There are few social and ethical debates today as controversial as those that swirl around the simple statement “Transwomen are women.” Here is an argument against the statement in the form of modus ponens. If transwomen are women then the cis man who refuses to date transwomen in principle is a transphobe. The cis man […]
transgender
Should a Christian use the Name and Preferred Pronouns of a Trans-Gender Person?
Five years ago, I delivered a plenary address titled “What Would Jesus Say to Caitlyn Jenner?” According to many Christians, the first thing he’d say is “Hiya, Bruce!” For example, Robert Gagnon defends the view that using the preferred pronouns and name for a transgender person constitutes blasphemy against God: by referring to Jenner as […]
On Transgender Athletes
This morning, I posted the following poll on Twitter: Regarding transgender women competing as women in sport. This is not a flippant question: I'm quite serious. If LeBron James announced that she genuinely self-identified as a woman, should she be allowed to play in the WNBA? — Tentative Apologist (@RandalRauser) June 28, 2021 One supporter […]
Is Sex Reassignment Surgery Genital Mutilation?
This article is constructed from three tweets I posted on Twitter this morning. Some folk are outraged by Rand Paul’s provocative framing of sex reassignment surgery as “genital mutilation”. I’m not a Rand Paul fan by any stretch, and I’m aware of the manifold trauma experienced by transgender folk. But mutilation means “infliction of severe […]
Transgender Children and the Ethics of Therapeutic Treatment
Two recent studies in the journal Pediatrics provide evidence that gender-dysphoric children generally have improved mental health outcomes when therapeutic measures such as hormone blockers are employed early on. Of course, this data is consistent with a subset of children having worsened mental health outcomes (e.g. gender dysphoria dissipating naturally thereby leading to regret over […]
Should We Ditch Netflix over Radical Transgender Ideology?
This tweet from Christian philosopher James Anderson caught my eye. Anderson is reacting to a clip from an episode of a Netflix show called The Babysitter’s Club which addresses a transgender child. In the clip, the older girl reprimands the doctor and nurse for not recognizing that Bailey (a biological male) is, in fact, a girl. […]
The US Supreme Court Decision on LGBT Civil Rights Meets Mere Christianity
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3decision that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to sexual minorities including gay and transgender people. Predictably, this produced cheers from some and hand-wringing from others. As for me, it provided an occasion to post the following tweet: Just a reminder to Christians on […]
On the ethics of transsexual surgery
Dave suffers from gender dysphoria and, as a result, he identifies as a woman. As a means to align his body with his self-understanding, Dave requests the surgical removal of his male genitals. Fred suffers from body integrity dysphoria and, as a result, he desires to be disabled. As a means to align his body […]
Transgender identity and transethnic identity
An American Caucasian woman may want to be Korean because of her love of K-pop and Korean culture. And so, she wears Korean clothing, learns K0rean language, colors her hair black, and even has double eyelid surgery and a nose job. But it doesn’t follow that she is Korean. Rather, she remains an American Caucasian […]
Transgender Hospitality Redux
In my article “Transgender Hospitality: A Response to James Anderson,” I defend the propriety of accommodating at least some of the requests of transgender people on the basis of hospitality. Anderson offered a couple replies but, unfortunately, then left the conversation with several of my rebuttals unaddressed. [Note: since posting this follow-up, Anderson has rejoined […]
Transgender Hospitality: A Response to James Anderson
This article is a response to James Anderson’s article “You Will Be Made to Lie.” I will assume the reader is familiar with Anderson’s article. And if you’re short on time, don’t worry: it should only take a couple minutes to read Anderson’s pithy article (literally, two minutes, tops). Now for my response. And it would be […]
Hospitality is a Two-Way Street: Gender Pronouns and Welcome of the Other
In her article “I am the parent of a non-binary child,” Susan Knoppow describes how her child Miriam decided in high school that she was non-binary (qua gender). In other words, “she” was no longer conforming to the male/female he/she gender binary. At this point, Miriam requested that when people refer to Miriam with third-person pronouns, they […]
Transgender Washrooms or Climate Change?
Which ethical issue is more important? Transgender washrooms (“washroom” is a Canadian term for “bathroom”) or climate change? If you care to chime in, I’ve got the survey right here: Which ethical issue is more important? — Tentative Apologist (@RandalRauser) December 15, 2017 If we can discern the relative import of ethical issues by what […]
The “Nashville Statement”: Three Problems with the Preamble
Yesterday the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood issued “The Nashville Statement“. I’m sympathetic with many concerns of The Nashville Statement and I believe many of the statements in the document are well-crafted and fundamentally correct. Unfortunately, I also have significant concerns with the document and they start at the beginning. In this article I’m going […]
