In-your-face stuff from an opinionated
rural north Idaho housewife.
Country Living Series
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Meet Jane
Here's my WND column for this weekend, entitled "Meet Jane: A True Tale of a True Transgender." This was a rather emotional column for me to write, and I'm honored WND put it on the front page slider on Saturday.
When I was young I knew another child with this condition, only the opposite. Externally she was male, internally she was female. It was found when she was young because there was only one complete testicle.
Doctors were hot to remove the external plumbing. They argued intensely with the parents who refused to have it done. For a short time they even had the child removed from parental custody because they refused to "do what was best for the child. The mother was frantic that they would do unwanted surgery on her child while she was out of her hands.
Finally, when the child was eight a judge talked to the child and asked what she thought. The child said, "Just leave me alone and let me go home. Let me decide when I'm old enough to do so.
The last time I communicated with this girl she was 17. She was still choosing to be left alone about it, happy to be as God made her. She insisted "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Thanks for sharing Patrice. I worked in a Domestic Violence Shelter for 7 years. During that time we came to know 2 true hermaphredites. Physically both male and female. Both struggled. It's a heart wrenching challenge for those who have it. Those who 'play at it' though they may not mean to, make a mockery of those who suffer with it.
My Grandmother was an Apache, raised on a reservation in OK. I learned from her, that occasionally tribes had such people born to them. Tribes (in the old days) considered such people a very special blessing. They were destined for a spot on the Tribal Council, for their unique male/female qualities were highly valued. I was at a Pow Wow a few years ago and watched a young person (gender not clear) dance in the (usually) all male warrior dance. No hoopla, only acceptance from all involved.
God has His reasons, and sure as shootin' "God don't make no junk"
My niece, I believe, is struggling with this right now. She is currently 21 years old, and believes she is transgender. She never started menstruating until she was started on estrogen birth control pills by a doctor, which brought on extremely painful periods. When she was started on estrogen, she also became suicidal. Any doctors that she has been to so far have not done any testing to see WHY this is happening. I have forwarded your article to her parents. Thank you for writing it.
Hi Patrice! Just wanted to give an update on my niece. After reading your article and some other information I sent them, they have an appointment with an endocrinologist in Boston in two weeks! I'm so very excited that my niece may finally find out what she needs to know. Thanks again, and I will let you know the outcome either way.
Hi Patrice, I promised to keep you posted, so here it is. Unfortunately, my niece decided to cancel her appointment in Boston. Her rationale for this was because her father suggested the visit to the specialist, she wasn't going to do it. I was further shocked to find out that she will be starting testosterone treatments next week. I will not stop praying for her and the rest of her family.
Thank you for writing thins , it is very interesting to hear of how someone deals with this physical abnormality in their own life, sounds like this person was raised with a their feet on a firm foundation , although I am sure it was shocking to deal with for awhile. No morality dilemma , but I wonder if the testes can be left inside , my brother had to have one of his removed that would not descend due to possibility of future health problems I think. Karen Jones
Apparently Anonymous has to repeat things to think he/she is "heard" and was not home schooled. I base on his/her/their inability to correctly use the word "they're". Natokadn
You handled this subject very gently. The fact that the "true" transgenders don't want any attention to that fact is contrary to today's "in your face" liberals.
This is off-topic, but whenever I go to WND and get involved reading an article, I never can finish it because the screen goes totally white. Is Big Brother censoring me? it took 3 refreshes to read your article.
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my intrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my intrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my intrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
The problem with the label "true" transgender is that you have absolutely no way whatsoever of knowing who is "true" (by your definition) and who is not. This is perfectly illustrated by the individual in your article. When was "truth" finally determined? Think of all the pain this individual could have experienced up to that point inflicted by judgemental intolerance. Think of the pain that would have continued to be inflicted had the "truth" never been discovered. God doesn't make junk - who are we to decided when it's junk? Because we feel someone is following a fad? I say live and let live and DO NOT practice intolerance - you NEVER know what God's truth is.
