Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Essay Example

Sexual orientation and gender identity are worldwide issues and subjects that are persistent to human rights violation. The vulnerability of sexual minorities groups in the range of human rights violations. Sexual orientation is a term that defines an individual’s physical or emotional attraction to the opposite or same gender. Examples of sexual orientations encompass bisexual, heterosexual and homosexual. However, it should be noted that the sexual orientation of a person is distinct from a person’s identity gender and expression. Gender identity refers to an individual’s innate, with psychological identification that is deeply felt like female and male. This may not be in correspondence with the body of the person or designated sex.

A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Ally (LGBTQIA) community exists and in the University of Missouri, Kansas City, they have a resource center. This center serves to help students on campus locate their “gender-neutral” restrooms. This aspect shows how the community and society are embracing this community is trying to make them feel comfortable in terms of enjoying the same amenities like other students. The movement was called LGBT, but today it has more letters with different things depending on a person (Tuller). LGBT was a group that only gave focus to gay guys and it was this discrimination of other group members that forced people to form the community of LGBTQIA. His group is non-cisgender and this community seeks to represent everyone. This is evident from the definition of “cis”, which means “on the same side.” “Cisgender,” on the other hand, denotes an individual whose gender identity matches that of his/her biological makeup. This term mostly describes a majority of the student body in campuses and other learning institutions.

Furthermore, this rubric is catching on especially in the liberal-arts campuses because they deal with things like fashion and design, and it is at this point, that most of the students are made aware of their hormonal imbalance. Youths in campuses are forging ahead in political identity and since they are seeking something more radical: they have an upending of gender roles that is way beyond the female/male binary (Schulman). In the social media like Tumblr and Twitter, this new term is gaining traction as it suggests younger and an outlook that is more progressive compared to “LGBT.” According to a University professor, this term is present because people see all things that fall out of the binary. LGBTQIA community is bound to be in existence around the globe because it is under the umbrella of LGBT. This community has been formed by groups and associations with the aim of representing those groups of people that have not been able to voice their concerns on how they are being discriminated. Clearly, these groups of people are coming together with the aim of showing the “normal” people that they are humans and need to be treated with dignity because they also have feelings. They also want people to understand that the condition they have is not a sickness. Therefore, an LGBTQIA community has worked hard to represent their members and give direction on how they handle themselves when it comes to the critics of their existence. The government has also stipulated laws concerning these groups of people and it gives regard to legal emancipation of encompassed people under LGBTQIA. This community has formal equality and has been able to reduce the pressure of social differences due to the imposition of social change. As such, the existence of this community is also stipulated in the laws of certain developed countries round the globe. Therefore, an LGBTQIA community exists in campuses (Schulman).

Transgendered and intersexes people are controversial because even churches and denominations have joined in the debate, and they have even taken sides. Majority of the people in the community rely on the authority of pastors concerning this issue and if they take sides, these people loose direction (Bolich 126). In relation to the Bible, many people have drawn distinctions between sin and the sinner. Thereby, argue that homosexual behavior is wrong, but being homosexual is not and this debate has brought controversy on the whole issue. Furthermore, it is evident that transgendered and intersexes are people who have become notorious in all directions. All media houses have given focus to these people because they stir up things in the community that was not relevant, and this has brought the commotion in the community and society (Harrison 212). Religious groups and leaders have argued and are engaging in these debates, which has destroyed many worship houses and altars all in the name of embracing these people.

For decades now, a critical stance has been taken toward the medical treatment of children with intersex conditions. The focus of clinicians has been on how they can turn these children to “normal” boys and girls. Questions asked concern why bodies violating gender rules require treatment. Another argument raised is on the cultural need for gender coherency- a single sex, which is true- that has managed to drive unethical treatment of the adolescents and children. From the definition of intersex, it is largely a meaning problem and not a medicinal one; the features of a gender-atypical that are associated with intersex conditions are misconstrued to requiring intervention. Therefore, the endocrinological societies of Europe and the U.S. announced nomenclature change for individuals born with atypical sex anatomy. From this announcement, controversy erupted over the new nomenclature.

Arguments for and against the shift echoed internal terminology grappling: was it in a position to reinforce the tendency of individuals to view gender-atypical pathological bodies. Or, was it going to mark an important treatment advance in the underlying conditions associated with bodies of gender-atypical. However, experiences gained by both parents and doctors have led them to acknowledge the current labels limitations. Moreover, the mere utterance is a way of fighting words. It is evident that there is a struggle with the host and medicalization critics are arguing in favor of the benefits associated with the competing stakes of health concerns. Nevertheless, rethinking of this terminology has led medical care practitioners to refocus on lifelong health. Hence, this contributes to the promotion and improvement of life quality for individuals in the society (Ellen and Katrina 35).

