Human Gender Is Not Binary

Original Facebook comment by me in a post by Kat Carlson concerning the disrespectful comments about the LGBTQ+ community:

A response to my comment:

The response by Culture Guard that I displayed was, as reiterated in its first paragraph, to a comment about "sexual species," not specifically humans. However, the reply does go on to explain how a binary view of "human" sexuality is absurd. Thus, I do think there is a point. Culture Guard is not just comparing insects to humans. They are explaining how chromosomes and genetics work.

Not just one gene on one chromosome determines gender or sexual identity. There are multiple factors at play. Some people are asexual wholly or partly—their sexual attraction is lessened or absent. Some are attracted to both genders. There are people born with both male and female sexual organs. Some girls grow a penis at age 12.

Do you still think gender is binary? Male or female?  Point out which gene on what chromosome is on or off that would make gender binary in human beings.

It is a spectrum. It's not just genitalia that makes one male or female. Each person has different levels of estrogen and testosterone. And there are trillions of neurons in our brains, and those connections influence sexuality and attraction.

There are multiple ways genital development can go wrong, including in the formation of sensory nerves. Culture Guide’s reply covered human X and Y chromosomes and how unusual things can happen. How many genes on just those two chromosomes have a part to play in our sexual identities?

And it's not just genes that are involved. Add in epigenetics. The epigenome surrounding DNA has control over whether genes are ON or OFF. It's like software that runs on the genetic DNA hardware.

Did you know that estrogen and testosterone have their own little arms race via the duplication of genes that create the hormones? That they essentially compete to outproduce each other? 

Should we do an analysis of peoples' complete genomes and use our limited understanding to tell them that they are either "normal" or are an abomination? Should we tell people that who they are is illegal and wrong? That's my opinion as to why religion and those who use their faith to govern their personal lives should have nothing bad to say about sexuality and who adults are allowed to love in consensual relationships.

Did you know that the texts in the Bible about homosexuality are deliberate mistranslations by people with an agenda? The original translations referred to pedophilia as being forbidden, not same-sex relations.

And what of the modern obsession with banning “gender-affirming” care for minors being somehow wrong? Do treatments that were developed for cis (straight) children being used in cases of gender dysphoria render all such care suspect whether the recipient is straight or on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum? Such care usually does not involve hormone treatments, and very rarely is surgery necessary. Note that surgical interventions also include correction or reconstruction of the genitals or breasts of straight children, whether the problem was due to birth defects, accidents, or puberty onset problems (such as a need for male breast reductions).

A binary view of gender and sexuality? How absurd.