgender does not mean confused or gay.

It's about the gender a person experiences themselves to be. For transgender people this is different from the biological gender they were born with and are assumed to be. In the end it does not match their identity.  The easiest way to remember is that a person who is transgender is someone who does not identify with their gender at birth.

It is a common misunderstanding that all cross-dressers and drag queens are transgender – while possible, this is often not true. Cross-dressers and drag queens and kings sometimes like to dress in clothes of the opposite sex and behave like them but can still feel comfortable with the gender they were born with.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission provides a clear and detailed description of transgender and the rights transgender people have in Ontario. Here is the link to the Commission’s brochure:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/gender-identity-and-gender-expression-brochure

Here are two video’s which offer the opportunity to hear about transgender experience from the person’s themselves - first a middle-aged minister and second a young man.

Ruth's Story
Ruth Wood, the United Church minister of Calvary Pastoral Charge in Kingston, Ontario, talks about her new journey in life, that of a transgender person transitioning at mid-life and her theological reflection on acceptance and love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD4X1TKjtL4&feature=youtu.be

My Gender Transition From Female To Male
This is the story of a successful transition by a 20-year-old person born with a girl’s body but feeling like a boy. There are some medically graphic images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYuipbRGu5s

Nilsson Flies the Rainbow Flag

Copyright Ottawa Citizen

The Senators new Goalie, Anders Nilsson, is a big supporter of the right of all people to play team sports. He even has a rainbow flag on his goalie mask.

This article appeared in Postmedia papers, this week.

Christmas - A New Commandment

John 13:34-36 (NRSV)
 

³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Advent 4 - Love

It is difficult for us to think of a more powerful word than LOVE.  If asked to convey or share the magic of love many will think of hearts, family, health, caring, happiness, trust, passion, friends, warmth, home, forever and on and on and on.  Powerful images.  The love of Jesus is central to our belief and theology as Christians.  The love Jesus shared with us and the love we share for all humanity.  

During this advent season think about those in our church community, neighbourhood, country and world that could use more love - there are many that have been harmed or hurt.  Many in the LGBTQ2 community have lost the love of family or friends simply because of their sexual orientation - who they love.  Why are we hurting?  What have we done?  When will we be loved?  Be especially sensitive to those around you that require strong role models, a loving hug, support and acceptance - showing acts of kindness, respect and love to all people is a positive message that breaks down barriers to hate, hurt and injustice.

A video of LOVE

 

Small and intentional acts - to make the world a better place - may the season and giving of advent continue forever.  May we all be blessed to be loved by many and share this gift with all.  Amen.     

Advent 3 - Joy

JOY – did you ever go to summer camp?  Can you remember the joy you experienced i.e.  swimming, playing games, camp fires, water sports or music, arts & crafts. 

Camp Ten Oaks is an Ottawa camp for LGBTQ children and children of families who identify.  As one camper said, “Ten Oaks. It’s a break from the homophobia I face every day”.

Hear the Joy when you read some of the Inspiring change stories from the website at -  http://www.tenoaksproject.org/  A donation to Camp Ten Oaks would help bring JOY to a camper this summer.

Following is Sherman’s story –
Sherman
15 years old
Camper since 2011

I’m not like every other teenager and I never will be. But Camp Ten Oaks has shown me that I can be whoever I want to be. And, nobody can ever judge me for that.

I came out as gay when I was 13. I was severely bullied at school and it felt like there was nothing I could do about it. My social worker suggested I go to Camp Ten Oaks and that moment changed my life.

I’ve now been to camp for three years in a row, but I remember not knowing what I signed up for that first year. I’m not normally an outdoors-y person and camp is, well, it’s quite rustic. I couldn’t believe it – not much electricity, outhouses, and never ending stairs!

After a few days though, none of that mattered. I was just having the best time ever.

For the first time I felt like I belonged. There are so many amazing people at camp. Ten Oaks was the first place I felt that nobody judged me. I can’t even put that feeling into words – it’s liberating – the best feeling in the world.

Every summer I’ve gone back to camp, it’s affected my life for the rest of the year. Because of Camp Ten Oaks, I can be more myself than I’ve ever been.

I want to thank everyone with my life who makes camp possible. The Ten Oaks Project has helped and changed me in a way nothing else could.