Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Fake ID

San Francisco, where I live, has decided that it will join some other cities in issuing ID cards, mainly to aid illegal immigrants. I am not completely happy with that idea. I mean, I favor the idea of helping people who wish to come here to work, but there do need to be some controls. This is the sort of thing that could be exploited by those whose purpose is not benign.

Because of pressure from the "transgender" they have decided to leave "gender" off of the cards . Just another reason I am really getting tired of their politics. Now, when I got my California ID (I don't currently have a driver's license, since I don't currently need one) it had my legal name, and listed my sex as female. This is in accordance with state rules that allow one to get a license with the sex changed if one is in transition towards surgery. Of course, that rule gets bent a lot, but that is another issue.

What I found extremely interesting is that someone from the Family Research Council objected to the new policy because it perpetuates the idea that "gender is a social construct." I bet he would be very surprised to discover that I, a person with HBS, who he would probably reject if he knew that, totally agrees with him on that particular issue.

I don't believe that at all. I believe that gender is inherent, intrinsic, and immutable. One is born with a brain that is wired either male, or female, and nothing can change that. If the brain does not match the body, then the proper term is Harry Benjamin Syndrome. Otherwise, while one might choose to behave in a manner that is inconsistent with both one's birth sex, and gender, that does not change one's gender.

Of course, I believe people have the right to live their life as they please, as long as they don't do anything that harms, or has the potential to harm, another. But I also believe in being honest.