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Transgenderism & Gender Dysphoria
God created mankind male and female, in His image and likeness, which cannot be changed.
Men and women are fundamentally different from each other and yet complementary to each other. People are born genetically with clear male or female chromosomes and a vast majority with clearly identifiable biological characteristics that indicate male or female. Indeed, sexual identity is written into the DNA of every cell in our bodies. As such, our biological sex is intricately interwoven with how we live in society and relate to others.
As men and women made in the image of God, transgender-identifying individuals deserve our respect, compassion and care as “neighbors” whom we should love as ourselves. As an outflowing of this care for our neighbors, Family Policy Alliance supports public policy that affirms the unique and complementary roles both men and women play in society and for the family. We oppose efforts that would bring further harm — physical, mental, emotional or spiritual — to those struggling with their identity in this way and attempts to “normalize” this behavior in society—especially amongst impressionable children.
Making Sense of It All
Here are brief definitions of terms often used interchangeably but with distinct differences.
TRANSGENDER
Transgender individuals believe themselves to be the opposite sex from which they were born. If a man says he feels like a woman, dresses like a woman, acts like a woman, and calls himself a “woman,” then that individual has a “transgender identity.”
GENDER DYSPHORIA (GD)
Gender dysphoria is a medical term used to refer to an individual who has intense unease with their biological body.
TRANSVESTITE
A transvestite (today called cross-dressers) is someone who play-acts as the opposite sex, usually in dramatic, stereotypical fashion, (think drag-queen). Cross-dressers often do not desire to live as the opposite sex full-time or become the opposite sex.
Just because someone suffers from gender dysphoria does not mean they are or want to become transgender. In fact, someone experiencing GD may seek a therapist for help.
However, many transgender-identifying people may not feel they struggle with GD. A man, living as a woman, may deny he has GD and argue he’s perfectly happy as a woman. And some struggling with GD will seek out legal, medical, and cultural ways to live their life as the opposite sex. This is called transitioning.
A person who is transitioning is in the process of trying to change from living as a male to a female or from a female to a male. A person who is transitioning may be content to dress and present as the opposite sex. Yet, some will also start taking hormones or undergo surgeries (to change their bodies), change their name and sex marker on their birth certificate, and be identified solely as the sex they desire.
Three important things the Bible teaches us about the creation of men and women
God created us. He fashioned us male and female and crafted every part of our bodies. Then, He used His own breath to give man the breath of life (Gen. 2:7). We humans are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), knitted together in our mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13).
God created us in His image and likeness for a purpose: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:26-27). In His image and likeness, we are to have dominion over all creation; to be fruitful and multiply and to bring creation under submission (Gen. 1:28).
He created men and women to become “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24), with a portion of the Spirit in their union (Mal. 2:15a) and to procreate as part of His Sovereign plan. And what is God seeking? Godly offspring (Mal. 2:15b). Despite attempts to the contrary, only men and women can produce children.
God saw everything he had made – including man and woman, male and female – and behold, it was very good (Gen. 1:31)! That is until the fall of man when sin entered the world and mankind deviated from what God had established as good.
Gender Identity is Not Constitutional
Our Founding Fathers through our Constitution established protections to promote our God-given rights and immutable characteristics. The protections for all citizens, which are required to appear in all state and federal civil rights statutes include: religion/creed, race and national origin/ancestry. Every state must have these protections for all people by law.
State legislatures cannot take away these protections, but they can add to them. Some that have been added include; sex (as in biological sex at birth), age, physical and mental disability. Neither the Constitution nor federal law provide special protections or rights for people based on their “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.” Despite this, activists seek to either add “sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)” to the list of protections or have the word “sex” in current statutes interpreted to include SOGI.
These activists are targeting Federal and State legislatures, local governments — and even local school boards.
Discrimination in the Disguise of “Equality”
State legislatures around the nation have started to create the legal status of “gender identity.” These laws claim to protect the “equality” of everyone.
In reality, they pander to activists who make up less than 1% of the population. To enforce Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity (SOGI) laws, the government is given legal authority to discriminate against anyone with an opposing belief.
Remember Jack Phillips, the cake-baker from Colorado? The government used a state SOGI law to determine that Jack was discriminating because he declined to use his artistic talents to bake a “gender transition” cake. We’ve seen state governments censor the speech of teachers, counselors, and others who disagree with the transgender agenda as a result of their sincerely held religious beliefs.
The government should be in the business of protecting the freedoms of all Americans — not punishing certain groups for their ideas and beliefs.
THE FOLLOWING MAP SHOWS WHICH STATES HAVE ADDED “SEXUAL ORIENTATION” AND “GENDER IDENTITY” SPECIAL PROTECTIONS IN THEIR STATE STATUTES.
Gender Identity in Policy
Here are some policy areas where the “gender identity” ideology negatively impacts the fundamental rights of the majority of Americans. Family Policy Alliance actively opposes the following types of laws or policies throughout the nation:
Public Facilities
SOGI laws passed in the state Public Accommodations statutes affect public spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, and pools. These laws are often referred to as “transgender bathroom laws.” Traditionally, locker rooms or restrooms in public spaces have been intentionally separated by sex to protect the dignity, privacy, and safety of everyone, but especially women and children.
Watch this real-life story
Therapy Bans
Therapy ban laws prohibit therapists from helping minors to identify with their birth-sex. (These bans also prohibit minors from receiving therapy to resolve their unwanted same-sex attraction. To learn more, click here.) In other words, if a teen or child is struggling with unwanted gender-dysphoria they cannot get licensed-professional counseling that will help them resolve their feelings. They can, however, get counseling that encourages them to change their gender and even go through irreversible sex-change operations and sterilizing hormone therapy.
Read more on this issue
Identity Documents
Some states are beginning to change their laws to allow transgender-identifying individuals to have their sex changed on their birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and other identity documents without ever having had a sex-change operation or without marking the original identity document as “amended.”
Identity documents, like the birth certificate, are official government-issued records that have been relied upon for their historical accuracy and security. If someone can change their sex-marker, there are many questions as to how officials (like law enforcement agents) can meaningfully identify individuals when necessary.
Hear from women on how Gender Ideology is affecting them and their families.
The Far-Reaching Impact of Gender Ideology
The following displays a summary of the complex ways in which gender ideology is affecting many aspects of life for American families.
Schools
Schools are beginning to pass policies that prohibit “discrimination” on the basis of gender identity. When schools pass these policies, it often means boys (who say they are girls) will have access to girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. These boys will also be able to compete on girls’ sports teams, live in women’s dorms and take advantage of women’s scholarships. In addition, legislatures are also passing sex education guidelines that allow for graphic and even pornographic depictions of sex acts for gay and transgender teens in the name of “inclusivity.”
Classrooms
The free speech of our children and teachers is being censored with “gender-affirming” language (e.g., schools requiring the use of the pronoun “he” for a transgender-identifying girl) being mandatory, children receiving low marks on their homework for affirming only male and female sexes, and teachers reading books to kindergarteners about “transitioning kids” and even teaching about the process of gender transition. A teacher who teaches the reality of biological sex could be disciplined for “hate-speech” or “discriminatory” and “insensitive” class lessons.
Libraries
With backing from the American Library Association, Drag Queen Story Hour events are happening, or are planned, in at least 40 states public libraries. The events feature one or more drag queens in full garb — reading stories that promote the LGBTQ+ ideology and engaging in hands-on craft projects with the children — all to push the message that their behavior and lifestyle is perfectly normal. Read our article on this topic
Military
Transgender activists are using political pressure to introduce their ideology into the Armed Forces. The Departments of Defense and Homeland Security recently released a memo that concluded transgender individuals cause insurmountable obstacles to military “readiness.” In addition to the physical setbacks of transitioning, the military also cited violations of privacy, fundamental unfairness in physical requirements, and negative effects on discipline, good order and unit cohesion. Read our article on this topic
Businesses
Small business owners have been targeted by state governments for living and running their businesses according to their religious values and declining to provide services for gender transition. Employers are being sued for terminating employees who violate the company mission statements by having sex-change operations, or not allowing a biological man to share hotel rooms or bathrooms with women and more. Learn more about Religious Freedom & Business
Churches & Ministries
Pastors have been targeted for their sermons that promote biblical truth about the differences between men and women. Houses of worship are subjected to civil suits by refusing to hire individuals who lead a lifestyle against the teachings of their faith. And homeless and domestic violence shelters—including those run by faith-based ministries—are being forced to open their doors to transgender individuals at the risk of the privacy, safety and dignity of possibly vulnerable residents.
Hospitals & Insurance Companies
Hospitals are being sued for identifying individuals by their birth-sex, which is a medically necessary fact for healthcare providers to be aware of. Religious hospitals and doctors are having their beliefs and valid scientific opinions trampled in some states where they’re required to provide hormone therapy for transitioning individuals and insurance companies are being required to cover sex change operations. If they refuse, they could be sued for “discrimination” and risk losing their licenses to practice. Learn more about Religious Freedom & Healthcare
What's Happening in Transgender
We never stop in the defense of life, the family, and your religious freedom. Keep up-to-date with what is happening across the nation, and learn how you can join us in taking action.
Transgender
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The Texas Children’s Hospital Whistleblower’s Story, with Dr. Eithan Haim
Transgender
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recently declined to endorse gender-transition
A Win: Plastic Surgeons’ Group Rejects Gender Surgeries for Children
Transgender
Dear Friend:  Did you hear that the NCAA’s policy on transgender athletes
TAKE ACTION: Help #SaveGirlsSports 
Transgender
Dear Friends, TODAY the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to
Help Not Harm to be considered by the Supreme Court!
Transgender
Dear Friends, Along with our allies at Center for Arizona Policy and
ARIZONA Protect Detransitioners from Predatory Medicine
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