Monument ([info]marnanel) wrote,
@ 2008-11-20 10:57:00
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Pastoral issue
+Elizabeth Kaeton is a priest in the diocese of New Jersey who often writes about LGBT issues. Another, unidentified priest asked her for help because some of his parishoners are upset that a child in their parish of about five or six years old identifies as a girl despite having been born apparently male (the presenting problem being their reaction, not the child's identification). She posted what she plans to reply to the other priest, but would like comments on both the information she gives and on what would be pastorally appropriate. I thought some of you might be able to help her.

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(Anonymous)
2008-11-20 05:20 pm UTC (link)
I do not identify as religious, and am loath to criticise when someone is obviously trying to do the right thing, so feel awkward posting anything there.

Although I got myself genetically tested it was something I decided as an adult, and was for informational purposes (to see if there could be a simple biological reason for how I felt mentally). I do not believe it is necessary for anyone, apparently transgendered or not, to have genetic testing.

It is worth noting that whilst the priest is aware of certain genetic conditions she seems unaware of conditions such as androgen insensitivity/resistance syndrome (where someone genetically male (i.e. with a Y chromosome) may be phenotypically female (i.e. has a vagina)) or XX male/de la Chapelle syndrome (where someone may be genetically female (i.e. no Y chromosome) but be phenotypically male (i.e. have a penis)) - although there is obviously links between genotype, phenotype, and gender it is not 100%.
Also, someone with XXY sex chromsomes is genetically a male with Klinefelter's syndrome - a "superwoman" may possibly refer to a genetic female with triple X syndrome (i.e. has XXX sex chromosomes).
Additionally, as far as I am aware there is no requirement for genetic testing to be performed for a diagnosis of transsexualism or gender identity disorder, or the legal consequences of such a diagnosis.

Finally, referring to incidents from 1996 does not seem useful. The International Olympic Committee is no longer stuck in the past - there is a press release from 2004 (http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/media_centre/press_release_uk.asp?release=855) that explains their position on transsexual athletes.

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(Anonymous)
2008-11-20 08:20 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for linking this and for the above comment. Just to be clear, and as I said repeatedly, that was a very, very brief overview of what I know. I do know about all the other issues of genetics (learned it when I got tested), but wasn't giving a class, just writing to a colleague. I didn't want him to focus too much on the medical issues but give him just enough "background music" to help him be a better pastor. I also encouraged him to check out other books, booklets and pamphlets and resources in his community

I didn't know about the new Olympic policy. Thank you very much for updating my information.

So, do you have suggestions or advice for me? You seem very knowledgeable and I'm sure I could learn a great deal from you. Thanks in advance.

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[info]dglenn
2008-11-21 12:14 pm UTC (link)
If I'd known you'd be reading here, I would've composed my long response here, where the user interface is easier for me to deal with, and possibly managed to do a better job than I did (I'm afraid I lost track, a bit, of what had already been said -- including by you -- and repeated a bunch of stuff you already know ... and had trouble keeping track of what I'd already written, in that tiny text box). But my main point is not to complain about the comment-posting interface on your site; rather to apologize for not reading more carefully before I replied there (I can't blame it all on poor web layout, alas), and to join in discussion here where it's easier for me.

I hope that despite my inadvertent rehashing of too much you know, I managed to say something there that you'll find useful -- or perhaps that one of your other readers will. I did try to lean a little bit away from the medical and more toward the spiritual and personal aspects.

One thing I didn't do, partly for length and partly because I didn't know how useful it would be, was go into a sampling of the reasons I've observed and understood that the situation you describe -- and being confronted with transgendered folks in general -- makes people uncomfortable. (Note that there are also a whole lot of reason's I son't understand.) If a discussion with a list of "They might be thinking/feeling _____, and if so ..." parts would be useful, I'll get into that. If not, well I guess I'll just be glad I didn't make even more of a fool of myself.

And I'll read more carefully before replying next time.

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typo
[info]dglenn
2008-11-21 12:16 pm UTC (link)
Argh. s/son't/don't/ *sigh*

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[info]skyethebard
2008-11-20 11:38 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for posting this. I can't help her but I did enjoy the read. It heartened me to read about an educated religious leader who is obviously trying to spreak peace, love, and understanding :-)

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