This is why the language of this NEW law is paramount. To state how someone identifies with himself is not precise enough. It should say more to the point, that the physical attributes are to be in alignment with the corresponding rest room. Geez they've really opened up this Pandora's box forcing this bill into law. I believe there will be no other place to move forward but to eventually go to gender neutral bathrooms. Human beings are very accommodating to change, it's what has helped us survive, so here we are.

I did minor editing for grammar, small extra thoughts, after posting the bulk of it. So yes, if anyone notices minor differences, I am responsible for them. Thank you for pointing that out...

What does it matter if we consider it a disorder or a condition or a normal variation? (Or a sin? Not my area.)

It is the degree of human suffereing, agony really, that the need for change engenders in some. The excruciatingly powerful and unremitting desire, need or conviction of "something wrong," occurring as young as two years and sustained throughout the person's development, into adulthood impacts powerfully upon the therapist.

As your article pointed out, so far, treatment to relieve persons of the conviction or live with it resignedly are abysmal failures, often adding to the anguish as some surgical procedures are attempted but are disappointingly unhelpful, or unsuccessful, even disfiguring. Some are done in other countries by unscrupulous practitioners of questionable education or skill.

The clinical therapist of any ilk most likely chose the profession out of a sincere desire to allieviate human suffering. It is not surprising that some might dispair and act as they feel humanly compelled. But doctors follow protocols for quality assurance and ethical uniformity. An ethical practitioner who performs such a procedure would submit the case for review to other professional boards, ethical boards, etc for the go ahead to perform any planned untried procedure properly, and prior actions may be sanctioned for noncompliance with professional standards.

Surgical transition is monumental. The pressure of the patients misery must be profound and unremitting and unresponsive to any other possible intervention for surgical transition to be considered. As we know, the misery, combined with the lack of understanding and sympathy from all they encounter, and especially for a conservative Christian teen, who loves the LORD, and knows with all his heart that his parents, family and community AS WELL AS HE HIMSELF, consider him an abomination. His father can't meet his eye and his mother cries all the time and it's his fault and he CANT CHANGE IT TO SAVE HIS SOUL!

Yes, hormonal treatment may have unexpected side effects and surgeries don't always turn out successfully and some persons may have regrets. (I may have read a study that explains a declining rate of dissatisfaction as surgical procedures and techniques are improved over time. I will look for it once baby goes down for her nap.)

The type and specificity of hormones and blockers used in treatment for humans undergo more rigorous testing and quality control than do veterinary preparations often administered by breeders rather than the veterinarian trained in the field. (Often, as you would know, some breeders knowledge and finesse with caring for their animals despite lack of veterinary credentials is better tuned than the vet!)

The guiding principle with experimental protocols and procedures is to balance the expected benefits with the potential harm. Then to evaluate in the actual results to determine whether a protocol or treatment will become mainstream or be filed away to be forgotten. Or supplanted by a newer, better way to alleviate this suffering.

Sometimes I find your descriptions are rather flip and frankly tactlessly unsympathetic. I suppose you do, as well, with my religious posts. I CAN guarantee you if a BETTER treatment were available, or becomes widely available, transgender surgery will become as infrequent as lobotomies!

Meanwhile, we have these real people who are as uncomprehending of the how and why they are the way they are as the rest of us. But THEY are the human beings who are in tremendous agony. They feel the mismatch and the pain it engenders. If one listens sympathetically and patiently one hears and feels a small bit of that for a short time. And just as chronic pain is incomprehensible to most others, "Surely there are a few days every now and then where you feel just fine, don't you?" "I've seen you out and smiling as of you had no cares in the world! (*medicated!*) so many ask ME. "No. It hurts every second of every day and sometimes gets worse." They shake their heads uncomprehendingly and their eyes glaze over. They move on to other topics. Spend another hour visiting, I see them out, all the while smiling, SMILING, because a human "shouldn't, "couldn't'" feel bad pain all the time and I don't want them to feel sad or worried about it. And possibly never visit again due to their discomfort. But I will have been in that same damn pain, continuously and still smilingly, SMILINGLY, helpfully relieving my friend's discomfort at my suffering.

It is understandable that a loving person with a lapse in professional self discipline or supervision, may find themselves overwhelmed by their need to help. And act in what they feel to be a loving helpful human manner as they pour drain cleaner in a young woman's eyes!

That is why we have educational standards, licensing and ethical boards to advise law enforcement regarding criminality issues and assist in determining and understanding, if possible, any breach of ethical standards. We police ourselves because we are the only ones knowledgeable to do so. In this rarefied profession, we must judge ourselves and submit to ethical standards and treatment or become relieved of our licenses to practice.

This is my issue with the Tennessee Bill which compromised the push to mandate issuance of licenses to those with conscientious objections to learning the material and techniques available and to refrain in specific areas to continuously to update oneself in new areas, as well as related fields. Their lack of contact, concern and understanding is and would perpetually remain inadequate as they remain oblivious. Instead, they are allowed, even in areas of critical shortages of adequately trained professionals, to refer undesirable patients to others. By handing them a year old list of phone numbers for professionals two or three counties distant...

This has gotten very long. I should perhaps have split it into several posts, but

Here it is.