Germany adopts third gender law.

[graciegirl]

There are very few things anymore that really give me pause or surprise me.

I knew from a friend who worked in neonatal care for years that babies are born sometimes with both sex characteristics but this is not well known or discussed much.

Things are not as simple as I once thought.

Here is the article. What is your reaction? Are you surprised?

Yahoo! News (http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/germany-adopts-third-gender-law-145658777.html)

[Peachie]

There are very few things anymore that really give me pause or surprise me.

I knew from a friend who worked in neonatal care for years that babies are born sometimes with both sex characteristics but this is not well known or discussed much.

Things are not as simple as I once thought.

Here is the article. What is your reaction? Are you surprised?

Yahoo! News (http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/germany-adopts-third-gender-law-145658777.html)

I'm not surprised at all, Gracie, and I think it is an excellent idea. A good friend and her husband experienced the birth of a child over 40 years ago with this described medical condition. They were devastated but rallied and decided to opt for a girl. You guessed it, they picked the wrong gender for the child who as an adult, copes with the situation.

[pooh]

I, too, think this is good. Sometimes nature isn't an easy mother....allowing all sorts of things to happen and individuals are left with an ambiguous gender status. It happens now, has happened in the past and actions taken to assign gender, don't always result in the way expected. Individuals are forced to be someone they absolutely are not. We are the result of a genetic soup....sometimes the recipe isn't followed exactly.

[Peachie]

I, too, think this is good. Sometimes nature isn't an easy mother....allowing all sorts of things to happen and individuals are left with an ambiguous gender status. It happens now, has happened in the past and actions taken to assign gender, don't always result in the way expected. Individuals are forced to be someone they absolutely are not. We are the result of a genetic soup....sometimes the recipe is't followed exactly.

Wow, I really like the way you put that, Pooh! :agree:

[graciegirl]

When your knowledge is enlarged, and you find out something that you never knew before....

Some people find it hard to accept and then they

negate the information. or

bring in religion or other philosophical supports that have helped them make sense of things in the past.

OR....think about it and try to understand it better.

I think that this law is a step in the right direction. My heart aches for anyone with conflict that was caused by genetics.

Pooh. You always make sense to me. You too Peachie.

[quirky3]

Very cool! :coolsmiley:

[redwitch]

There have been too many instances of suicides by these individuals. Parents and doctors trying to make the best decision for an infant is not the answer. Worse yet, it is almost always geared towards being a girl (easier/cheaper surgery, I think). How much better the world would be if people would accept that nature is not always perfect and sometimes it takes time to come up with the best answer. And, sometimes, the best solution is to literally do no harm.

Pooh, you said it best.

[murray607]

Wow, hard to believe that gender could be decided by the flip of a coin.

But, will we now see a new generation who wish that a decision had been made for them when they were infants and will have difficulty in choosing their gender. And also growing up not knowing which peer group they are part of.

[billethkid]

one country in our civilized world anouncing what will most likely be a surprise to many. It was for me. My daughter is a neo-vatal nurse, I will have to ask her if she ever saw this particular type birth.

What we cannot imagine is what the uncivilized countries of the world do......and not just with this particular result.

When all gets said and done, the parents made the very best decision they could with what ever was known at the time and the emotions dictated. They cannot be judged negatively by anyone. Unless one is in the shoes, hearts and minds of these parents there can only be prejudicial/religious other, opinions from bystanders.

btk

[Pepperhead]

It seems like everyone is applauding the sentiment behind this move, but the practical implementation may be about as smooth as the Obamacare rollout. Since I read the original post I have done some www style research, and there are lot of folks who think this will result in discrimination towards "3rd Gender" people. For example Germany only recognizes marriage if the spouses are male or female. They don't ban homosexual marriage, but the law requires that both parties be either male or female. Whatever side one falls on, it is a very interesting topic.

[Golfingnut]

Wonderful move in the right direction. This will allow the mental side to match the gender choice of the child in the coming formulative years. This should be decided by the individual and not the parent nor the dr. :bowdown: