Marc Defant: The Contradiction At The Heart of Gender Debates

"Gender identity has become one of the most pressing–and polarizing–topics in today’s cultural landscape. Major medical associations have embraced a variety of gender-affirming treatments, ranging from counseling sessions to lifelong hormonal therapies and even surgeries. Their rationale is that these interventions help alleviate severe distress among people who experience a disconnect between the sex they were born with and the gender they identify as. In the same breath, however, many of these organizations and prominent voices also describe gender as largely a “social construct”–something molded by cultural norms rather than by biology.

That claim raises a fundamental paradox. If gender truly rests on external expectations, why do some advocates support irreversible medical procedures–especially in children–as a primary response to gender-related distress? On the flip side, if there is a strong biological basis for gender identity, then why do we invoke social factors so frequently? For parents, policy-makers, and health professionals trying to do right by patients, these questions create a tangle of uncertainty. Even more critically, children and teenagers lie at the center of an ethical storm that involves decisions about their bodies, their long-term health, and whether or not they should receive life-changing medical treatments before they’ve reached adulthood.

The Rise of Gender-Affirming Care 

Over the past decade, a growing number of adolescents have presented to clinics with gender dysphoria–a term describing psychological distress that arises when someone’s gender identity does not align with their biological sex. Many point to increased visibility on social media platforms, greater cultural acceptance, and shifting diagnostic criteria as drivers of this trend. More public conversations have lowered the stigma that once surrounded topics of gender identity, thereby encouraging more families to seek out professional help... 

Source:Marc Defant with an article for Skeptic Magazine.

From Skeptic Magazine

So what Marc Defant is talking about here is the difference between what people define themselves as when it comes to their gender and what people actually are when it comes to their DNA and their physical equipment... the sexual components that they were born with that separates males from females. 

Most people, I'm sure most Americans, (at least) define their gender based on what it is. They define their gender as male, because they were born male, or female because they were born female. Or this is how straight people tend to define their gender. But for the 5-10% of us who aren't straight, it's not as easy. 

I wouldn't say this person was a friend, because we were somewhat friendly growing up in the few years that we went to school together and it turns out he was sort of friendly with a guy I hanged out with growing up as well and they grew up in the same neighborhood. 

And then the first guy that I mentioned here (let's call him Joe) and I got reconnected after going a few years without seeing each other, on Facebook, when I first joined FB back in 2009. To make a long story shorter (and I'm not going to mention his name, because he doesn't even know that I'm writing this) he came out to me as gay shortly after we reconnected on Facebook back in 09. And we exchange phone numbers, email addresses and started talking about a lot of different things, discovered that we had a lot in common, other than our sexualities. 

Joe for whatever reasons, seemed very comfortable talking about his own sexuality and what it was like being gay, with me. Maybe he knew I'm not a homophobe, and he was familiar with my liberal politics and how much I support individual's freedom of choice. But I always got the idea from Joe that he didn't equate one's sexual preference with one's sexuality. That they were 2 different things, that there was nothing related between both a gay man and a feminine man. That just because because you are gay doesn't mean you are also feminine as a man. And that's true in the sense... I mean Joe is what you could call a "bear" or a "masc" as a gay man. I mean he's 6'0, 300 pounds, looks like he could've been an NFL nose tackle, a very butch, looking and sounding, but gay man. 

But and I'm sure pop culture and social media has something to do with this, but when most people think of gay men, they don't think of Hollywood action stars, or tough cops, or private detectives, military drill sergeants, pro football players, etc. They think of guys who work at hair salons, who are fashion designers... they think of the queens (if I can use that word) that they see on those Bravo "reality TV" shows. 

And because of this, as far as how at least some gay men are so sensitive about how their sexuality is portrayed, or parodying, especially if they're either still in the closet, or they are like Joe and are a "bear" and hate the idea that they themselves, or gay men like them, are automatically seen as queens, (again, if I can use that word) just because they're attracted to men, instead of women, you have this new, left-wing political correctness movement, that apparently ignores science, or never took in school, failed every year of it, (to put it bluntly) who say there aren't really any genders anymore. Or there's more than 1 gender. 

So all those people who've transitioned from male to female and vice-versa... that didn't actually happen, if you bothered to take the no gender movement seriously on this. And while you are doing that, you might as well take every "UFO spotter" seriously as well. 

As I mentioned before, I'm a Liberal because I believe in freedom of choice... just as long as it comes to personal responsibility as well. Not the only reason why I'm a Liberal, but my belief in free choice and free speech, are at the top of my list. If men who don't see themselves as men, they have the right to do that and could go transition to a female, or live as a queen. (Again, if I can use that word) 

But let's not try to convince intelligent, sane, sober, people (who are more unique in America as everyday passes) that men aren't men and women aren't women, or there's some new gender going on, or genders don't even exist. Unless you are looking to become the newest members of the UFO Spotters Society. 

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