I often read WND and want to tell you how much I enjoyed your outstanding article on the transgender daughter/son of your good friend. I pray that this young man has a good life and helps further the Gospel. Your column was very thoughtful, and I saved it.
I'm not transgender nor a homosexual but a Christian woman who's nearly 70. I never married even though I would have liked to. Yet I travelled the world working for the airlines, got a B.S. in Biology, and was able to do wildlife biology fieldwork in Montana with pronghorn antelope and grizzly bears. I motorcycled over 8,000 miles on a 6-week trip Chicago/Grand Canyon/Seattle/Prince Rupert, BC and down through the Canadian and US national parks. I ‘ve tutored African-American and African children. I wanted a life of adventure, and coming back to the Lord in my early 30's continued that adventure but this time really walking with the Lord.
I hope your friend's son focuses on having a wonderful life, with continual commitment to the Lord. Please convey my best wishes to your friend and her son for this life in the Lord. And thank him for not turning against the Lord through these difficult and bewildering years.
God has a plan for James. He just has to be patient. Until then, I pray that he has a truly wonderful, richly rewarding life. The world is an amazing g place. I pray the he grabs all of the experiences that he can, and doesn't GI e a second thought to those that he can't. Dawn
When I was young I knew another child with this condition, only the opposite. Externally she was male, internally she was female. It was found when she was young because there was only one complete testicle.
ReplyDeleteDoctors were hot to remove the external plumbing.
They argued intensely with the parents who refused to have it done. For a short time they even had the child removed from parental custody because they refused to "do what was best for the child. The mother was frantic that they would do unwanted surgery on her child while she was out of her hands.
Finally, when the child was eight a judge talked to the child and asked what she thought. The child said, "Just leave me alone and let me go home. Let me decide when I'm old enough to do so.
The last time I communicated with this girl she was 17. She was still choosing to be left alone about it, happy to be as God made her. She insisted "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Thanks for sharing Patrice. I worked in a Domestic Violence Shelter for 7 years. During that time we came to know 2 true hermaphredites. Physically both male and female. Both struggled. It's a heart wrenching challenge for those who have it. Those who 'play at it' though they may not mean to, make a mockery of those who suffer with it.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandmother was an Apache, raised on a reservation in OK. I learned from her, that occasionally tribes had such people born to them. Tribes (in the old days) considered such people a very special blessing. They were destined for a spot on the Tribal Council, for their unique male/female qualities were highly valued.
I was at a Pow Wow a few years ago and watched a young person (gender not clear) dance in the (usually) all male warrior dance. No hoopla, only acceptance from all involved.
God has His reasons, and sure as shootin' "God don't make no junk"
My niece, I believe, is struggling with this right now. She is currently 21 years old, and believes she is transgender. She never started menstruating until she was started on estrogen birth control pills by a doctor, which brought on extremely painful periods. When she was started on estrogen, she also became suicidal. Any doctors that she has been to so far have not done any testing to see WHY this is happening. I have forwarded your article to her parents. Thank you for writing it.
ReplyDeleteFran
Let us know what happens.
Delete- Patrice
Hi Patrice!
DeleteJust wanted to give an update on my niece. After reading your article and some other information I sent them, they have an appointment with an endocrinologist in Boston in two weeks! I'm so very excited that my niece may finally find out what she needs to know. Thanks again, and I will let you know the outcome either way.
Fran
Wonderful news! Again, keep us posted.
Delete- Patrice
Hi Patrice,
DeleteI promised to keep you posted, so here it is. Unfortunately, my niece decided to cancel her appointment in Boston. Her rationale for this was because her father suggested the visit to the specialist, she wasn't going to do it. I was further shocked to find out that she will be starting testosterone treatments next week.
I will not stop praying for her and the rest of her family.
Frances
Don't give up hope for your niece. You've planted the seed, and sometimes the flower takes time to bloom.
