Intersex vs

OK, first, let me explain the title. There has been an ongoing debate on what is Intersex and what is not. Also, there has been a rise in the number of people originally claiming transsexuality, who are now claiming to be Intersex. Personally, I don't care how people identify themselves, but this debate has created ripples throughout the group of people who don't meet traditional definitions of male and female. Now for the disclaimer. I am not a medical doctor, nor am I an expert on Intersex Conditions or Transsexuality. So most of this is from observation and my own experiences in this subject. I say this because many, mostly on the Internet, make themselves out to be experts, even though they have no medical education and very little insight into others they claim are frauds.

I will try to explain where I am coming from, by giving a little history about myself. I have had a tough journey, which is not unique amongst those who would challenge conventional gender norms. If you read the biography on this site, you know a little bit about me, but I left out a lot, because people have literally used my entire biography on my old site as their own or used parts of it to perpetuate ignorance. Even though I fill in some blanks in this article, I know it will be taken out of context by some looking for something that is not there.

When I was born, I was placed in the ICU for 5 days or so the story goes. I was born under-weight, 5 pounds 3 ounces, which would hardly be considered a premature birth by today's standards. As the story goes, that is why I was in the ICU. Of course, I was also carried for full term, so saying I was premature is kind of odd. I digress. My mother raised me more as a girl than anything else. This is based on societal gender norms though. I was taught to help my mother with the house and dressed more in the manner of the only other child in the neighborhood at the time, a girl who lived across the street. She was also my only playmate till some boys moved in next store.

I didn't realize I was any different from the girl across the street. Until I learned that we were different. My mother died when I was 7 years old. This created a lot of change for me. Not only did my wardrobe change, but what I was expected to be, a boy. This is not all to uncommon with other Intersex and some transsexual histories. I tried my best to meet expectations. At the age of 12, I started growing breast. The story from the doctor later turned out to be false when I attended biology 101 in high school. I also didn't develop like the other males in my school, at least from what I could tell from seeing other males in the shower after gym. I soon learned it was better to hind that fact as much as possible. I also started cross dressing, since my father had remarried and I gained to step-sisters.

I still tried to meet expectations, even though attempts at sex with woman was a failure. I did start to look more male by the age of 17. "Ah you are just a late bloomer," was a common phrase I heard often. I joined the military after high school. Managed to get by the obligatory turn your head an cough test. I was 298 out of 300 entering that day. The doctor doing the test was at least in his mid-eighties. In basic training I was teased because I ran and threw a ball like a girl. I was a little more hippie than most of the guys in my platoon. I even got married. I continued to cross dress, because it felt more natural to do so. I was inevitably caught, ccourt martialed, thrown out of the military, and divorced in a matter of a year.

So my coming out story is more like being thrown out naked in the middle of a church social. I decided not to hide what I was, but needed to learn what I was first. I ran the entire spectrum of gender expression and identity. Hoping to fit in somewhere. I joined a Tri-less Cross Dressing group. 5 minutes into the first meeting, I knew I was not a cross dresser. Nice people, just didn't relate at all. There was as transsexual there, who I talked to and related to somewhat, but still did not relate fully. I started going to a therapist. There as one time before, I was told I was a transsexual. At first, I didn't want to accept this, but finally did. I became active in the transgender community and the greater Gay, Lesbian, , Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) communities.

I had always looked sort of feminine. Little to no facial hair, strange build (not female or male), and breast development mentioned earlier. Still, this did not trigger anything as abnormal in my mind. Later, after moving from North Carolina to Arkansas, I would discover I was more different than I originally thought. One day while going to work, I thought I was having a heart attack. This led to testing and I was diagnosed as having dual chromosomes, which some called chimera, while others would say mosaic. I was further educated that I was a chimera, which I was told was a variation of Intersex by some, but not by others.

Being labeled Intersex was probably the most dramatic event in my entire life. This news was something I did not want. I pleased with doctors and therapist to take it away, as if it could. Besides, I had my journey all planned out. Live as a woman, get on HRT, and eventually have surgery. Due to the variation I had, that plan was out of the question. For one, I was produced little to no testosterone. I was producing way to much estrogen. Hence the spiking which started this whole thing in the first place. Also, due to physical structures left in place from a surgery that was evidently done when I was born. I became angry, because I felt betrayed and I lost trust in myself and others.

OK, sorry, if I get more detailed than about, I am back to writing a small book. It should give you some idea where I am coming from when I discuss below. On a side note, I person on YouTube as stated I hate transsexuals, but how could I, because in some sense, I am still a transsexual who happens to have an Intersex condition. Those who claim either or, I tell them to get tested and learn about yourself.

The debate is broad and complex to say the least. I will try my best to explain it. There seems to be several camps included beyond those who were classified as having an Intersex Condition. One is the Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS) group. Another is people originally identifying as transsexual, but now claim Intersex. Then the change of terminology from Intersex to Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD), which is controversial to say the least. I will try to compress the opposing views into one paragraph.

Many of those who have been diagnosed as Intersex prior to the change in terms from Intersex to DSD are angry wit the sudden influx of people claiming Intersex, but unwilling to go to the doctor to get tested. "I think I am Intersex,; therefore, I am." The HBS group believes they have and Rare, yet undocumented, Intersex condition. Unfortunately, they also think those in the medical and mental health professions are gatekeepers, so good luck on finding out for sure. I have heard several transsexuals state they are now Intersex. Some even act as if you can catch it somehow. They also refuse to get tested in fear they might be told they are wrong. Changing the terminology from Intersex to DSD has blurred some lines, and some take this as all transsexuals as well as those who have Intersex identity have a DSD. That is as compressed as I can get on the present controversy.

