LGBTQI-Phobia Hurts us All

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Most LGBTQ are Cyberbullied. Here’s How to Stay Safe Online

“We at vpnMentor conducted a survey in which we asked 695 LGBTQ+ people worldwide about their experiences online as they relate to their sexual orientation and gender identity. The results – referenced throughout this article – illuminated the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.” ref

“Here are some of our key findings:⁺

• 73% of all respondents in all categories of gender identity and sexual orientation have been personally attacked or harassed online.
• 50% of all respondents in all categories of gender identity and sexual orientation have suffered sexual harassment online.
• When it comes to sexual orientation, asexual people feel the least safe online, and gay men the safest.
• When it comes to gender identity, transgender women feel the least safe online, and cisgender men the safest.
• Transgender women are the most likely to be outed against their will online, while cisgender men are least likely.” ref

“The gay pride parade is a commemorative event! LGBTQI Pride parade is there to remind us a specific date in history. Straight people don’t need a parade, because there is no day when straight people had to riot and fight for their rights to be straight.” – Anonymous

Equality is a virtue, that ethical prosocial behavior we do to honor the dignity of others. 

The idea of demanding a “Straight Pride” parade makes about as much sense as demanding to receive handicap parking spots for long distance marathon runners. The claim of straight pride is a joke, likely inspired by some mix of ignorance, fear and/or hate of LGBTQI people. 

LGBTQI-Phobia Hurts us All: VIDEO

L –  Lesbian 

G – Gay 

B –  Bisexual 

T – Transgender

Q – Questioning or Queer (that also involves Genderqueer) 

I – Intersex

In today’s society, the personal sexual or gender orientation of an individual who lives openly as themselves has been an area of conflict for the lesbian, gay, bisexual/pansexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex individual. 

For those who may not know what Genderqueer or Intersex mean: 

“Genderqueer” (alternatively non-binary) is a catch-all category for gender identities outside of the gender binary whether internal, external or both that expresses other than typical man and woman, thus outside Cis-normativity. It can be said to denote or relate to a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders. Non-binary people may express a combination of masculinity and femininity, or neither, in their gender expression. Gender identity is separate from sexual or romantic orientation,[5] and non-binary people have a variety of sexual orientations, just as transgender and cisgender people do.” ref 

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fully fit the typical binary sex classes. Intersex people are individuals born with any of several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals that, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies”. ref 

 In explaining “What is intersex?” according to the Intersex Society of North America 

They say, 

“For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types—for example, a girl may be born with a noticeably large clitoris, or lacking a vaginal opening, or a boy may be born with a notably small penis, or with a scrotum that is divided so that it has formed more like labia. Or a person may be born with mosaic genetics, so that some of her cells have XX chromosomes and some of them have XY. Though we speak of intersex as an inborn condition, intersex anatomy doesn’t always show up at birth. Sometimes a person isn’t found to have intersex anatomy until she or he reaches the age of puberty, or finds himself an infertile adult, or dies of old age and is autopsied. Some people live and die with intersex anatomy without anyone (including themselves) ever knowing. Which variations of sexual anatomy count as intersex? In practice, different people have different answers to that question. That’s not surprising, because intersex isn’t a discreet or natural category. What does this mean? Intersex is a socially constructed category that reflects real biological variation. To better explain this, we can liken the sex spectrum to the color spectrum. There’s no question that in nature there are different wavelengths that translate into colors most of us see as red, blue, orange, yellow. But the decision to distinguish, say, between orange and red-orange is made only when we need it—like when we’re asking for a particular paint color. Sometimes social necessity leads us to make color distinctions that otherwise would seem incorrect or irrational, as, for instance, when we call certain people “black” or “white” when they’re not especially black or white as we would otherwise use the terms. In the same way, nature presents us with sex anatomy spectrums. Breasts, penises, clitorises, scrotums, labia, gonads—all of these vary in size and shape and morphology. So-called “sex” chromosomes can vary quite a bit, too. But in human cultures, sex categories get simplified into male, female, and sometimes intersex, in order to simplify social interactions, express what we know and feel, and maintain order. So nature doesn’t decide where the category of “male” ends and the category of “intersex” begins, or where the category of “intersex” ends and the category of “female” begins. Humans decide. Humans (today, typically doctors) decide how small a penis has to be, or how unusual a combination of parts has to be, before it counts as intersex. Humans decide whether a person with XXY chromosomes or XY chromosomes and androgen insensitivity will count as intersex.” ref 

In explaining “How common is intersex?” according to the Intersex Society of North America 

They say, 

“To answer this question in an uncontroversial way, you’d have to first get everyone to agree on what counts as intersex —and also to agree on what should count as strictly male or strictly female. That’s hard to do. How small does a penis have to be before it counts as intersex? Do you count “sex chromosome” anomalies as intersex if there’s no apparent external sexual ambiguity? (Alice Dreger explores this question in greater depth in her book Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex.) Here’s what we do know: If you ask experts at medical centers how often a child is born so noticeably atypical in terms of genitalia that a specialist in sex differentiation is called in, the number comes out to about 1 in 1500 to 1 in 2000 births. But a lot more people than that are born with subtler forms of sex anatomy variations, some of which won’t show up until later in life. They also provide a summary of statistics drawn from an article by Brown University researcher Anne Fausto-Sterling. The basis for that article was an extensive review of the medical literature from 1955 to 1998 aimed at producing numeric estimates for the frequency of sex variations.” ref 

Not XX and not XY one in 1,666 births

Klinefelter (XXY) one in 1,000 births

Androgen insensitivity syndrome one in 13,000 births

Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome one in 130,000 births

Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia one in 13,000 births

Late onset adrenal hyperplasia one in 66 individuals

Vaginal agenesis one in 6,000 births

Ovotestes one in 83,000 births

Idiopathic (no discernable medical cause) one in 110,000 births

Iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment, for instance progestin administered to pregnant mother) no estimate

5 alpha reductase deficiency no estimate

Mixed gonadal dysgenesis no estimate

Complete gonadal dysgenesis one in 150,000 births

Hypospadias (urethral opening in perineum or along penile shaft) one in 2,000 births

Hypospadias (urethral opening between corona and tip of glans penis) one in 770 births

Total number of people whose bodies differ from standard male or female one in 100 births

Total number of people receiving surgery to “normalize” genital appearance one or two in 1,000 births ref 

The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone decided is not standard for male or female.

