In this series of blogs on the topic of TRANSPHOBIA, we have so far established the groundwork upon which to build a better understanding of the nature of the word “trans” and how it applies to our understanding of those who may find themselves tangled within its confining web of their personal reality. We have no illusions that all who read this series of blogs will suddenly change behaviors, because we know that to do so takes weeks of study, meditation and reflection to gain a better understanding and application of the knowledge obtained. We do hope, however, that this is the beginning of a road leading to a better comprehension, and leading to a determined process, to resolve conflicts in perceptions and awareness that now exist, so that those who may fall into the web of “trans” issues can find hope, understanding, and most of all, acceptance. Not necessarily the type of acceptance where all are in 100% agreement, but where a mutual understanding, immersed in love and respect, can be beneficial to all. The Denial of the exploration of facts is prelude to the TRANSPHOBIA mindset.
Let’s begin this discussion by revealing why The Denial is rampant. The feminist movement really began in 1848 with woman’s suffrage, seeking equal rights, and then exploded with the woman’s liberation movement in the 1960s. Let us be the first to express that what we are about to detail cannot be blamed in total on these movements but are only part of the slope that has slid us to where we are in this Nation today. There really can be no argument to the fact that the male species has over time been vilified, made less important to the preservation of our species. During WWII, “Rosie the Riveter” was the embodiment of woman strength, and power, and without her, our Nation might have been serving today under a very undesirable flag of an Aryan race. However, the independence women achieved during this time has slowly over time eroded the importance of men. In fact, today, men have been vilified in many ways. Just the very terminology used in women’s health issues subconsciously blame men, words like menopause, menstruation, and menstrual cycle or menses, all being things women would love to avoid! We could also examine the phycological effect on all by thinking of other words like manslaughter, manipulation, and maniacal. Do you get the picture? Examine the number of what we call “stupid men commercials” on TV and in radio, where the man always seems to be the idiot, with the woman being the level-headed adult in the room. If you do not recognize this, then you are in the grasp of The Denial.
Let’s be frank for a moment. The testosterone level in men has been declining for years. “Seventy-year-old men in 1987-89 had an average testosterone level that was almost 100 points higher than even 55-year-old men in 2002-04. Meaning that the average 22-year-old man today, has an average testosterone level roughly equal to that of a 67-year-old man in 2000. Therefore, it’s likely that your testosterone levels are half of those of your father and undoubtedly significantly less than your grandfather.” “The negative trend seems to be getting worse and happening to men at much younger ages than ever before.” (Parla, Roberta Stringer, June 17, 2021.) You are in the grips of The Denial if you haven’t paid attention to all of the ads on TV and radio talking about “ED” (Erectile Disfunction). Testosterone impacts many areas in the body, namely the brain (like sex drive and confidence), muscles (growth, strength, and endurance), bones (mass density), bone marrow (red blood cell production), sex organs (sperm production, erectile function), and skin (hair and collagen growth). “External toxins are also wreaking havoc with male hormones. Chemicals (including parabens and phthalates) in our environment are disrupting our hormonal balance, causing various degrees of reproductive havoc on a daily basis. These are called hormone or endocrine disrupting chemicals – also known as EDCs. They are undoubtedly playing a role in testosterone levels declining at 10% per decade.” (Parla reference above.) So why is the testosterone level in men decreasing? “Low testosterone in men is called hypogonadism. If a man has this condition, it means that he is not producing enough testosterone. Male hypogonadism may be congenital, or it may develop later in life. By congenital, we mean that he is born with that defect.“ (NFSMI.ORG, January 20, 2021.) Several reasons for low testosterone are known for sure, like obesity, age, smoking, pituitary disorders, injury to or undescended testicles, and stress are the evident ones. Less known is “Klinefelter Syndrome”, a genetic anomaly where the Y chromosome is replaced with another X chromosome, so that the normal XY genetic makeup is replaced with an XX. Still another is the “Kallmann Syndrome” which is characterized by failure of puberty to begin, or the inability to go through puberty completely. These are not all the known potential reasons. Cancer treatment with radiation and chemotherapy treatments can affect spermatogenesis (sperm production) and can become permanent. Mumps and other infections can cause extended hormonal problems. (NFSMI.ORG, January 20, 2021.) If you have avoided recognizing the above facts, then you are in the grasp of The Denial. What does all of this have to do with TRANSPHOBIA?
