During the final period of my employment with a governmental agency, I worked closely with our ill, injured, and disabled employees. The constraints of HIPAA laws prevent me from identifying patients or giving specific details, but having interacted with "transgender" employees during this period, I have some general observations.

1. Individuals who feel that they "identify" with a sex other than that shown by their DNA and sexual organs are said to be experiencing "gender dysphoria," a psychiatric term listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as a mental illness.

2. A male who chooses to have his sexual organ surgically removed, and perhaps have breast implants, along with hormone therapy to develop feminine characteristics, does not become a female.

3. A female who chooses to have her breasts surgically removed, a complete hysterectomy, a surgically implanted muscle mimicking the male sexual organ, and hormone therapy to attain male characteristics, does not become a male.

4. It is ridiculous that there are now laws that provide for having someone change their birth certificate to reflect a sex that they "identify" with rather than what their DNA indicates.

5. Although I am not a Catholic, I had occasion to do some reading in a Catholic Catechism and I came across this entry, which I agree with:

"2333 Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out."

6. All of the foregoing leads me to my belief that accepting "transgender" individuals into our military services should be avoided. This ban would not necessarily include people experiencing gender dysphoria, provided that it is understood that at no time during the period of active service, or after separation, will government funds be spent to provide transgender surgery of any kind.

7. My views are perhaps not politically correct, but they are heartfelt, genuine, and held without rancor towards people struggling with gender dysphoria.


Carl in Tampa

.