They report to have learned from listening to individuals and families dealing with intersex that:

• Intersexuality is primarily a problem of stigma and trauma, not gender.
• Parents’ distress must not be treated by surgery on the child.
• Professional mental health care is essential.
• Honest, complete disclosure is good medicine.
• All children should be assigned as boy or girl, without early surgery. ref 

 In explaining “What’s the difference between being transgender or transsexual and having an intersex condition?” according to the Intersex Society of North America 

They say, 

“People who identify as transgender or transsexual are usually people who are born with typical male or female anatomies but feel as though they’ve been born into the “wrong body.” For example, a person who identifies as trans people may have typical female anatomy but feel like a male or may have typical male anatomy but feel like a female and seek to become female by taking hormones or electing to have sex reassignment surgeries. People who have intersex conditions have anatomy that is not considered typically male or female in some way or in some amount. Many people confuse trans people with people with intersex conditions because they see two groups of people who would like to choose their own gender identity and sometimes those choices require hormonal treatments and/or surgery. These are similarities. It’s also true, albeit rare, that some people who have intersex conditions also decide to change sex/genders at some point in their life, so some people with intersex conditions might also identify themselves as trans. In spite of these similarities, these two groups should not be and cannot be thought of as one. The truth is that the vast majority of people with intersex conditions identify as binary male or female rather than trans or non-binary.” ref  

The National Center for Transgender Equality also states something similar, that Most transgender people are not non-binary and that  Being non-binary is not the same thing as being intersex nor are Non-binary people usually intersex.  

Try not to make any assumptions about people’s intersex status nor their gender. You can’t tell if someone is non-binary simply by looking at them, just like how you can’t tell if someone is transgender just by how they look. While some transgender or intersex people are non-binary, most have a gender identity that is either male or female, and should be treated like any other man or woman. Thus, where all people who identify as trans or non-binary experience problems with their gender identity, only a small portion of intersex people experience these problems. It’s also important to understand the differences between different groups because in spite of some similarities they face many different struggles, including different forms of discrimination. You don’t have to understand what it means for someone to be non-binary to respect them. Some people haven’t heard a lot about non-binary genders or have trouble understanding them, and that’s okay. But identities that some people don’t understand still deserve respect. Different non-binary people may use different pronouns. Many non-binary people use “they” while others use “he” or “she,” and still others use other pronouns. Asking whether someone should be referred to as “he,” “she,” “they,” or another pronoun may feel awkward at first, but is one of the simplest and most important ways to show respect for someone’s identity. ref, ref 

The following writing was largely adapted from How Homophobia Hurts Everyone and How Homophobia Hurts Everyone: A Theoretical Foundation by “Warren J. Blumenfeld” 

In these areas one can see the difficulties that can come about dealing with LGBTQI-Phobia: 

Are fear, hatred, disgust, mistreatment, or intolerance of same-sex intimacy relationships, “atypical” gender behavior, having an overlap of, or indefinite lines between, gender identity and sexual and romantic orientation, and/or people who identify as or are perceived as LGBTQI.  

LGBTQI-Phobia refers to the many ways in which people are oppressed on the basis of sexual and gender orientation. Sometimes homophobia, transphobia,  genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia is intentional, where there is a clear intent to hurt lesbian, gay,  bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex people. Homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia can also be unintentional, where there is no desire to hurt anyone, but where people are unaware of the consequences of their actions. Institutional and cultural homophobia, transphobia,  genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia is often referred to as heteronormativity/heterosexism and cis-normativity/cissexism.

Heterosexism and cissexism: are beliefs in the inherent superiority of heterosexuality and typical” cis-normal gender behavior, thereby, it’s right to dominance. Carries with it the assumption that everyone one meets is heterosexual and cisnormal.

Personal homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia: is prejudice. It is the personal belief that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex people are sinful, immoral, sick, and inferior to typical male and female, cis-normative heterosexuals, or incomplete women and men. Prejudice towards any group is learned behavior; people have to be taught to be prejudiced. Personal homophobia, transphobia, and genderqueerphobia is sometimes experienced as the fear of being perceived as lesbian, gay,  bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex. This fear can lead to trying to “prove” one’s self NORMAL like everyone else to fit in.

Anyone, regardless of their sexual or gender orientation, can experience personal homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia.

Interpersonal homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia: is the fear, dislike, or hatred of people believed to be lesbian, gay,  bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex. This hatred or dislike may be expressed by name-calling, verbal and physical harassment, and individual acts of discrimination or by the rejection of friends, co-workers, and/or family members.

Institutional homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia: refers to the many ways in which government, business, religious institutions, and other institutions and organizations discriminate against people on the basis of sexual or gender orientation. These organizations and institutions set policies, allocate resources, and maintain both written and unwritten standards for the behavior of their members in ways that discriminate.

Cultural homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia: refers to social standards and norms that dictate that being heterosexual and cisnormal are better or more moral than being lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or genderqueer, and that everyone is heterosexual, cisnormal or should be.

Examine the major conflicts for LGBTQI people 

LGBTQI people are regularly attacked for no other reason than their attackers fear and homophobia, transphobia, genderqueerphobia or intersexphobia.

Most people act out their fears of LGBTQI in non-violent yet still oppressive ways, more common ways in the public arena. Relatives often shun or no longer acknowledge their lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex family members; co-workers are distant and cold to lesbian, gay,  bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex employees; or people stay away from asking about the individual’s life or acquaintances outside the work place.

Many religious organizations have started to instate policies against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or genderqueer people being apart of their organization or holding offices and many businesses have adhered norms for social events which prevent lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or genderqueer employees from bringing their same-sex or gender nonconforming partners while heterosexual, heteronormative or cisnormative employees bring their opposite sex, heteronormative or cisnormative partners; being discriminated against in their normal life’s outside the office as well as in the offices or workplace they work in on a daily.

To sum it up how LGBTQI-Phobia hurt us all is:

1. LGBTQI-Phobia locks all people into rigid sexual or gender roles that inhibit creativity and self-expression.

2. LGBTQI-Phobia compromises the integrity of heterosexual or gender conforming people by pressuring them to treat others badly, actions that go against our basic humanity.

3. LGBTQI-Phobia limits our ability to form close, intimate relationships with members of one’s own sex or gender if one feels different or open romantically.

