Gender related disorders
Kevan Wylie, consultant in sexual medicine
Porterbrook Clinic, Sheffield

 
Gender identity disorder is being given greater attention and importance by the medical profession. Although its aetiology is unclear, some evidence suggests that it has a neurobiological basis. The condition is no longer confused with sexual orientation preference and other gender related disorders. Social stigma remains, and patients need multidisciplinary assessment and care.

 The designation of sex has always been established by looking at the anatomical sex, and the term gender identity describes whether a person senses himself or herself to be masculine or feminine. Gender role describes how people publicly express themselves in their clothing, use of cosmetics, hairstyle, conversation, body language, appearance, and behaviour. Usually, gender identity and gender role are congruous, but in people with gender identity disorder, severe incongruity exists between anatomical sex and gender identity, and the person has persistent discomfort with his or her anatomical sex, usually from childhood. A sense of inappropriateness is felt in the gender role of that sex, and such people have a strong, ongoing, crossgender identification, with a desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex. Usually they have a desire for hormonal therapy and surgery to make their body as congruent as possible with the desired gender identity.


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Gay candidate for Congress quits race
PlanetOut Network


Jim Stork, a gay politician who campaigned this year to unseat a 12-term Republican U.S. congressman from Florida, pulled out of the race on Friday, citing health concerns.

Stork, 37, suspended his campaign last month to undergo medical tests. He revealed Friday that he has a heart condition that will prevent him from campaigning rigorously.


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GOP Mailing Warns Dems Will Allow Gay Marriage & Ban Bibles
By The Associated Press


(Washington) Campaign mail with a return address of the Republican National Committee warns West Virginia voters that the Bible will be prohibited and men will marry men if Democrats win in November.

The literature shows a Bible with the word "BANNED" across it and a photo of a man, on his knees, placing a ring on the hand of another man with the word "ALLOWED." The mailing tells West Virginians to "vote Republican to protect our families" and defeat the "liberal agenda."


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La. voting on gay marriage ban
Opponents fear amendment plan's scope is broad
By Rebecca Mowbray, Globe Correspondent


NEW ORLEANS -- Two weekends ago, this city welcomed thousands of gay revelers from around the country to the annual Southern Decadence festival, a gay Mardi Gras complete with a risqu and satirical parade in costume through the French Quarter.

But today, the South's most freewheeling city is likely to vote along with the rest of Louisiana to ban same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships under the state constitution. After Missouri, which approved a similar ban last month, Louisiana is the second state to hold a referendum on the issue since the decision in Massachusetts by the Supreme Judicial Court legalizing same-sex marriage.


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'Queer Symposium" addresses Native identity'
Native American academics speak about sexuality, culture at 10th annual speaker series
By Jessica Begans


Three prominent Native American writers and professors spoke at 10th annual Queer October Symposium Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The event was co-sponsored by the English and Women and Gender Studies departments and organized by English professor Michael Moon.

Presenters included Deborah Miranda from Washington and Lee University, Scott Stevens from SUNY-Buffalo and Craig Womack from the University of Oklahoma.


The speakers discussed not only their professional work in the field of gay and lesbian and Native American studies, but also the personal challenges they face as gay Native Americans.