Transsexualism, like other intersex conditions, is something that just happens in some sexually reproducing animals. We humans now have a more-or-less effective way of dealing with that.
But the notion of "becoming a woman" or "becoming a man" can, in various ways, lure individuals who are largely comfortable and happy with their assigned genders into transitioning. This usually pans out to be a Bad Thing for all involved.
To help prevent misguided people from doing irreversible damage to their lives and bodies via ill-advised gender transitions, there are now a number of safeguards in place. By far, the most commonly used system for safer transition is the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care. The HBSoC protocol provides guidelines for therapists and gender specialists in helping patients cope.
So the network of caretakers in gender therapy have mostly mutually agreed on these guidelines. As such, surgeons and endocrinologists require written recommendation "letters" from therapists and psychologists before they will provide hormones or surgery.
The guideline for beginning hormones is a minimum of three months therapy or full-time living. My therapist also required dressing as my true gender in group, and a couple of outings in public as myself. (Which were quite interesting, hee!) One letter is required.
For surgery, two letters (or signatures) are generally required. One year of living full-time as yourself, a significant, documented amount of volunteering, employment, or schooling, and a legal name change will probably be expected by your therapist. At minimum. This is collectively known as the Real Life Test. [Your Humble Narrator will have completed this by the end of the year. She has already been living full-time for exactly one year.]
The HBSoC is not by any means a legal requirement, but to help prevent fiascoes and lawsuits, the vast majority of the trans caretaker network mutually enforces it. This is very much a Good Thing, because otherwise, there'd be a much larger number of very unhappy, litigious men with neo-vaginas about.
Real Life Test - 06/08/06 12:56 PM
Transsexualism, like other intersex conditions, is something that just happens in some sexually reproducing animals. We humans now have a more-or-less effective way of dealing with that.
But the notion of "becoming a woman" or "becoming a man" can, in various ways, lure individuals who are largely comfortable and happy with their assigned genders into transitioning. This usually pans out to be a Bad Thing for all involved.
To help prevent misguided people from doing irreversible damage to their lives and bodies via ill-advised gender transitions, there are now a number of safeguards in place. By far, the most commonly used system for safer transition is the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care. The HBSoC protocol provides guidelines for therapists and gender specialists in helping patients cope.
So the network of caretakers in gender therapy have mostly mutually agreed on these guidelines. As such, surgeons and endocrinologists require written recommendation "letters" from therapists and psychologists before they will provide hormones or surgery.
The guideline for beginning hormones is a minimum of three months therapy or full-time living. My therapist also required dressing as my true gender in group, and a couple of outings in public as myself. (Which were quite interesting, hee!) One letter is required.
For surgery, two letters (or signatures) are generally required. One year of living full-time as yourself, a significant, documented amount of volunteering, employment, or schooling, and a legal name change will probably be expected by your therapist. At minimum. This is collectively known as the Real Life Test. [Your Humble Narrator will have completed this by the end of the year. She has already been living full-time for exactly one year.]
The HBSoC is not by any means a legal requirement, but to help prevent fiascoes and lawsuits, the vast majority of the trans caretaker network mutually enforces it. This is very much a Good Thing, because otherwise, there'd be a much larger number of very unhappy, litigious men with neo-vaginas about.
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