4. LGBTQI-Phobia generally limits communications with a significant portion of the population and, more specifically, limits family relationships.

5. LGBTQI-Phobia prevents some lesbian, gay,  bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or intersex (LGBTQI) people from developing an honest self-identity, and adds to the pressure to marry and/or have children, which places undue stress on themselves and their families.

6. LGBTQI-Phobia are causes of premature sexual activity, which increases the chances of pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Young people, of all sexual and gender identities, are often pressured to become heterosexually gender normal active to prove that they are “normal.”

7. LGBTQI-Phobia results in the elimination of any discussion of the lives and sexuality of LGBTQI people in the curriculum, keeping important information from all students and all people.

8. LGBTQI-Phobia can be used to stigmatize, silence, and, on occasion, target people who are perceived or defined by others as lesbian, gay, or bisexual but who are, in actuality, heterosexual.

9. LGBTQI-Phobia prevents heterosexuals and those who are gender normative from accepting the benefits and gifts offered by LGBTQI people: theoretical insights, social and spiritual visions, contributions in the arts and culture, to family life, indeed, to all parts of society.

10. LGBTQI-Phobia (along with racism, sexism, classism, etc.) inhibits a unified and effective governmental and societal response to AIDS.

11. LGBTQI-Phobia takes energy away from more positive activities.

12. LGBTQI-Phobia inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant. Therefore, we are all hurt when any one of us is disrespected.

References ref, ref

According to sciencedaily.com, “Homosexuality can refer to both attraction or sexual behavior between people of the same sex, or to a sexual orientation. They state that most scientist today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. And although homosexuality does not appear to be adaptive from an evolutionary standpoint, because homosexual sex does not produce children, there is evidence of its existence through human history. Moreover, although a number of biological factors have been considered by scientists, such as prenatal hormones, chromosomes, polygenetic effects, brain structure and viral influences, no scientific consensus exists as to how biology influences sexual orientation. Most scientists agree that it is unlikely that there is a single “gay gene” that determines something as complex as sexual orientation, and that it is more likely to be the result of an interaction of genetic, biological and environmental/cultural factors.” ref 

According to scientificamerican.com, “Cross-Cultural Evidence for the Genetics of Homosexuality“

According to sciencenews.org, “DNA differences are linked to having same-sex sexual partners“

According to livescience.com, “Being Gay Not a Choice“

“Years of research suggest that people can’t change their sexual orientation because they want to, and that trying can cause mental anguish. What’s more, some studies suggest that being gay may have a genetic or biological basis.” ref 

5 Myths About Gay People Debunked by Science

1. “Gay people have been accused of being unfit parents, more likely to be pedophiles, unable to sustain lasting relationships, and worse. But research shows these and other myths just aren’t based in fact.” ref 

2. “Despite a popular perception that male-female pairings are the only “natural” way, the animal kingdom is actually full of examples of same-sex couples. Penguins, dolphins, bison, swans, giraffes and chimpanzees are just a few of the many species that sometimes pair up with same-sex partners. Researchers are still mulling over the evolutionary reason, if any, for gay animal sex, since it doesn’t produce offspring. Some ideas are that it helps strengthen social bonds or encourages some individuals to focus their resources on nurturing their nieces and nephews, thus boosting their own genes indirectly. Or, it may simply be fun. “Not every sexual act has a reproductive function,” said Janet Mann, a biologist at Georgetown University.” ref 

3. “Another stereotype is that gay relationships aren’t as real or long-lasting as heterosexual ones. Research has found that to be untrue. Long-term studies of gay couples indicate that their relationships are just as stable as straight pairings. “There is considerable evidence that both lesbians and gay men want to be in strong, committed relationships [and] are successful in creating these partnerships, despite difficulties created by social prejudice, stigma, and the lack of legal recognition for same-sex relationships in most parts of the U.S.,” said UCLA psychologist Anne Peplau, co-author of a book chapter on the subject published in the 2007 Annual Review of Psychology. For example, John Gottman, a University of Washington emeritus professor of psychology, and his colleagues collected data from homosexual couples across 12 years, and found that about 20 percent had broken up over that time. That rate projected over a 40-year period is slightly lower than the divorce rate for first marriages among heterosexual couples over the same time span, according to the study published in 2003 in the Journal of Homosexuality. “The overall implication of this research is that we have to shake off all of the stereotypes of homosexual relationships and have more respect for them as committed relationships,” Gottman said. In fact, the same study found that gay couples tend to be better at resolving conflicts and encouraging positive emotions.” ref 

4. “An especially pernicious myth is that most adults who sexually abuse children are gay. A number of researchers have looked at this question to determine if homosexuals are more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexuals, and the data indicate that’s not the case. For example, in a 1989 study led by Kurt Freund of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Canada, scientists showed pictures of children to adult gay and straight males, and measured sexual arousal. Homosexual men reacted no more strongly to pictures of male children than heterosexual men reacted to pictures of female children. A 1994 study, led by Carole Jenny of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, surveyed 269 cases of children who were sexually molested by adults. In 82 percent of cases, the alleged offender was a heterosexual partner of a close relative of the child, the researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics. In only two out of 269 cases, the offender was identified as being gay or lesbian. “The empirical research does not show that gay or bisexual men are any more likely than heterosexual men to molest children,” wrote Gregory M. Herek, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis, on his website. Herek, who was not involved in the 1989 or 1994 studies, compiled a review of research on the topic.” ref 

5. “Many of those who oppose gay marriage and gay adoption charge that same-sex parents aren’t good for kids, and that a child needs both a father and a mother to grow up to be a healthy adult. Research, however, shows that children of gay parents tend to fare just fine. For example, one recent study looked at nearly 90 teens, half living with female same-sex couples and the others with heterosexual couples, showing that both groups fared similarly in school. Teen boys in same-sex households had grade point averages of about 2.9, compared with 2.65 for their counterparts in heterosexual homes. Teen girls showed similar results, with a 2.8 for same-sex households and 2.9 for girls in heterosexual families. Another study found that kids with two moms or two dads were no more likely than their counterparts in “traditional” homes to engage in delinquent activities, such as damaging others’ property, shoplifting and getting into fights. “The bottom line is that the science shows that children raised by two same-gender parents do as well on average as children raised by two different-gender parents,” said Timothy Biblarz, a sociologist at the University of Southern California. “This is obviously inconsistent with the widespread claim that children must be raised by a mother and a father to do well.” Both studies were described in a literature review paper published in February 2010 in the Journal of Marriage and Family.” ref 

3 Myths About Bisexuality, Debunked by Science

“Bisexuality is the tendency to be sexually attracted to both men and women. To some, this may sound like a superpower doubling one’s romantic options (and odds). But in real life, bisexuality can be an awkward identity to have, creating a challenge truly fitting in with either the “straight” or LGBT communities. But most important, bisexuality tends to be quite misunderstood. Myths and stereotypes about bisexuality abound, some even contradicting one another. Straight and LGBT people alike can hold such stereotypes, compounding the difficulties bisexual people can have fitting in. Luckily, an increasing number of researchers have been producing research improving our understanding of bisexuality.” ref 

Here are three examples of how science has worked to combat misconceptions about bisexuality: 

Myth 1: “There’s no such thing as bisexuality.”

