Should transgenders be addressed by their current biological gender? Or their desired gender?

[Thelurker1234]

So for those living under a rock, transgenders believe they were born into the wrong body, a man who believes he's a woman, pretty much. Or vice versa.

Some insist they be called by she, even though biologically they are male.
In my opinion transgender people should be referred by their biological gender, and on the internet, using gender-neutral pronouns whenever possible. As referring to people by their preferred gender is complicated, and offends when you screw it up.

Anyways, would like to hear y'alls opinions on this.

[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Not in debate format - Asking for opinions, no supporting information" - Megafan))[/highlight]

[EmperorScorpious]

I usually go with biological. If it's they're opinion that they're another gender, good on them but it's not what they are on the outside.

Take away genitalia and leave just our minds - are we male or female? Personally I think that answer is, neither. So the body is what determines it.

My two cents.

[Carbisari]

Man I just wish I could link this whole chapter from my Neuroscience textbook, it explains in great detail how society views the two sexes as two binary things is totally outdated and fundamentally flawed.

Have you heard the story of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Reimer]John and Joan[/url]?

Or folks with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitivity_syndrome]androgen insensitivity syndrome[/url]?

[ThePuska]

I speak a language where pronouns have no gender and where persons are commonly referred to as "it".

[Thelurker1234]

[QUOTE=Levithan;38848883]Man I just wish I could link this whole chapter from my Neuroscience textbook, it explains in great detail how society views the two sexes as two binary things is totally outdated and fundamentally flawed.

Have you heard the story of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Reimer]John and Joan[/url]?

Or folks with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitivity_syndrome]androgen insensitivity syndrome[/url]?[/QUOTE]
ALso people born with X, or XXY technically aren't male or female.
so there's that. But I still think calling someone by their physical appearence is the best thing to do.

[EmperorScorpious]

[QUOTE=ThePuska;38848887]I speak a language where pronouns have no gender and where persons are commonly referred to as "it".[/QUOTE]

I wish English were like that. What language is it, by the way?

[Humor]

There is absolutely nothing to gain by referring to someone as their biological sex (if they prefer to be addressed otherwise) other than offending them and in most cases increasing their already high levels of anxiety and self-hatred.

It astounds me how intolerant 'liberal' people can be in this day and age.

[Lonestriper]

Whatever their desired gender is on the basis they make it well know how they preferred being addressed, I'm not going to place my own presumptions upon someones identity when they make it clear.

[gra]

obviously call them by their preferred gender. dont be an asshole

[Alice]

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;38849037]Whatever their desired gender is on the basis they make it well know how they preferred being addressed, I'm not going to place my own presumptions upon someones identity when they make it clear.[/QUOTE]
But I have a penis no matter how little I desire to own one so therefore I'm a man no matter what! Despite the fact that gender is a mental concept and sex is physical. This thread shouldn't even exist. As with 99% of transgender threads on FP it will only result in a lot of stubborn people who believe preferred gender is the way to go arguing against a lot of stubborn people who insist that having a penis makes you male with no exceptions.

[Eila]

[QUOTE=gra;38849046]obviously call them by their preferred gender. dont be an asshole[/QUOTE]

Pretty much.

Its hard enough for them to have to deal with the fact they cant be who they feel they are. They dont need their faces rubbed in it because other people think "they have a dick they must be a man" or vice versa if its a female to male.

It isnt even hard to get used to. I have a transgender friend who is a male to female. Took a while to get used to, but now shes a girl to me.

And guess what, absolutely nothing has changed. Shes still the same person to me. Really, if they wish to identify as a guy or girl, its just courteous to address them as such.