(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

The BBC has published an article about the discovery of a supposed "MTF tranny gene," but as baglieg estimates, having this gene increases the likelihood an XY individual will be trans by about 0.06%.

Comments

[alobar.livejournal.com]

.06% !?! That's one fuck of an inefficient gene!

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily.

Given - determinative genes (and even those predict a very high probability of gene=outcome rather than a certainty) such as those used in classic Mendelian squares are by far the exception, not the norm. Most genes are more contributive and interactive with other internal biological factors and external factors which affect the organism that possess said gene.

Given - Unless one defines gender in a purely physical sense (and even then there are cases where the lines get blurred) the gender is a very nebulous concept that defies any certain definition.

Given - The degree to which one defines characteristics as being more "real" if they are internal or if they are performative/external along with the degree these must match in order to feel right varies from individual to individual. Compound this by the nebulous definition of gender. Add to this that there is pressure in current culture to define outer and performative as more real.

Given - breaking outside of gender norms is punished socially in a large variety of ways. The more visible the being outside is, the more it is punished. By dent of seeing externals but not internals culture works this way. Thus active transition is arguably the biggest case of "breaking gender rules" and most punished culturally.

Given - the way any individual balances internal and social pressures is, well, highly individual.

Conclusion - with the number of variables, many of them acting directly to repress the expression of said gene, 0.06% is a lot more significant than a cursory glance at that small number may appear.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I thought you might want to see this if you haven't seen it already.

Small Oregon Town Elects Trans Mayor

A small town in southeast Oregon elected possibly the nation's first openly transgender mayor on Tuesday. Silverton, a small city with a population of 7,414, according to the U.S. Census, elected Stu Rasmussen as its mayor. He won by a hefty 13-point margin against 16-year incumbent Ken Hector.

Rasmussen served as mayor in the 1990s before he transitioned. He told KGW TV that he became comfortable coming out as transgender only a few years ago. "I identify mostly as a heterosexual male," he said. "But I just like to look female."

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid65271.asp


If you just stumbled on this site you may be asking yourself "Is this guy for real?" or "Is that really a guy?"

I'm Stu Rasmussen. I own and operate several small businesses in Silverton, Oregon. I have also served 20 years as an elected official in local government, as City Councilor, Mayor and member of the Silver Falls Library board. I am currently completing my third 4-year term on the Silverton City Council.

http://www.sturasmussen.com/realityCheck.htm