A dividing line

If all gender variance is now considered 'trans' we are simply asking for trouble. In particular many impressionable teens and young adults are comparing themselves to others and thinking they need to medically transition.

In our genuine aim to be politically correct, we may have inadvertantly helped to create this current atmosphere which we need to scale back a bit if nothing else to draw a more distinct line between identity and expression. For those who are unsure of their particular mixture of those ingredients, they can then seek clinical guidance to find out.

Part of the problem is that the residual stigma of many older gender variant people is not helping the situation. I used to be one of those stumped and so I understand the problem only too well because as someone on the cusp of needing to medically transition, it took me a very long time and much introspection to solve the riddle of what to do.

But if the current youth is completely free of stigma and much less hung up, they are also much more susceptible to quick decisions and to being influenced. My argument for guardrails isn't about stopping them from living their best lives but rather about helping them make decisions that will ultimately be right and leave them free of regret.

In opening up the door fully to gender expression, we seem to have gotten lost and we need to find our way back. During my recent meeting with young transitioners in their 20's who followed a measured and well planned approach, I saw what great results can be achieved within the right program. But what was most interesting was the extent to which they themselves argued so passionately for those very guardrails because they see the potential pitfalls as well.