Intersex treatment has been shrouded in controversy in part due to the efforts of the rights movements representing intersex individuals and the sex research in general. There is a controversy that was relevant to intersex treatment and with this the ideas or theories of Bailey had consequences. Through this, theories have emerged and have introduced remarkably resistance towards change. As a result, the controversy of the intersex helps to shed light on the affair of Bailey. Thus, is aimed at giving compassion, ethics, and respond to concerns of the transgendered community among others. Value is something that needs to be treasured in the human society. It reflects on the interaction process that is present among group members and thus, an initiative needs to be implemented and fostered to be able to handle all aspects of the group.

Transgender is something that has span far and wide in the globe and even professors and religious people are associated with these groups. From news articles, it is evident that religious professors and instructors are joining these groups of people but the controversy arises among parents who are ignorant. These parents do not want to explain to the children as to why there are different people in the world. As such, parents need to take up the challenge of educating their children on transgender and intersex groups in the community. This gives them know-how of what they should be prepared to face when they grow up. By not passing information to the younger generation, creates a bigger problem that leads to misleading by friends. Consequently, it is the duty of parents and teachers to help children and students understand these groups of people because they exist and live among us in the society.

The controversies of transgender and intersex stretch far and wide in the globe and should be considered from all angles. It is evident that the controversies surrounding these groups are evident and researchers and media stations have been able to reveal all aspects. The controversy situation of these groups has helped people understand and comprehend on the realities facing these people. Students have been able to comprehend and embrace these groups of people because they are also human beings and deserved to be treated with respect they deserve (Bolich 130). These controversies have been able to enlighten people on what is expected from these groups.

Transgendered and intersex people are controversial in all aspects of their life, be it psychological, emotional, social, and physical. However, these controversies have been able to enable these people live in a manner that is flourished with knowledge and facts. The knowledge displayed by these people is massive and helps the community embrace the fact that they are a community that is well mannered. Furthermore, they are human beings and their feelings have been trampled upon several times. Despite of all this, it is essential for people to understand and accept that these people exist among us and their controversy is something that has helped them be appreciated by the society.

In conclusion, LGBTQIA community exists and is a reality. This community has helped many campus groups to achieve their mission statement and objectives. Furthermore, this community is present in our society today because of diversity. It is evident that these communities serve a purpose for the groups of people around campus and other learning institutions. The discrimination that has been observed by these groups has led to the violation of human rights and has left them isolated. This isolation has influenced so many areas of their lives and this community serves to reduce this in order to make them feel part of the community. A community serves to enrich its members with the strength and morals to overcome all the negative publicity that comes their way.

During the formation of such groups, all part6ies involved contribute to formulate policies and hence, they become part of the group as a whole. The transgendered and intersex controversies have been widely investigated by many researchers and health practitioners. The biasness and learned social norms ascribed to these groups have been able to exacerbate the judging and rejection. Thereby, individuals lack awareness and their beliefs are rigid. This has ended up offending and harming each other and conflict has arisen. This aspect needs to be investigated further to be able to give them reason to fight for what they stand. The controversies existing aim at discouraging and influencing these people negatively. However, it has also built them and given them a reason to want to stand up and fight for what they believe is true because this raises their self-esteem.

Controversies are bound to be there because the society has different people with varied beliefs. It is paramount for people to understand and incorporate in their daily lives the habits and rituals of other people. This helps them live in harmony and thus, enables them respect the decision made by individuals. Religious groups in society should give direction and support to the group and thus, they need to be able to teach them in accordance to the teachings of the Bible. However, this becomes complicated if even the pastors are among those people who engage in acts of lesbianism, gay among other acts. Leaders of the nation should be able to stipulate the laws that govern the rights and duties of such groups because it marks the extent to which human dignity I protected.

Works Cited

Bolich, D. Crossdressing in Context, Vol. 4 Transgender and Religion. New York, Lulu.com, 2009. Print.

Ellen, Feder and Katrina Karkazis. What’s in a Name?: The Controversy over “Disorders of Sex Development.” Hastings Center Report 38.5 (2008): 33-36.

Harrison, Kelby. Sexual Deceit: The Ethics of Passing. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2013. Print.

Schulman, Michael. “Generation LGBTQIA.” The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2013. Web. 9 April 2014.

Tuller, David. “No Surprise for Bisexual Men: Report Indicates They Exist.” The New York Times, 22 Aug. 2011. Web. 9 April 2014.