When considering the seemingly increasing number of “trans” related issues facing us today, one has to wonder if this lack of testosterone, and societal changes diminishing the male species, has to have some impact? There is a story told about two men coming home at night, and one of them dropped his keys. The other man went to go help his friend find them but noticed the man who had dropped his keys was looking in an area under the streetlight. He questioned his friend as to why he was looking in that area, telling him that they had been nowhere near that streetlight. The man who lost his keys simply stated, “I thought I would look over here because the light is better.” We wonder if the whole cause of the “trans” issue is being basically ignored, seeing only what has been believed from the past, without looking in the right places, looking for the answer to the question, “Why”? Where has been the science and study to resolve this question? Are we content to live in The Denial, and not be concerned with those who are afflicted with the “trans” issue? And while we are at it, rather than condemning those who are gay or lesbian, where have been the widely disseminated studies and research answering the questions of “Why are some people gay or lesbian?” We just seem to, over time, accept that as fact, while at the same time many quietly believe them to be unworthy of respect and acceptance.
Conservatives, even this website, often claim the “woke” among us just do not fill up their knowledge bucket with enough true facts to make better informed decisions. However, the same applies to many conservatives who are often blinded by the bubble they surround themselves with and then fail to explore truths outside the generally accepted mantra, and the full truth is then often not explored, nor is there even a desire to do so. If you do not believe this to be true, then you are in the grips of The Denal. Sometimes personal thought and belief is like the lane in a bowling alley. Once you are in the gutter, there is a strong tendency to remain therein. We have never witnessed a bowling ball ever jumping itself out of the gutter. The only way to get out of the gutter is to stay away from it and never get into it! Staying in the lane of science and knowledge is always the best course to follow.
Let’s set the record straight. We no longer live in the Garden of Eden! If you believe this earth is heaven, then you are in the grasp of The Denial. This world was cursed by God and His human creations are flawed to this day (Genesis 3:16-19). Weeds grow in our flowerbeds and gardens. Violence rocks our streets, and mischief of all sorts invades our neighborhoods. Evil abounds, and few if any are immune from its presence or effects. No one knows all the reasons why people are as they are. God does not make human junk, but mankind has certainly been able to screw up that which was perfectly created! Our bodies are a composition of multiple influences such as social, economic, genetics, industrial, chemical, behavioral and biological. Consider the various human “creations” over time and how they have influenced our bodies and lives. DDT was thought to be the answer to irradicating insects, and the diseases borne by them, but it turned out to do more to irradicate good human health. Asbestos was widely used before anybody began the scientific research and find out why so many were falling ill and dying. Agent Orange was used extensively in war, and veterans and indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia are paying the price for its use years later. Each and every year, some great advancement, pill or chemical, has to be removed from the marketplace because of unintended consequences due to a failure to properly vet the product before distribution. We wonder how long before the COVID-19 vaccines are removed because of the number of illnesses and deaths they have caused?
If you are living believing that all new advances are void of any harm, then you are in the grasp of The Denial. The same is true with being transfixed by the TRANSPHOBIA craze. We have allowed ourselves to be influenced by a few who have failed to “look in the hard places, away from the streetlight”, to do the deep dive of scientific research to find the answers to the question, “Why?” It is always easier to assume you know the answer, and repeat the mantra, whatever it is, than to seek out the truth, be respectful until it is known, and realize that all of us are flawed in one way or another. The Holy Scripture tells us the second greatest commandment is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31.) Note that the “neighbor” is not defined. The neighbor could be your enemy, or someone who walks to the beat of a different drum. Regardless, the command is to “Love”. As we have mentioned before, if you seek FREEDOM and LIBERTY, then it must apply not only to you, but to everyone, even if you do not understand them. As it says in the sentence in the picture at the beginning of this blog, we must recognize and accept that “all they really want is to be found.” It is long past time to do the deep dive, legitimate scientific research, and explore the areas that are dark to our knowledge, away from the light of current beliefs, perceptions, and ideology.