by
Laura Amato
Author's
note: The website Change is possible was closed. The
author never did prove his claims that other Transsexuals had
been cured by therapy alone though he promised to. Perhaps this
is the reason he closed it. As a result i had taken down this
article that disputed it. However another author used the same
closed site site as a reference in another Christian right diatribe
about transsexuals with little actual knowledge of them so I have
am reprinting the original article as well as a reply to this
uninformed soul in a new article.
If you are a Transgendered or Transsexual
Person you know firsthand
of the attacks on our community by Government, Religious, Medical
and other just plain hateful Institutions and people. Its not simply
paranoid but very, very real. While some can give concessions to
the Gay community they simply refuse to tolerate a transgendered
Community. As if there are not enough problems along comes a website
so venomous and hateful that on first sight you may be overcome
from the poison. The author promises that you can be cured of your
Transsexualism yet offers no evidence of how this is accomplished.
In addition there are inflated facts and figures and the complete
absence of one important medical study. The author also seems to
lack a certain knowledge of Clinical Psychological Professional
Practices.
The site is called Change
is Possible by Yosef Kirchner. Yet before you click
on that link please read the following warning:
The site contains Graphical Medical Photos
taken of an MTF Transsexual. It also contains
a litany of hatred towards the Transsexual Community in general.
You will most likely be very upset and traumatized by this site
so be forewarned. So why even give you the link? It provided to
help Transsexuals see ALL sides of our phenomenon. That's only fair.
First let me start by giving you my educational background. I have
completed all the courses necessary in my Psychology major as well
as additional course work in Clinical Psychology practices. The
only reason I don't have a degree is because I lack the skills to
finish my math requirements. I don't pretend to be a Psychologist,
but I do have knowledge of the rules. I've also been a patient being
treated for depression and Obsessive compulsive disorder as well
as Gender Identity Disorder (GID). I've had three different psychologists
as well as two different Psychiatrists. I have been in treatment
over 30 years. Everything has been stable for the last three years
now. Delving deep into my childhood did NOT cure me.
A psychologist's job is to find the root of your problems develop
a course of treatment and goals. Yes this does require "deep"
examination of your childhood. This is standard practice everywhere.
In all that time not once did anyone suggest I was a woman in a
man's body. I've felt that way since I was four. No one suggested
that I have surgery. This came from years of my being steered to
research the subject. The wonderful and supportive trans community
was there to provide that. No one in the community suggested that
I run down to my local surgery center to get my gender altered either.
Yosef is blaming the wrong people for his problems and vilifying
them as well. If no "deep" childhood issues were discussed
and hormones were provided in 2 hours of sessions then his Psychologist
was incompetent, not the Transgender Community. If he further lied
to his psychologist then whose fault is that? I say , put the blame
where it lies, not on us.
Most Transgendered Support sites provide invaluable information.
While most sites are free the ones that do charge barely break even.
The Trans Folk community is a dedicated bunch. Many run their sites
at a great expense to them. No one can possibly suggest that their
hearts are not in the right place. Yet Yosef claims that to be a
fact. My advice to all Transsexual people has always been to advise
them to seek counseling first.
The author mentions The Dsm Iv HBIGDA
Standards of Care but apparently hasn't read them. It
clearly states that underlying psychological disorders must be treated
first. Only an otherwise Psychologically healthy person is supposed
to be prescribed hormones. Its interesting to note that the only
link on the site is to author Richard
Cohen who inspired the web site. In addtion he claims
an absense of medical proof about Transsexuals. This is not true
as studies have been done. One shows that The Male to female Transsexual
has a female sized hypothalmus. Later studies indicate that the
reverse is true for female to males. Cohen is an unlicensed psychologist
Who was kicked out of the Amercian Counseling Association who practices
conversion
therapy which his peers do not
sanction. In addition Josef Kirshner has since disavowed Cohen who
had shown hom as proof of a cure.
Genetic
redemption?
The
site also mentions a 50% suicide rate among transsexuals yet fails
to mention that it is a PRE-OP figure not a post-op one. Again the
standards of care clearly states that Post-ops have a greatly reduced
incidence of suicide.
I wish Yosef would provide the data about the transsexual cure rate
he keeps promising. I did a search for web sites for cured Transsexuals
and Yosef's seems to be the only one. If you were cured wouldn't
you want to shout it from the rooftops? Certainly there would be
more than one site like this wouldn't there?
I have no problem with Yosef expressing his his opinion. I am doing
the same thing. The problem I have is the venom on the site for
our community. It is unjustified and just plain wrong. Personally
I am proud to be a member of such a great group of dedicated people.
Change is Possible:Web Site
Josef_Kirshner@Hotmail.com
Man
I feel Like a Woman: A Response to the Author
A
sex difference in the human brain and its relation to transsexuality
