Joan or John? My Answer: Part Two
— Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 —
Before you read this post, be sure you’ve read the question to which I’m responding here, and the first part of my attempted answer. Otherwise, you’ll be very, very confused.
On the question of whether “Joan” should go reverse her so-called “gender reassignment” surgery, my answer is no. First of all, no surgery can reassign gender. The surgery mangled John, and sought to create an illusion of a biological reality that isn’t there. There is no way that this surgery can be “reversed,” only another cosmetic illusion created on top of the old one.
Additional surgery would only compound the problem. He should see himself as the equivalent of a biblical eunuch, someone wounded physically by his past sin, but awaiting wholeness in the resurrection from the dead.
He should, though, stop taking the female hormones, allowing his body to revert to its (relatively) natural state.
The issue for John is honesty, it seems to me. This means that he should present himself as what he is, a man created by God as such. This means he should identify himself as a man, and should start dressing in male clothing. This is going to be very, very difficult for him, and he will need his pastors and congregation to bear with him through all the stumbles and backsteps that will come along with this.
The most difficult aspect of this new honesty, however, is not what restroom John uses or the name on his driver’s license. It is how he presents himself to a young daughter who has only known him as “Mom.” I’ll address this part of the problem in the next post.
11 Responses to “Joan or John? My Answer: Part Two”
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Dear Russell,
Have enjoyed your discussion of this complex case and was curious how you would handle the med/surgical end. You are correct in stated surgical reversal of the genital procedure would likely be disastrous medically, but the few patients I’ve encountered have also had breast implants, besides the hormonal treatments… this would make the “dressing as a male” challenging at best. Your thoughts here? The implant removal procedure is “doable” and might be a good step as well.
Thanks for your thoughts, look forward to the rest.
Bill
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Dr. Moore,
What a great series that you are doing here, challengin believers to think deeply about how to minister to this messy and sinful world that we once belonged to as well.
I graduate from Luther Rice University next May and am planning (Lord willing) to come for my M. Div at Soutehrn. I cannot wait to sit in such a class as this one you are teaching!
God bless you as you serve!
Reply
I’m glad you have addressed this issue, with much grace and with the Gospel at the center.
Thank you!
Reply
Dr. Moore,
I appreciate your insights and have been waiting for 2 weeks to hear the rendering of your outcome. Thanks again for working through tough, weighty, complex issues–it’s really made me think about “identiy crisis’ and how we are new creatures in Christ.
The Lord be with you,
TS
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Dr. Moore,
I’m glad to see you adressing this issue. When I was in high school, we lived outside of Trinidad, Colorado and my mother worked in the business office at the hospital in Trinidad. So you’ll know I have some experience with this subject.
I would tend to agree with Mr. (Dr?) Cutrer about future surgical remedies. Otherwise, I agree with all of your advice.
Saddest of all, we are now finding that this radical solution is really no solution at all - even those who go through the sex “reassignment” surgery and don’t wish to undo it still suffer all of their lives. Their self-reports show they are no happier, no more at peace than they were before. As in so many other cases, we are finding that our sex runs deeper, far deeper, than mere body parts and self-definition. So deeply that not even radical surgery and a lifetime of drugs can even begin to “fix”
Kamilla
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@Kamilla,
I have to wonder, what do you base your claim that those who go through sex reassignment surgery suffer all of their lives? Numerous studies have shown that the majority of those who have such surgery go on to live happier, more productive, and more stable lives.
Yes, there are exceptions, all are cases where the person was not a true transsexual, and where they were not properly screened.
Jennifer