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An Oregon ‘man’ (born a woman) who is partway through gender reassignment has gotten pregnant. So, after having ‘chest reconstruction’ to look like a man (basically, a mastectomy), and testosterone treatments so that she can grow facial hair and such, she got pregnant before they efeminized her private parts – that is, before they killed her vagina and gave her a ‘penis.’ What shall we say about this?
Al Mohler discusses it briefly in his latest podcast, and makes some interesting points about Christians needing to move past disgust into compassion for those caught in such dire confusion, and asks us to start thinking about how we can serve, love, and reach out to those who are caught in the gay/transgender self-concepts.
But I would like to add that we need to reaffirm the truth of biological and emotional gender norms, and resist the urge to accept the dysfunctional trans and gay identities being pushed as normative.
Let’s assume for the moment that it is NOT a hoax. This brings up many interesting things to consider.
1. Is this really a pregnant man?
This is a woman who rejected her biological gender, but continued to have sex as a woman with female reproductive parts. She reports that she decided to stop her testosterone treatments 8 months back, and did not think that she would get pregnant.
2. If she is with ‘another’ woman, how did she get pregnant?
Science to the rescue – she got pregnant via artificial insemination. So a woman who wants to be a man gets pregnant on purpose? She is doing one of two things (or both). First, she may be trying to challenge our understanding of gender out of a rebellion against gender norms (set by biology and culture). Second, she may be merely exploring her confusion over her own gender, wanting to be a man, but still having the desires of nature for a child.
3. Is the transgender identity similar to homosexuality in its roots, or something wholly other?
I don’t quite understand the psychology behind transgender identify formation, but I assume that it is not just a sexual attraction problem, but really, a deeper self-identity problem. In my mind, however, it probably shares its origins with the Root Causes of Male Homosexuality, which are a rejection of self, coupled with a rejection of one’s own gender, grounded in such things as rejection of gender stereotypes (like the macho male or hyperfeminized female), sexual molestation, emotional abuse or passivity by one or both partents, etc.
4. How does she feel about this whole thing?
How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Incredible. Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am. In a technical sense I see myself as my own surrogate, though my gender identity as male is constant. To Nancy, I am her husband carrying our child—I am so lucky to have such a loving, supportive wife. I will be my daughter’s father, and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family.
Translation? She has no problem maintaining a male psyche while carrying a baby. Her mental ‘stability’ will certainly lend credence to the claim that such things are normative alternatives.
5. How is society reacting?
As per the article in the Advocate, she is having problems with doctors not wanting to use the male pronoun, and other rejection. The Oregonian has run three successive articles:
We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation. Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender.
6. How do we respond as Christians?
First, we reaffirm the biological norms of male and female, and explain what those are, as well as what those are not (e.g. machoism or extreme passivity).
Second, we declare that homosexuality and transgender identity are unhealthy dysfunctions, and that both psychology and faith have curative solutions for such illnesses.
Third, we think of new ways to reach out to these hurting populations, starting with the most needy, since the ‘least’ needy (i.e. those that aren’t yet physically ill from STDs or the emotional duress of being at odds with their biology) are probably resistant, if not in open defiance to biological gender norms and actively pursuing offensive political strategies. Such outreach should include
- Increased volunteerism in serving those in late stages of AIDS
- Small groups geared towards inclusion of gays while they explore the biblical views of manhood, womanhood, sexuality, and gender
- Gentler and less judgmental, but honest preaching on sexuality from the pulpits
Lastly, we must continue legislative efforts to establish hetero monogamy as the norm for acceptable marriage in our society, especially the Federal Marriage Amendment. This is not primarily to change the minds of existing GLBT people, but to prevent our children from being indoctrinated in the gay apologetic via the schools, but rather, promote healthy societal norms.
CONCLUSION
This pregnant ‘man’ is just another face in the ongoing struggle of transgenders and gays to be accepted as they are, or, as we conservatives see it, the ongoing struggle of individual and social health against the onslaught of a sexually confused and sinful society trying to justify its sin. May God have mercy on us.