Lets consider the case of Chloe Prince. She appeared on an ABC program stating she was stung by a bee, which triggered her to become and XXY. Later claimed she was an XY/XXY Mosaic. Know I understand how news programs can cut and remold statements made during filming. I have experienced this several times. Showing part of an answer, but not the question. This sparked debate on how this could be. Some supporting the bee sting theory and others dismissing it all together. I also can understand the confusion someone goes through when you find out certain things about yourself. You want answers and will grasp at anything to sooth your distress. Still, is sparked heated debate amongst Intersex and Transsexuals alike.

Less know in the United States, but still sparked debate as well, is the Zoe Brain. She spontaneously changed from male to female stating a rare condition coined as Idiopathic Partial Sex Reversal. When searching the Internet, it is hard to find any medical documentation on this. Most of what is posted is by Zoe Brain herself. By-the-way, this is transsexuals wet dream so to speak. Imagine how much money one would save if they just changed genders. Ironically, some who thought Chloe Prince's story was not plausible, think Zoe Brain's story is plausible, or vice versa.

I will not debate whether or not Chloe or Zoe are truthful. Like it or not, they have opened the debate and brought attention to people who often lived in the shadows. They both seem to be nice people and living their lives. Still, it has caused a lot of copy cat cases to arise. Causing some to claim even more rare conditions, making them make some misguided decisions.

Is this statement true? Some actually argue this point to prove transsexuals have a DSD. Part of the problem is changing from the term Intersex, which was considered to broad for some, to DSD. DSD on the other hand has actually created more confusion in some areas. Does a person who developed sexually as a normal male or female, who is transitioning to male or female, have a Disorder of Sex Development? I know of at least one person who says, "Yes," and further states that most of the medical professionals do as well. Lets look at this in detail.

DSD List of Definitions from DSD Guidelines by ISNA (Intersex Society of North America):

DEFINITION OF DSDs

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are defined as conditions involving the following elements.

congenital development of ambiguous genitalia (e.g., 46,XX virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia; clitoromegaly; micropenis)
congenital disjunction of internal and external sex anatomy (e.g., Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome; 5-alpha reductase deficiency)
incomplete development of sex anatomy (e.g., vaginal agenesis; gonadal agenesis)
sex chromosome anomalies (e.g., Turner Syndrome; Klinefelter Syndrome; sex chromosome mosaicism)
disorders of gonadal development (e.g., ovotestes)

DSDs consequently include anomalies of the sex chromosomes, the gonads, the reproductive ducts, and the genitalia. Note that the term “intersex” is avoided here because of its imprecision.

Here is a link to related DSD Concerns: http://www.dsdguidelines.org/htdocs/clinical/methodology.html#table_dsds

So, do all transsexuals have the above conditions? I don't think so, but some using this document, which you can read via this link: 46,XY disorders of sex development , argue they do. By the way, Chimeras (46XX/46XY) are not listed here either; hence why some think I don't belong under the DSD umbrella either. Even though by the definition of the words, I would, but that is a whole other article. OK, article as a reference, here are some comments and arguments for an against.

46,XY is assumed to be a Male-to-Female Transsexual by some, but 46 XY is actually a person who is male, which could be a transsexual or not.

It starts off with this: "The term disorders of sex development (DSD) includes congenital conditions in
which development of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical.
Mutations in genes present in X, Y or autosomal chromosomes can cause
abnormalities of testis determination or disorders of sex differentiation leading to
46,XY DSD."

OK, to most, this would mean that this article focuses on males who have congenital conditions. Not to put the enter document in here but it goes on to describe various 46 XY DSD conditions. One person argued it proved that medical professionals declared transsexuals have a DSD. I did the following searches and here is where transsexual is mentioned. I have added my comments, but I will let you judge for yourself.

46,XY GENDER IDENTITY DISORDERS
Male to female transsexualism
Patients with male to female transsexualism manifest a profound and persistent
desire to live and be accepted as a member of the female sex, usually
accompanied by a sense of discomfort with their anatomic sex and the wish to have
surgery and hormonal treatment to make their body as congruent as possible with
the female sex. In our experience, the first manifestations of gender identity
disorders usually start during childhood.

Note, it does not state they have a DSD. Note: The above seemed out of place when considered against the rest of the document.

NON-CLASSIFIED FORMS
Hypospadias
46,XY gender identity disorders
Male to female transsexualism

Note, this seems to imply that is not classified as a DSD, but some say it is an unclassified form of DSD. Also, this was peer reviewed, but does seem to have been published in the Clinical Endocrinology Journal.

First off, did I write this to attack transsexuals. No, I actually wrote it to reply to the debate. Beside, again, why would I hate some thing I would rather be. I also try to get those who claim to be Intersex, to get tested. Just as I would tell a person thinking they are a transsexuals to see a therapist and a doctor. Also, I would not want someone who is a transsexual to be hindered by what I now have to go through just about every time I see a doctor. I plainly see transsexuals and Intersex as two different issues, even though in some cases they parallel each other.

Also, I don't see Intersex as a gender issue, where I consider transexualism as a gender identity issue. Of course, I agree, gender should not matter in the world today, but unfortunately they do in most cases. This does not mean Intersex is some sort of level to achieve or be placed above anyone. The same issue happens with transsexuals, Post Operative is seen as above Pre-operative, and they both think their above cross dressers. In realty, we all have separate journeys, where some parts of that journey are on the same road, where others are separate.

So, I have stated some of my views, what are yours? Feel free to contact me via the contact button on the web site. I will post all responses on the site under response for this article. Just as long as it does not contain fowl language or blatant attacks on others outside of the scope of this article. Looking forward to read some of the responses.