Delete- Patrice
Thank you for writing thins , it is very interesting to hear of how someone deals with this physical abnormality in their own life, sounds like this person was raised with a their feet on a firm foundation , although I am sure it was shocking to deal with for awhile. No morality dilemma , but I wonder if the testes can be left inside , my brother had to have one of his removed that would not descend due to possibility of future health problems I think. Karen Jones
ReplyDeletePatric maybe one of your children is trans.
ReplyDeleteYou won't know until their adults. No doubt because of mom's scary intolerance.
Huh? Sorry Anonymous...not seein' or feelin' any intolerance on Ms, Patrice's part here.
DeleteNope.
Delete-Older Daughter
Patric maybe one of your children is trans.
ReplyDeleteYou won't know until their adults. No doubt because of mom's scary intolerance.
I second Grandma Ruth.
ReplyDeleteApparently Anonymous has to repeat things to think he/she is "heard" and was not home schooled. I base on his/her/their inability to correctly use the word "they're". Natokadn
I, too, side with Grandma Ruth. I read no intolerance at all in Mrs. Lewis' article. Just acceptance.
ReplyDeleteFran
You handled this subject very gently. The fact that the "true" transgenders don't want any attention to that fact is contrary to today's "in your face" liberals.
ReplyDeleteThis is off-topic, but whenever I go to WND and get involved reading an article, I never can finish it because the screen goes totally white. Is Big Brother censoring me? it took 3 refreshes to read your article.
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my
ReplyDeleteintrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my
ReplyDeleteintrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
To say that transgenderism is a fad and worse is a mental illness is a very dangerous notion for any mom to have. Kids pick up on rejection, hide genuine thoughts and feelings. Depression and anxiety follow. In the very dark and ignorant days of many years ago I was a delicate child. My mom understood my innate femininity. She never caste my
ReplyDeleteintrinsic femaleness into a dark place but loved and accepted me. She has long since passed away but within me her confidence and loving acceptance is my passport to survival for a transwoman in this difficult world
The problem with the label "true" transgender is that you have absolutely no way whatsoever of knowing who is "true" (by your definition) and who is not. This is perfectly illustrated by the individual in your article. When was "truth" finally determined? Think of all the pain this individual could have experienced up to that point inflicted by judgemental intolerance. Think of the pain that would have continued to be inflicted had the "truth" never been discovered. God doesn't make junk - who are we to decided when it's junk? Because we feel someone is following a fad? I say live and let live and DO NOT practice intolerance - you NEVER know what God's truth is.
ReplyDeleteYears ago when I was a corrections officer a hermaphrodite inmate was brought to the intake unit. We ended up putting them in the prison hospital
ReplyDeleteDear Patrice ~
ReplyDeleteI often read WND and want to tell you how much I enjoyed your outstanding article on the transgender daughter/son of your good friend. I pray that this young man has a good life and helps further the Gospel. Your column was very thoughtful, and I saved it.
I'm not transgender nor a homosexual but a Christian woman who's nearly 70. I never married even though I would have liked to. Yet I travelled the world working for the airlines, got a B.S. in Biology, and was able to do wildlife biology fieldwork in Montana with pronghorn antelope and grizzly bears. I motorcycled over 8,000 miles on a 6-week trip Chicago/Grand Canyon/Seattle/Prince Rupert, BC and down through the Canadian and US national parks. I ‘ve tutored African-American and African children. I wanted a life of adventure, and coming back to the Lord in my early 30's continued that adventure but this time really walking with the Lord.
I hope your friend's son focuses on having a wonderful life, with continual commitment to the Lord. Please convey my best wishes to your friend and her son for this life in the Lord. And thank him for not turning against the Lord through these difficult and bewildering years.
Love in Christ,
Nancy
Thank you for your well-wishes toward James. I'll pass them on.
Delete- Patrice
God has a plan for James. He just has to be patient. Until then, I pray that he has a truly wonderful, richly rewarding life. The world is an amazing g place. I pray the he grabs all of the experiences that he can, and doesn't GI e a second thought to those that he can't. Dawn
ReplyDelete