I know little about the genetic and/or hormonal basis of the phenomenon of transgender / transsexual / intersex identities (though I am aware that these are different), but am interested, partly because a very close friend of mine is a transgendered woman, and – from talking to her – I have become aware of the deficiencies of English and Welsh law with regard to people who are transgendered. Perhaps you could direct me to some relevant research in this field.

Try this collection.

http://aebrain.blogspot.com/p/reference-works-on-transsexual-and.html

Not so much on identities, just the biology.

As regards my own situation – it’s a little different from the usual. I belong in the same broad category as those with 5ARD or 17BHDD syndrome, I have the 3BHDD form of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

Which all can involve being born looking like one sex, but changing to look like the other. This can either cause or cure the same symptoms as transsexuality, depending on the neuro-anatomy (which remains mostly invariant – only the parts affected by hormonal levels change).

5ARD and 17BHDD can cause FtoM changes. 3BHDD and a few other syndromes can cause changes either way.

See http://www.usrf.org/news/010308-guevedoces.html for examples of 5ARD.

Such people cause severe problems to the legal system. Changing sex by artificial means is barely tolerated by the law; to do it naturally is far worse.

See http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/17/gaza.gender.id/ – that’s 17BHDD.

I believe that the scientific and theological paradigms have much in common. I remember when I was engaged full time in scientific research: I often had a sense of looking at things I knew I could never fully understand. (Specifically with regard to HIV-AIDS, the corpus of evidence indicating the generally-accepted relationship between to the two is so overwhelming, that questioning the link seems utterly pointless; better by far to focus on how to beat the HIV pandemic, and how best to respond to those living with HIV and AIDS, both with regard to their well-being, and the well-being of others.)

I know little about the genetic and/or hormonal basis of the phenomenon of transgender / transsexual / intersex identities (though I am aware that these are different), but am interested, partly because a very close friend of mine is a transgendered woman, and – from talking to her – I have become aware of the deficiencies of English and Welsh law with regard to people who are transgendered. Perhaps you could direct me to some relevant research in this field.

I would say that I don’t know enough about ‘Evangelical academe’ to comment intelligently on your contentions in their regard. I’m not an Evangelical myself (rather I’m someone towards the liberal end of the Anglo-Catholic spectrum), and I’m British (and we don’t tend to have ‘religious’ universities, as they are mostly ‘regulated’ by the State).

Of course, I entirely agree with your comments on Warren’s integrity! (Incidentally, integrity is always more important than [alleged] ‘rightness’ or ‘wrongness’, since all human judgements about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are ultimately relative and proximate, whereas integrity is always truthful.)

I used to top the class at Bible Study. Even at 7 though, the differences between what the Bible said, and what I observed through a telescope were enough to make me a sceptic. I’d read it, you see. All of it. I didn’t understand much of it, the pornographic nature of Judges 19 for example, but I understood enough to know that my teachers were telling porkies about “biblical inerrancy”.

I was the kid who got utterly filthy at age 4 verifying that no way could Santa descend from a chimney by climbing into the fireplace and having a look for myself.

It was only later in life that I discovered that amidst the superstitious nonsense and “fairy stories” there was much wisdom and true good.

I have continuing issues with the UK government BTW, and UK law. Biologically, I’m Intersex, but more F than M. My UK Birth Certificate says “boy” as that’s what I most looked like at birth. My UK passport says “F”, not just based on appearance, but medical data.

I always identified as female – but hated having to wear a surplice , as I thought it made me look effeminate. I was terrified at the prospect of my secret – “girl with boy body” – being found out. OK, I’m not technically Transsexual (a diagnosis of Intersex precludes that – which is why I can’t get a Gender Recognition Certificate and consequent Birth Certificate change), but yes, Gender Dysphoria starts screwing kids up well before age 10.

Even if you’re a biological female with the 3-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase deficient form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, so the male appearance is partial and (sometimes, rarely) temporary.