“This is especially laughable. How can you tell a group of individuals that they don’t exist? But the idea that all people have to be either straight or gay is pervasive and persistent, especially when it comes to men. Frustratingly, even within the most LGBT-friendly circles, you encounter the idea that “there’s no such thing as a bisexual man.” Researchers have quite clearly laid this myth to rest with a study recently published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior(1). Researchers recruited straight, gay, and bisexual men, and exposed them to a variety of erotic film clips. Not only were participants asked to rate their subjective feelings of arousal in response to the clips, they were also connected to physiological equipment that measured changes in genital arousal. As would be expected, heterosexual men responded with much more subjective and genital arousal to films containing women rather than men, and vice versa for gay men. However, bisexual men were aroused relatively similarly by videos of both men and women. They were also more aroused by bisexual clips—for example, two men and one woman—than were the other two groups. Importantly, these differences were in both their reported arousal and the objective measurement of their genital arousal. It is clear from this study that these individuals were not “pretending” to be bisexual.” ref 

Myth 2: “Bisexuality is just a phase.”

“With this myth, bisexuality is represented as a state of experimentation or confusion—stereotypically experienced during the college years—that occurs before a person settles on their “true” identity. Lisa Diamond has conducted some very sophisticated work on this topic, in which she examined the sexual identities of women over long periods of time. In a paper published in Developmental Psychology(2), she reports on a sample of women she followed over a period of ten years. Her results clearly showed that bisexuality was not a transitional period: Very few women who had identified as bisexual in adolescence changed their identity to either straight or lesbian by the end of the study—only 8% of that group did so. Rather, bisexual women were consistently sexually fluid over time, maintaining attractions to both genders, to varying degrees, over the course of a decade.” ref 

Myth 3: “Bisexual people can’t be faithful to their partners.”

“This myth—arguably the most pernicious one—stems from the assumption that one partner can not fully satisfy a person who is attracted to both genders. Sooner or later, other people assume, they’ll yearn for someone of the gender that their partner is not. In studies, people tend to perceive bisexual individuals as being more likely to cheat on partners than heterosexual, gay, or lesbian individuals. In reality, a great many bisexual individuals have happily monogamous relationships; for example, by the end of Diamond’s 10-year study, 89% of bisexual women were in monogamous, long-term relationships. Further, research suggests that bisexual individuals who do desire multiple sexual partners may typically achieve this goal by negotiating open relationships with their partners, not by sneaking around behind their partners’ backs. Samantha Joel Ph.D. states that she could find no research supporting the idea that bisexuals are any less faithful, or less honest, with their partners than people of other sexual orientations.” ref 

Between the (Gender) Lines: the Science of Transgender Identity – harvard.edu 

“The scientific graph of gender identity and sexual orientation are yet an incomplete and incomprehensive representation. Transgender individuals are those who identify with a gender that differs from their assigned sex and cisgender, or those who identify with their assigned gender. This is a facet of identity that is completely distinct from sexual orientation. These graphs do not represent the full spectrum of either facet, as they are multidimensional. For instance, there may be genders that some identify with that are neither “male” nor “female. Furthermore, there are no “lines” that divide these identities, and they may be considered malleable and overlapping.” ref 

According to Katherine J. Wu Ph.D is a biologist and science communicator, “Sex determination – the way we are “coded” into a biological sex – is complicated in and of itself. There are far more options than just “male” or “female,” and countless instances of species that can actually transition from one sex to another within a single lifetime. With most mammals, however, the majority of individuals are cisgender male or female; transgender individuals are estimated to comprise about 0.3% of the adult U.S. population. Little is known about the causes of transsexuality, and many of the studies that have been conducted – particularly psychological studies – have since been widely discredited (more on that later). However, scientists do seem to have some information on the biological basis of several factors. First and foremost, is gender identity genetic? It seems the answer is yes – though, as with most traits involving identity, there is some environmental influence. One classic way for scientists to test whether a trait (which can be any characteristic from red hair to cancer susceptibility to love of horror movies) is influenced by genetics is twin studies. Identical twins have the exact same genetic background, and are usually raised in the same environment. Fraternal (nonidentical) twins, however, share only half their genes, but tend to also be raised in the same environment. Thus, if identical twins tend to share a trait more than fraternal twins, that trait is probably influenced by genetics. Several studies have shown that identical twins are more often both transgender than fraternal twins, indicating that there is indeed a genetic influence for this identity.” ref

According to Katherine J. Wu Ph.D is a biologist and science communicator, “Transgender women tend to have brain structures that resemble cisgender women, rather than cisgender men. Two sexually dimorphic (differing between men and women) areas of the brain are often compared between men and women. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalus (BSTc) and sexually dimorphic nucleus of transgender women are more similar to those of cisgender woman than to those of cisgender men, suggesting that the general brain structure of these women is in keeping with their gender identity. In 1995 and 2000, two independent teams of researchers decided to examine a region of the brain called the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc) in trans- and cisgender men and women (Figure 2). The BSTc functions in anxiety, but is, on average, twice as large and twice as densely populated with cells in men compared to women. This sexual dimorphism is pretty robust, and though scientists don’t know why it exists, it appears to be a good marker of a “male” vs. “female” brain. Thus, these two studies sought to examine the brains of transgender individuals to figure out if their brains better resembled their assigned or chosen sex. Interestingly, both teams discovered that male-to-female transgender women had a BSTc more closely resembling that of cisgender women than men in both size and cell density, and that female-to-male transgender men had BSTcs resembling cisgender men. These differences remained even after the scientists took into account the fact that many transgender men and women in their study were taking estrogen and testosterone during their transition by including cisgender men and women who were also on hormones not corresponding to their assigned biological sex (for a variety of medical reasons).” ref 

