20 Comments

  1. Leigh Newton
    ·

    Thanks for telling this story. Bodies are complex and a little confusing.

    Reply
  2. Tori Browning
    ·

    I’m also an intersex born, transgender person. I didn’t find out about it until I was 47 because my birth (medical) records were sealed as the result of a closed adoption . Unfortunately, doctors removed the female bits through ‘normalization’ surgery performed on me as an infant.

    We’re not as rare as most people think though. 1.7% of the population worldwide is born with an intersex condition. Not all intersex conditions manifest themselves physically though, and many people don’t realize they were born that way until they attempt to start a family and are thoroughly examined. 1.7% by the way, is only .2% less than the number of people born with red hair (1.9%).

    – source: http://www.isna.org

    Reply
    1. Laura Haines
      ·

      You are so right on all counts and you are amazingly brave for sharing. Education is key here. Even more so is the WILLINGNESS to be. It’s the best cure I know of for ignorance and bigotry. Well, education and Jesus. lol Thank you for commenting, Tori, and educating as you do.

      Reply
  3. Helen
    ·

    I need this info. to help me explain to anyone who doubts. I knew about this phenomenon, because my mother was forward thinking, and taught me long ago. This goes into more detailed, scientific fact.

    Reply

    1. ·

      Terrific article! Thank you for sharing. I hope many people not only read it but give it time to really sink in. Our creation is anything but simple and that doesn’t mean those wonderful gender and sex variances were not purposefully created by God. Sincerely, Cheryl B. Evans (author of What Does God Think: Transgender People and The Bible).

      Reply
      1. Laura Haines
        ·

        Oh, I hope so too. Thank you, Cheryl B. Evans! I will have to find and read your book.

        Reply
    2. Laura Haines
      ·

      I’m so glad you found it helpful, Helen. Yes, current medical/scientific thinking, research, and evidence is on our side and, more importantly, on the side of transgender and intersex people and everyone in between.

      Reply
      1. Paddy
        ·

        Hello Laura,

        I read your story with great interest, I was assigned male at birth but the entire time my Mother was pregnant with me all indications were that I was to be born female. My very essence is very female but outwardly I appear male. I recently found that they are preforming sexual reassignment surgery for people like me (only doing bottom surgery with out transitioning fully to a female). I have always felt like an outsider because I do not see myself as either sex, I have no connection with my male genitalia on any level. I am taking the steps to become whole and have the surgery. I guess if a label needs to be used, I will be like a female to male transgender person. I will be a male with female genitalia. So yes, the “science” of gender is far broader than just XX or XY. Thank you for your story and I hope it truly does enlighten people that there is far more to us as humans than what we see. In just a few months of being open about myself I have met close to 20 other men just like me.

        Reply
  4. Linda Green.
    ·

    Very early in pregnancy, hormones and cells form a delicate biological dance that continues through out the gestation. Physiological gender is determined in those early weeks. However there is a continued development of gender by acculturation after birth.
    I appreciate the honesty and the courage among transgendered persons to be true to themselves and authentic in their lives. Every human deserves to live a genuine, congruent life!
    Thank you for your courage in sharing this experience. I hope that we humans learn to offer one another compassionate and loving encouragement as the first step in being kind to each other.

    Reply
  5. Chloe Gasson
    ·

    “this friend just found out she’s intersex, has been both male and female all along”

    Should point out that intersex people aren’t both male and female – they are neither male or female. That’s pretty much the point.

    Reply
  6. Matthew F
    ·

    Thank you Laura for sharing your friend’s story and also your courageous and compassionate thoughts, that I believe should at least give everyone pause, if not transition a few minds! I was wondering if the documentation of this case was, or is, going to be published anywhere? You are right that she is rare and I would love to read, and share with others, more about her and how this truth came to light.

    Reply
    1. Laura Haines
      ·

      Thank you, Matthew. Yes, she is feeling a lot like a guinea pig right now. It’s a lot to take in and a lot of pressure for a person whose sincere desire right now is for normalcy. There may be some write ups at some point. But it is all going to need to be her decision and on her time-table. And some of that science may have to wait for a very real human who has every right to as normal a life as she can get.

      Reply
  7. Phyllis
    ·

    Good words, Laura….our God does not make junk! His creations (us) are perfect because He formed us and KNEW us well before our conception.
    What a miracle for your friend….

    Reply
  8. Alan Chewan
    ·

    Gives new meaning to “My Inner Beyonce”!

    Reply
  9. Meg
    ·

    Love this story, and I love when people find their true selves. I’m wondering about her doctors though… for sperm to find their way to a uterus, there has to be a connection from the vagina. When the doctors were constructing the vagina, they had to have known they were leaving an entrance… to a uterus. Very happy for this family, however it got started!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Helen Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *