This is not a choice on the part of the individual, nor is it a problem with how society treats different genders, it's due to the physical and chemical structure of the brain.

http://www.highlandsranchherald.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19343530&BRD=2713&PAG=461&dept_id=559878&rfi=8

Here is a story explaining some basics of transgenderism:

http://www.highlandsranchherald.com/site/tab9.cfm?newsid=19343398&BRD=2713&PAG=461&dept_id=560243&rfi=6

I think I see where the problem is. I wasn't specifically referring to YOU as possessing the influence to drive anyone to commit suicide; I honestly don't think anyone posting on a blog wields that kind of power. The point I was attempting to get across in the sentence of mine that you quoted is that when "the powers that be" in a transgendered child's life (parents, teachers, well-meaning therapists, etc.) attempt to thwart the expression of what that child feels is his or her identity, it can lead to a host of very serious problems--among them hopelessness, depression, and yes, often suicide.

I actually appreciate your advocacy of an expansion of the categories of "male" and "female"; if we lived in such a world, the child's situaton in Colorado would never have made national headlines. But we don't. Allowing the child TO CHOOSE to identify with the opposite gender seems like the best thing we can do to support him/her in our society as it is today.

"To attempt to thwart or ridicule an individual's perception of their gender identity is a surefire way to ensure that person won't live to be 25 (usually by way of their own hand)."

Now I don't know how you see that as the mere presentation of a statistic regarding that group's higher suicide rate. Claiming that an act by Person A is a "surefire way to ensure" Person B will die young and most likely by suicide, sounds to me and anyone I've shown it to like you're trying to blame Person A for Person B's death.

And when you're basically threatening Person A with Person B's suicide unless Person A acts in a specific manner or does specific things, how is it NOT blackmail?

I haven't lost someone to suicide, but I have known people and known of people who became slaves to someone else's demands because someone they cared about threatened to commit suicide if they didn't. Sometimes it was a family member. Sometimes it was a psycho ex. And it wasn't just the fear of losing the person that held them in thrall, but because they'd been convinced that they could cause that person's death, that the death would be their choice and not the suicidal person's choice.

It's a cheap manipulative trick. And NOTHING I say on this blog can cause someone to commit suicide. You know why? Because they have free will. They can say that I'm full of shit, publicly or privately. They can engage me in dialogue. They can post a rant about me on their own blog. They can say "who cares what he thinks" and shrug me off. But if they say that I pushed them over the edge and they off themselves, I will not lose sleep, because their death was their choice and I'm just their scapegoat.

If you've suffered a loss in your life by someone committing suicide, I apologize if that hit a nerve. (Truly.) But I still really doubt that you know anyone who actually IS transgendered, and perhaps you ought to make the effort to; your stance on this topic might be a little more balanced (and less hostile).

And as for the black skin etc. Look at the white kids who are called wiggers. They just go with society and what is cool and interesting to them. Maybe this kid likes dolls. So what. In psychology, this is a sign of intelligence. Boy can play with puppets, GI Joe, etc. Many brothers play barbies with their sisters to bond and have fun. This just got blown out of proportion by adults. Idiots. People are stupid. Let the kid grow up and let us pray that he does not become a Michael Jackson.

It's not the advocates that are turning these children M/F/F/M, but it is the same advocates that are giving these children the ability to be who their brains dictate they were meant to be. In "your" society you are male or female or black or white. you really should have done your homework before you posted this. I bet you believe that being transgender is a mental disease?

Take it from someone who is TG and has been battling these same issues for over 35 years.

Just so you know, I jumped right out of my heels and applauded the kids parents for being behind their child. I know my parents were not because society said back in the 70's that I a have a mental illness.

That's a HELL of a lot different than *being* a different gender in your soul. The conflict is not within the child, but between the child and society. And it's society that needs to expand their definition of "boy" to include him rather than force him to choose "girl" to find something closer to how he feels.

And don't give me "To attempt to thwart or ridicule an individual's perception of their gender identity is a surefire way to ensure that person won't live to be 25 (usually by way of their own hand)."

If society is wrong and he buys into society's wrongness, I'm pushing him into suicide by saying "you're both wrong"?

NOBODY is responsible for someone else's suicide. Suicide is a very personal choice that no one else can make for you. And using it as a form of blackmail like you did is not only manipulative and scummy, but could be a corollary to Godwin's Law.

Numerous studies have indicated that it's not a female "soul" inside of the boy who believes he's a girl, but the hardwiring of his brain that CANNOT be changed. To attempt to thwart or ridicule an individual's perception of their gender identity is a surefire way to ensure that person won't live to be 25 (usually by way of their own hand).

I'd suggest doing your research before positing such an ignorant and narrow-minded opinion.

Childrens' gender identity is in fact well established at an even earlier age than this.

If society were in fact able to widen its definitions of gender, it would make it much easier for these individuals to live happy lives without feeling that they must fit neatly into 1 of 2 slots.

Truth is, some babies are born with "ambiguous genitalia." If obvious, see-able ambiguities can occur, then I don't know why some other, not so obvious, gender issues could occur biologically.

Sex, gender and sexual orientation are three separate issues that are more about weighted areas of grey, than strict black and white definitions.

It took me a long time to get my head around these ideas!