According to Katherine J. Wu Ph.D is a biologist and science communicator, “These findings have since been confirmed and corroborated in other studies and other regions of the brain, including a region of the brain called the sexually dimorphic nucleus that is believed to affect sexual behavior in animals. It has been conclusively shown that hormone treatment can vastly affect the structure and composition of the brain; thus, several teams sought to characterize the brains of transgender men and women who had not yet undergone hormone treatment. Severalstudies confirmed previous findings, showing once more that transgender people appear to be born with brains more similar to gender with which they identify, rather than the one to which they were assigned. Interestingly, while the hormone treatments may have caused issues in the previous studies, they also gave scientists clues as to how these differences in brain anatomy may have arisen. Brain development is heavily influenced by the prenatal environment – what hormones the fetus is exposed to in its mother’s uterus. Some scientists believe that female-to-male transgender men, for instance, may have been exposed to inadequate levels of estrogen during development. This phenomenon could have two causes: 1) not enough estrogen in the fetus’s immediate environment, or 2) enough estrogen in the environment, but poor sensitivity in the fetus. Think of it like a cell phone tower controlling remote calls – the tower may not be producing enough signal (scenario 1), or the receiving phone may be unable to process the message (scenario 2). In either case, the call doesn’t make it through.” ref 

According to Katherine J. Wu Ph.D is a biologist and science communicator,  “And so, while the list of causes for transgender identity continues to grow, it has become quite clear that it is not a conscious choice – similar to what has been described for the “reasons” behind sexual orientation. Still, at least 63% of transgender individuals experience debilitating acts of discrimination on a regular basis, including incarceration, homelessness, and physical assault. When about 1.7% of the population is in some way affected by cases of ambiguous genitalia at birth, these findings seem staggering. So, where do we stand on transgender issues? Science tells us that gender is certainly not binary; it may not even be a linear spectrum. Like many other facets of identity, it can operate on a broad range of levels and operate outside of many definitions. And it also appears that gender may not be as static as we assume. At the forefront of this, transgender identity is complex – it’s unlikely we’ll ever be able to attribute it to one neat, contained set of causes, and there is still much to be learned. But we know now that several of those causes are biological. These individuals are not suffering a mental illness, or capriciously “choosing” a different identity. The transgender identity is multi-dimensional – but it deserves no less recognition or respect than any other facet of humankind.” ref 

According to sciencedaily.com, “Transgender brains are more like their desired gender from an early age“

Here is a responce on this topic I once received, “Damien AtHope, my only problem with transgender is just that, my problem. They got a right (to quote Chuck Berry), they can do their thing, it’s their scene. What I don’t understand, and it’s my problem, not theirs, and therfore, it doesn’t really matter, is like Jenner there still has the penis. I was told that what happens with some of these cats is that somehow they don’t see a penis there, they see a vagina. So if you’re going to transgender, why keep the penis? Again, my problem.” – Challenger

My response, Not understanding can often be a problem, a good choice is to ask, real, talk in a positive attitude towards true understanding. I will not speak to specifically to what it is to be transgender people. I will however use my experience of being a intersex genderqueer male, and yes all three must be understood to accurately reflect the ontology (the thingness of things or its qualities) of what, why, and how. I try to never believe what I think about things I am uninformed and when this involves beliefs I may or may not even investigate as I at some point can use rational ignorance but if it’s about people who do matter, this compels me to understand as I don’t want to harm others. 

I can say we rarely can understand that which it different. We humans are a scared social creatures. We must champion surpassing this as it is in this we are then not just can we and should honor the dignity, but so to do we gain understand how to start improving your universal emotive valuing and honoring the people who touch your life. I try to see it like this, I realize that my life is written as evidence of my character. 

I wish to care first with others but I tell you I have a flourish humanity. This is like the feeling of having someone you care or love telling you they love you back. I burst in side with deep and calm joy as you will understand that now by trying to understand others I started understanding me, started seeing my value, I became my own friend, I started to love me. I see we have to understand, love, and show kindness. The sad truth is I in my past I use to not even care to understand and now I truly see it’s value connection of understanding, love, and kindness. What we don’t understand we come to fear, that which we fear we to often feel justified to hate, that which we hate we too often not just appose it we wish to discriminate against it, oppress, and or destroy it. 

May I never again be that person, it shames me that I ever was. Now I will address you posed question but in my gender. I don’t nor have I ever been just a male. I don’t feel trans either. How many times have I cried not understanding why me? Why am I not normal, I was made fun of and shamed I stopped do PE (school athletics) what they abused for my intersex condition of looking like I don’t even have a dick if not hard. I received an f in PE because I didn’t do anything as I did not want to take my clothes. I also feel like my brain is two genders that are enmeshed and fluctuate between of some times one and the other like a team, yet at other times it is like that are fighting one having one thinking and the other completely opposed. 

To tell you at times I can feel overwhelmed with this but I learned to try and understand and now that I understand it is easier. I just love them for who we are. May I always see other with eyes of love. I hope this helped you understand. I am also willing to talk privately if you wish to help understanding as I see it’s value. 

Me and My Gender Diversity: Genderqueer, Intersex, and Male

My gender is intersex–genderqueer-male. I always felt odd but did not know I was intersex but my parents knew and kept it hidden from me hoping I would just pass as male, normal. I am not totally, normal. And they always treated me as if I was wrong, something not right. I just never knew why other than being told over and over that I was too dramatic and needed to just act normal, in other words, act, not be me.

I had a friend who thought I was gay or something, well it was the or something, in my case, as I am not homosexual but a gynosexual is attracted to women, though as my gender involved intersex I don’t really apply to the term heterosexual. I was told over an over I like too many girly things or things others assess as gay. 

What is Gynosexual?

A gynosexual is anyone who has sexual feelings towards a woman. Derived from the Greek word gyno which means “female/woman” and the Latin word sexualis meaning “relating to sex,” the term gynosexual can be useful when describing the sexual orientation of an individual with a non-binary gender identity. Ref

Sexual Orientation for the Genderqueer Person

I was not sure what was “wrong” with me as I was not gay or trans but something felt very different and gave up trying to understand and just tried hard to be only male acting but always was a little different, eventually just accepting that I would never understand and just had to be me. I first actually found out I was intersex after going the Dr. He checked my testosterone at around 23 years old telling me I had less testosterone than most women, and how did I not already know I was intersex.

