tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post103366480247711038..comments2024-03-29T06:26:28.942+00:00Comments on Shadows & Light: Back Home AgainSteve Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-11447116821538761372013-04-15T18:12:53.844+01:002013-04-15T18:12:53.844+01:00Having known quite well several people who are now...Having known quite well several people who are now going through transgendering, I can say that if it is real, there will be no stopping it. Now. As to allowing a child before the age of eighteen to go through surgery or hormonal treatment- I am not sure about that one. Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-57350505737564616542013-04-14T07:10:51.463+01:002013-04-14T07:10:51.463+01:00Ellen: Exactly. People think of gender as a very b...Ellen: Exactly. People think of gender as a very binary thing, but it's more of a spectrum.<br /><br />Nancy: Thanks! :)<br /><br />Angella: I agree that we could all learn a lot from the way young people approach these issues. They seem much more willing to consider the individual rather than the label.<br /><br />Lorianne: I had exactly the same concerns. I think the puberty-delaying drugs might be OK to buy some time, but surgery at that age seems like a scary prospect. I'm a "wait-and-see" type too.<br /><br />Lynne: I will get out there someday!<br /><br />Bug: I'm sure your friend would not have wanted to surrender her children -- but that is another outcome of earlier surgeries.<br /><br />Elizabeth: I can't imagine how parents would contend with those questions. Weighing all those factors and dealing with potentially permanent changes? Scary.<br /><br />Linda Sue: Ha! Well, I'm glad I'm a hot commodity. :)Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-8120158760864127552013-04-14T06:38:21.431+01:002013-04-14T06:38:21.431+01:00" There is nothing hotter right now than bein..." There is nothing hotter right now than being gay" Just heard that on Bill Maher, though it would be appreciated...I never wanted to be a boy EVER! But I did want to marry all of my girlfriends...Is what it is.<br />A non issue really, so glad Olga fared well and that you had a great time! Linda Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070050388987072100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-82131027393555936782013-04-14T05:36:37.373+01:002013-04-14T05:36:37.373+01:00I read that article on my ride home from D.C. last...I read that article on my ride home from D.C. last week and found it fascinating. I, too, was struck by the conflicts expressed, and as a parent, I imagine it would be very difficult to make the decisions, particularly for the more radical surgeries and medical treatments. <br /><br />I'm glad that you're home safely and that Olga is back with her parents. And I love that photo -- there's something about that hot pink and the motorcycles that goes perfectly well with discussion of transgender issues.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-26176731086038634272013-04-14T03:15:51.144+01:002013-04-14T03:15:51.144+01:00My last church had a couple of transgendered indiv...My last church had a couple of transgendered individuals. I know at least one of them might have wished she could have started the change before puberty because she had a really deep voice. On the other hand, she had children from an earlier marriage, so she would probably not have wanted to miss out on them. It IS complicated!The Bughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07509037206264761261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-82735043762632653812013-04-13T19:49:44.189+01:002013-04-13T19:49:44.189+01:00See? I told you Olga would be crazy to see you! :)...See? I told you Olga would be crazy to see you! :) I'm glad her kennel stay went well.<br /><br />I've never been to that part of Paris either. Looks like a great photo op. Next time you can take us there!<br /><br />Tough choices for sure. Sounds like an interesting article.<br /><br />Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875008154587045790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-41898092017033959592013-04-13T16:33:39.753+01:002013-04-13T16:33:39.753+01:00I just finished reading that same New Yorker artic...I just finished reading that same New Yorker article! I thought it did a great job portraying the many sides of a complex issue. <br /><br />The main concern I kept coming back to was the daunting thought of making a "permanent" (i.e. surgical) decision about one's gender identity during a period when so much is under flux. Think of all the teenagers who get TATTOOS and then regret them, or all the regrettable hair and clothing choices we made as teens. (!!!) <br /><br />I guess I'm a worrywart who tends to err on the side of "wait and see," although I can definitely see the value of taking action before puberty. As I said before, it's complicated, and sexuality and gender are so much more complicated than "either/or." If I were a parent of a teen, I guess I wouldn't want them rushing into a definite decision given how fluid identity is.Loriannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610684937868696220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-61842530900256393492013-04-13T15:38:42.161+01:002013-04-13T15:38:42.161+01:00Glad your trip was good! Its fascinating what you ...Glad your trip was good! Its fascinating what you write of here, your own emerging awareness of your sexuality. I am heartened by the ease my kids and their friends have around the subject of sexuality, the fluidity as you say. It gives me hope.37paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12400464105403622384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-52762386251632787462013-04-13T14:42:57.870+01:002013-04-13T14:42:57.870+01:00Even though we've never met in person, and you...Even though we've never met in person, and you live in London (and I here in the US), I feel like you've been away and now you're back. Isn't it crazy how that works? Welcome home!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11108038613426722566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-58865430565902962013-04-13T14:01:36.682+01:002013-04-13T14:01:36.682+01:00Gender and sexuality are not cut and dried, black ...Gender and sexuality are not cut and dried, black and white. It's not this or that. It's all those shades of gray between black and white. Why is that so scary to so many people?ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.com