Hi Rachel,

You wrote, “Most people do feel they “must” be a particular gender.”

What is your basis for that?

I personally feel feminine in many ways. If I had been born a decade ago, I am certain that I would questioning my “gender”. But I have never, ever felt any angst about it. None. I have merely sometimes thought, “I should have been born a woman”, and then went about my day.

It is not a problem, because there is no angst. Women see me as a “sensitive man”. That’s fine. It has been beneficial.

The angst that some people feel is the issue. If there is no angst, there is no problem, right? The angst is clinically a compulsion. A behavioral compulsion causes angst until one performs the behavior.

I am concerned that young people who feel like they are “the other gender”, but who feel no angst about it, might change their “gender” and suffer the problems that result from that.

For those who feel angst about it, I have sympathy, and if adopting the other gender makes them feel better, then they should definitely do that. No one should suffer unnecessarily.

I do not mean any disrespect, and I am not misinformed. I have read a great deal about this issue, including scientific literature, and have debated it with many people, including my son who is gay, and who has many trans friends.