I was outraged at first as I was not ready to be told I was not just a cis male and I felt shameful as if I was somehow broken and wanted to hide. I later started looking into my gender in college learning there was different genders than just only female or male. The first time I read the description of the gender: “genderqueer” I cried as for the first time in my life someone understood and I felt a little more normal.

I have a few differences my very low testosterone, my female nipples, hidden penis, and had Severe hypospadias, (which my parents had surgically repaired without my consent and never explained it truly to me) a very mild form of intersex (under-virilization of a genetic male). Hypospadias is the most common anomaly of the penis affecting approximately one in 250 males born.

I am proud of who I am now and speak about it often to try and be that similar voice saying even if you are different that is good that one can be proud to be intersex or genderqueer and have others that understand. Often do still feel alone because of my gender, like I don’t always fit in as I am like 90% biologically male 10 % intersex but mentally like both a 60% male and a 40% female. It’s hard as very few people admit to being intersex like me. So it often feels like there are very few people that get me and I feel I don’t know how to belong most places as my gender is different compared to many people or that many people want me to fit what they expect of me.

I am mildly Intersex and Genderqueer mentally but it should be understood that I am not bi or gay. I am as well as an Ally for others as well in the LGBTQI+ community.

When I told my mom that I was changing my middle name to a female name “Marie” she was not at all happy as a Christian fanatic. I told her I feel male and some female so I wanted my full name to express this. Shy said how will people tell that you are a man. I said I don’t care what others think and if they don’t see me as just a man GOOD, as I feel genderqueer thus a little male and female. Then she said but you are not gay, what if people think you are gay?

I said, SO what is wrong with being gay I know and like lots of gay people. I may not be gay, mom but as gay is not a bad thing I don’t feel bad as you think I should. Also if people think I am gay for my middle name being female. She still expressed that she did not like what I did. I actually was surprised she took it so bad forgetting how bigoted religious people can be.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Let me give you a little more background on me if you are interested in understanding me more. I am mildly intersex meaning I have biological and physical differences.

Few of the obvious physical ones are I have female size nipples (Gynaecomastia), hidden penis, and a seemingly non-closed internal pelvic opening. Buried penis (also known as a hidden penis) is for me a congenital that was made worse due to being over weight, in which my penis is completely hidden below the surface of the skin when not turned on and erect. At birth, the underside of my penis had a small opening like a pseudo very small vagina like opening which was surgically closed at birth. Therefore, I had “severe hypospadias” of my penis or specifically “Penile/urethral hyospadia”: Link

Severe hypospadias a very mild form of intersex (under-virilization of a genetic male).  Biologically, I had my testosterone checked and it is so low that it is less than some women. Mentally and emotionally, I am often more attracted to feminine things such as watching a play than playing sports, being creative than working on a car. I enjoy cooking, shopping, clothes styalist, decorating, getting manicure and pedicures, painting my nails, I have tattooed eye liner as well, and when around a group of women, I often forget I am male. I have always felt offended when women are put down and not valued since it feels like it is against me.

Even in one of my counseling courses in a brick school for my bachelors, the class was 20 students and I did not realize I was the only male until the professor asked me how does it feel to be the only male in class? I actually had to look around since I did not believe I was the only male since I felt so comfortable. But one can’t prove to others how they feel or should they have to.

I don’t believe everyone who is genderqueer has to have proof of gender diversity.

But I will say with an honest heart that I have felt both male and female my whole life. To simply call myself a man seems to deny something inside. I use to be ashamed that I had two spirits but after realizing how relatively common it is I am now ok and realize that I am not that strange. I am not the only one.

According to Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus (2008), everyone starts out basically as a female and it takes three processes to make a male. First, are defeminizing androgens, then masculinizing androgens, and then testosterone. Actually, genetics differences are quite common: one in every 1500 males and one in every 5000 females has a genetic gender difference which is more than people with red hair in the world. That is 3 times more men than women so I am in good company.

I see myself as a “intersex-genderqueer-male,” some may still say I don’t even know what that means please explain. Ok, well intersex is a spectrum of sex/gender between male and female. And genderqueer for me is mental thinking or internalize gender or outside gender expressing that is not of one gender or is gender fluid between them or more one gender at one time and another at another time.

I often hear: “Damien, I don’t like labels.”

Well, you seem to mean you dont like my chosen labels and you not liking labels is your preference, it doesn’t remove the reality of the clarification or what the definition explains. And, you not liking something just like any personal choice, only relates to your personal choice. In other words, it’s like someone not liking a flavor of ice cream, that dislike does not remove the reality of the flavor being good for someone else.

But to address or expose the real issue as it most often is when someone states “I don’t like labels” after I just expressed or used a label, they are actually not being honest they are trying to be controlling. See, they are not really stating some personal preference they hold so we know how they see things. Instead what they are really doing is they are trying to be subversive, as in they are trying to circumvent our rights to self-define with a label they don’t like or agree with.

Thus, they are trying to police what labels can be used and when according to them. However, what is actually distasteful is when people attempt to limit me, confine me or put me down with a label, especially an inaccurate or abusive label I don’t fit or deserve. While I may have a high tolerance for those who may be uninformed or ignorant, I tend to likewise have a low tolerance for those who choose to be stupid or seem to champion unintelligence.

One has fully become themselves authentically, when they are no longer trying to fit the limitations others give or force upon them. This resistance or rejection of what one is not, should come less from some aggression towards them, than from a true act of loving oneself.

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: It’s Complicated

Sex redefined: The idea of two sexes is simplistic. Biologists now think there is a wider spectrum

Personhood Explored

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

“These are not the only choices just a rough explanation to broaden peoples thinking past the limited conceptions many people may have.”

