Gender Identity
Who makes the call (and how)?
Introduction
1. Identifywhateachletterstandsforinthefollowing,ever-growinglistofacronyms.
LGB= LGBT= LGBTQ= LGBTQIA=
LGBTQIAPK=
2. Eachoneoftheissuesrepresentedissomewhatindependentandunrelated.What messageissentbycontinuingtogroupmoreandmoreofthesesexandgender issuestogether?
How Does the Medical Community Define the Issue?
Match the following terms with their commonly accepted definitions within the medical community.
1. Sex a. Someonewhooccasionallywearstheclothingofthe oppositesexbutdoesnotwishtopermanentlychangehis orhersex.
2. GenderIdentity b. Someonewhosesexandgenderidentitymatch.
3. Transgender c. Anindividualwhosesexatbirthisunclear,possessing anatomicaltraitsofbothsexes.
4. Cisgender d. Thebiologicalclassificationofmaleorfemale,determined primarilybychromosomesandreproductiveorgans.
5. Transsexual e. Someonewhosesexandgenderidentitydonotmatch.
6. Cross-Dresser f. Atransgenderpersonwhoseekstomakehisorhersex andgenderidentitymatchthroughmedicalintervention, suchashormonaltreatmentandsurgery.
7. Intersex g. One’sidentificationasmaleorfemale(orsomethingelse), determinedbypersonalperceptionandcultural expectations.
8. In2013,the5th editionofthe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)reclassifiedgenderidentity disorder asgender dysphoria. Dysphoria is definedas“anemotionalstatemarkedbyanxiety,depression,andrestlessness.”In otherwords,theproblem,asthemedicalcommunitydefinesit,isnotanindividual’s identificationwiththegenderoppositetheirsex per se. Theproblemisthe emotionalandfunctionalchallengesthataccompanythisidentification.What implicationsdoesthischangeindesignationhave?
What Does the Bible Say About the Issue?
Genesis 1:26-28
God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that crawls on the earth.”
27 God created the man in his own image. In the image of God he created him.
Male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
1. Thosesupportiveofthetransgendermovementtalkaboutaperson’sassigned gender(thedesignationofagenderofmaleorfemaleatbirth).Accordingto Scripture,Godistheonewhoassignsusourgender.Hemadethemmaleandfemale. WithwhatcharacteristicsdoesScriptureidentifyaperson’sgender?
Just as in a perfect world people would always have physical attractions to the opposite gender, so also in a perfect world people’s gender identity would always match their sex. However, just as in a fallen world people have physical attractions to the same gender, so also in a fallen world people of a particular sex identify with the opposite gender.
Just as in the discussion about sexual orientation, the origins and causes of such attractions can be debated (nature vs. nurture, “I was born this way” vs. “This is a choice”), so also in the discussion about gender identity the same can be done. However, rather than dismissing or minimizing this challenging issue with which a person is struggling, we will seek to help him or her deal with it in a God-pleasing way.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very well.
1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
2. Putinyourownwordswhatwecansayaboutourbodies,evenafterthefall.
3. AsaresultoftheFather’screation,theSon’sredemption,andtheSpirit’s sanctification,whatdoesPaulencourageustodowithourbodies?
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is beyond cure. Who can understand it?
4. Ourbodiescertainlybearthemarksofthefall.However,asitpertainstoour gender,theevidenceofferedbyourbodies(chromosomes,hormones,reproductive organs)is,inmostcases,clear.Incontrast,describewhatweknowaboutthe thoughtsanddesiresofourinnerbeingsincethefall.
Romans 6:12-14
Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13 Do not offer the members of your body to sin as tools of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and offer the members of your body to God as tools of righteousness. 14 Indeed, sin will not continue to control you, because you are not under law but under grace.
5. WhenourinnerbeingdesireswhatiscontrarytoGod’swill,summarizePaul’s instructionstousregardingwhatwearetodowithourbodies.
Philippians 3:7-11
But, whatever things were a profit for me, these things I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. 8 But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith. 10 I do this so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 in the hope that in some way I may arrive at the resurrection from the dead.
6. Incontrasttotheworld,whichtellsustobetruetoourdesires,livehowwewantto live,andstrivetoeliminateallpainfromourlives,Godurgesustotakeupour crosses,whatevertheymaybe.Namesomeblessingshepromisesaswedoso.
7. Insteadofhopingtoattainthecompleteabsenceofanydiscomfortoruneaseof mindandspiritduringthislife,whatistheultimategoalaChristianhopestoattain? Listwaysthiswillimpactsomeonewhostruggleswithgenderidentity.
BONUS MATERIAL
1. Inresponsetopeoplewhoidentifywiththegenderoppositetheirsex,Christians willsometimessay,“Goddoesn’tmakemistakes.”Evaluatethisresponse.
2. Imagineyoureight-year-oldsontellsyouthathewantstobeagirl.Howwouldyou respond?
3. Imaginea25-year-oldfriendtellsyouthathewantstotransitiontoawoman.How wouldyourespond?
4. Asidefrombiologicaltraits,whatdefinesmalenessorfemaleness?Aretheretraits orbehaviorstraditionallyassociatedwithonegenderthatwecouldacknowledge wouldbefinefortheothergendertohaveortakepartin?Whattraitsorbehaviors, ifany,wouldbeoff-limits?
5. Studiesshowthatfarmoremalesareidentifyingwithandtransitioningtofemales thanviceversa.Canyouofferanyexplanationsforwhythismightbethecase?