Gender Identity:

. Woman / Female 

. Bi-gender/Genderqueer/Gender-Fluid/Non-Binary

. Man / Male

Love Identity:

. Dismissing Attachment

. Anxious Attachment

. Secure Attachment

Gender Expression:

. Feminine

. Androgynous/Non-Binary

. Masculine

Style Expression:

. Sport/Relax

. Conventional

. Non-Conventional

Biological/Assigned Sex:

. Female

. Intersex/Trans

. Male

Sex Desire:

. Asexual/Demisexual

. Low

. High

Sexual Orientation:

. Heterosexual

. Bisexual/Pansexual/Gynesexual/Androsexual/Skoliosexual

. Homosexual

Relationship Orientation:

. Single/No-Primary

. Monogamous

. Non-Monogamous

Read more on this at my blog: Personhood Explored

Religion teaches male and female only, science knows that is wrong there is more diversity of gender in reality.

Female, Male & Intersex at a Glance

“Biological sex is our anatomy as female, male, or intersex.
It includes our internal and external sex organs, chromosomes, and hormones. Some people are intersex rather than female or male.
Our biological sex is how we are defined as female, male, or intersex. It describes our internal and external bodies — including our sexual and reproductive anatomy, our genetic makeup, and our hormones.”– See more at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/female-male-intersex

Countries Expand Recognition For Alternative ‘Intersex’ Gender

 Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes Hardcover – July 1, 2009, byGerald N. Callahan PhD (Author) 3.4 out of 5 stars 12 customer reviews

Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly

Combining passion with current scientific information, Callahan, an immunologist/pathologist at Colorado State University, explains why our conception of two sexes is more a social than a biological construct. He argues that there are no simple, foolproof ways to determine sex. For example chromosomal structure, XX for females and XY for males, is not fully predictive because of various genetic disorders that can play a larger role. Similarly, genitalia can be quite varied and represent a continuum of difference rather than two discrete points.

Callahan does a good job of exploring intersex individuals, who are neither male nor female, and argues that they need to be accepted for what they are and not viewed as defective. Further, he provides provocative evidence that surgical gender reconstruction is often unsuccessful. Although Callahan attempts to make the case that some non-Western societies have a less bipolar view of gender, his abbreviated presentation is not very convincing. He is, however, persuasive that better understanding of and respect for sex and gender variability would be far healthier for the 65,000-plus intersex people born each year and society in general. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Other Reviews

“Callahan does a good job of exploring intersex individuals, who are neither male nor female, and argues that they need to be accepted for what they are and not viewed as defective.”  —Publishers Weekly

“Immunologist Callahan takes a fascinating look at the biology and human experience of intersexuality, a state in between male and female.”  —Discover Magazine

“Callahan’s writing style is both accessible and engaging; it reads more like creative non-fiction, a la Malcolm Gladwell.”  —Ms. Magazine

“This is a fascinating, easily understandable journey into why we are born male or female and examines our age-old obsession with sex.”  —Fort Collins Coloradoan

“There are lots of interesting nuggets here—for example, Callahan’s description of biological sex as a spectrum, not a binary system.”  —Double X

“The book is really beautifully written, highly accessible, and visionary in its own right.”  —Feministing

“This book takes readers through an alphabet of gender and gender variations. Callahan shows readers that rather than either/or scenarios, there have always been variations; his book shatters our society’s take on pink and blue.”  —Advocate.com

Blurred lines: Human sex chromosome swapping occurs more often than previously thought

It turns out that the rigid “line in the sand” over which the human sex chromosomes — the Y and X — go to avoid crossing over is a bit blurrier than previously thought. Contrary to the current scientific consensus, Arizona State University assistant professor Melissa Wilson Sayres has led a research team that has shown that X and Y DNA swapping may occur much more often. And this promiscuous swapping, may in turn, aid in our understanding of human history and diversity, health and disease, as well as blur rigid chromosomal interpretations of sexual identity.

Some may wonder is transgender possibly connected to intersex?

Well, there is a biological basis for transgender identity, and while there may be some who are both intersex and transgender, it is not something that is always together, in fact, it is likely not even commonly together. To read more on this checkout, What’s the difference between being transgender or transsexual and having an intersex condition?

Intersex is part of my gender and biological sex. I am intersex and genderqueer (having the brain of both sexes) but feel also mostly male.

I posted that I was “Intersex” on facebook and this is just some of the responses:

*What’s that?

*That’s Bruce Jenner shit

*Thought that was transgender.

*Biologically intersex?

*I’ll pass thank u very much

*No that’s not transgender. It’s having the brain of both sexes.

*Challenger, How many genders? 2, to, too, or two?

Damien Marie AtHope – There are more than just two genders

*Challenger, No there are not. Transsexualism dose exist, although they identify as either male or female.

Damien Marie AtHope – I am intersex and yes it is scientific.

*Challenger, There’s very little in our genetic makeup that makes us different than a banana. Biologically, it’s possible to have more male or female chromosomes but, that case study clearly identified as being female. Have you ever meet anyone over 30 who’s got their shit together, and is not an emotionally unstable attention whore who identifies as being “gender fluid”? Because I have not.

Damien Marie AtHope – My gender is intersex-genderqueer-male. I can be gender fluid, over 30 and I have most of my shit together. So now you have met me.

*Challenger, That just makes me question your mental stability.

Damien Marie AtHope – Why would you try to insinuate that just my being born with a different gender is something that has a mental health issues?

*Challenger, Because it’s delusional. You’re a male, I know that you really want to be something different, but your not.

Damien Marie AtHope – I just gave you 4 scientific research articles and you still don’t get it, you are the one denying science, not me.

*Challenger, There are lots of non-biological male’s and females out there. Gender fluid doesn’t exist. Also, those links you gave are hardly reliable sources.

Damien Marie AtHope – You are starting opinion without the scientific support.

*Challenger, You’re posting a bunch of junk science.

Damien Marie AtHope – What source do you want?

*Challenger, A reputable source.

Damien Marie AtHope – I gave three research studies.

*Challenger, Give me a chance to read some of these articles and I’ll let you know if it changes my opinion.

Damien Marie AtHope – Ok, I appreciate your willingness to look.

The Third Gender : Transsexuals are illuminating the biology and psychology of sex—and revealing just how diverse the human species really is By Jesse Bering

Is There Something Unique about the Transgender Brain? Imaging studies and other research suggest that there is a biological basis for transgender identity.

When a Person Is Neither XX nor XY: A Q&A with Geneticist Eric Vilain: Eric Vilain discusses the biology and politics of mixed-sex individuals, arguing that terms such as “hermaphrodite” and “intersex” are vague and hurtful.

Sex redefined: The idea of two sexes is simplistic. Biologists now think there is a wider spectrum than that.

The spectrum of sex development: Eric Vilain and the intersex controversy. The geneticist built a career studying aspects of sex that make some people uncomfortable. Now things are getting uncomfortable for him.

Psychological research and intersex/DSD: recent developments and future directions.

A long-term outcome study of intersex conditions.

Between XX and XY : intersexuality and the myth of two sexes / Gerald N. Callahan.

Intersex: is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries).

What is intersex? “Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

The New Science of Sex and Gender – Scientific American – To varying extents, many of us are biological hybrids on a male-female continuum.

US proposal for defining gender has no basis in science – Nature.com – A move to classify people on the basis of anatomy or genetics should be abandoned.

Lastly, I know I am intersex to some amount.

I have testes that do not produce as much testosterone as usual (my testosterone is lower than most women as told to me from a Urologist). A shortage of testosterone can lead to delayed or incomplete puberty, breast enlargement (I had a delayed puberty, large female size nipples, and some breast enlargement), and infertility. Some affected individuals like me also have genital differences including, the opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis (hypospadias), or an unusually small penis (I had hypospadias and a hidden penis 0.0” (showing) when not hard and 5.5” when turned on. Older children and adults with Klinefelter syndrome tend to be taller than their peers (I was much taller than almost all of my peers).

Affected individuals typically have testes that do not produce as much testosterone as usual. Testosterone is the hormone that directs male sexual development before birth and during puberty. A shortage of testosterone can lead to delayed or incomplete puberty, breast enlargement (gynecomastia), reduced facial and body hair, and an inability to have biological children (infertility).

Some affected individuals also have genital differences including undescended testes (cryptorchidism), the opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis (hypospadias), or an unusually small penis (micropenis). ref

Most people have 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes contain all of your genes and DNA, the building blocks of the body. The 2 sex chromosomes (X and Y) determine if you become a boy or a girl. Girls normally have 2 X chromosomes. Boys normally have 1 X and 1 Y chromosome.

Intersex (info from medlineplus.gov)

“Intersex, is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries). The older term for this condition is hermaphroditism. Although the older terms are still included in this article for reference, they have been replaced by most experts, patients, and families. Increasingly, this group of conditions is being called disorders of sex development (DSDs).” ref

Causes

Intersex can be divided into 4 categories:

46, XX intersex

46, XY intersex

True gonadal intersex

Complex or undetermined intersex

Each one is discussed in more detail below. Note: In many children, the cause of intersex may remain undetermined, even with modern diagnostic techniques. ref

46, XX INTERSEX

“The person has the chromosomes of a woman, the ovaries of a woman, but external (outside) genitals that appear male. This most often is the result of a female fetus having been exposed to excess male hormones before birth. The labia (“lips” or folds of skin of the external female genitals) fuse, and the clitoris enlarges to appear like a penis. In most cases, this person has a normal uterus and fallopian tubes. This condition is also called 46, XX with virilization. It used to be called female pseudohermaphroditism. There are several possible causes:

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (the most common cause). Male hormones (such as testosterone) taken or encountered by the mother during pregnancy. Male hormone-producing tumors in the mother: These are most often ovarian tumors. Mothers who have children with 46, XX intersex should be checked unless there is another clear cause.” ref

“Aromatase deficiency: This one may not be noticeable until puberty. Aromatase is an enzyme that normally converts male hormones to female hormones. Too much aromatase activity can lead to excess estrogen (female hormone); too little to 46, XX intersex. At puberty, these XX children, who had been raised as girls, may begin to take on male characteristics.” ref

46, XY INTERSEX

“The person has the chromosomes of a man, but the external genitals are incompletely formed, ambiguous, or clearly female. Internally, testes may be normal, malformed, or absent. This condition is also called 46, XY with undervirilization. It used to be called male pseudohermaphroditism. Formation of normal male external genitals depends on the appropriate balance between male and female hormones. Therefore, it requires the adequate production and function of male hormones. 46, XY intersex has many possible causes:

Problems with the testes: The testes normally produce male hormones. If the testes do not form properly, it will lead to undervirilization. There are a number of possible causes for this, including XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.” ref

“Problems with testosterone formation: Testosterone is formed through a series of steps. Each of these steps requires a different enzyme. Deficiencies in any of these enzymes can result in inadequate testosterone and produce a different syndrome of 46, XY intersex. Different types of congenital adrenal hyperplasia can fall in this category. Problems with using testosterone: Some people have normal testes and make adequate amounts of testosterone, but still have 46, XY intersex due to conditions such as 5-alpha-reductase deficiency or androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).” ref

“People with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency lack the enzyme needed to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). There are at least 5 different types of 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. Some of the babies have normal male genitalia, some have normal female genitalia, and many have something in between. Most change to external male genitalia around the time of puberty. AIS is the most common cause of 46, XY intersex. It has also been called testicular feminization. Here, the hormones are all normal, but the receptors to male hormones don’t function properly. There are over 150 different defects that have been identified so far, and each causes a different type of AIS.” ref

TRUE GONADAL INTERSEX

“The person must have both ovarian and testicular tissue. This may be in the same gonad (an ovotestis), or the person might have 1 ovary and 1 testis. The person may have XX chromosomes, XY chromosomes, or both. The external genitals may be ambiguous or may appear to be female or male. This condition used to be called true hermaphroditism. In most people with true gonadal intersex, the underlying cause is unknown, although in some animal studies it has been linked to exposure to common agricultural pesticides.” ref

COMPLEX OR UNDETERMINED INTERSEX DISORDERS OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

“Many chromosome configurations other than simple 46, XX or 46, XY can result in disorders of sex development. These include 45, XO (only one X chromosome), and 47, XXY, 47, XXX – both cases have an extra sex chromosome, either an X or a Y. These disorders do not result in a condition where there is a discrepancy between internal and external genitalia. However, there may be problems with sex hormone levels, overall sexual development, and altered numbers of sex chromosomes.” ref

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope (Said as “At” “Hope”)/(Autodidact Polymath but not good at math):

Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist, Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Jeweler, Poet, “autodidact” Philosopher, schooled in Psychology, and “autodidact” Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Pre-Historian (Knowledgeable in the range of: 1 million to 5,000/4,000 years ago). I am an anarchist socialist politically. Reasons for or Types of Atheism

My Website, My Blog, & Short-writing or Quotes, My YouTube, Twitter: @AthopeMarie, and My Email: damien.marie.athope@gmail.com