tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post4496215603593854930..comments2024-02-21T04:53:57.234-05:00Comments on Walking in Two Worlds: A Trans Therapist's Journey: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Transgendered Minors and Bill O'ReillyLauren Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293724106380438921noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-33562588522448800862016-02-09T17:29:18.467-05:002016-02-09T17:29:18.467-05:00It seems that there is often a bit of a knee jerk ...It seems that there is often a bit of a knee jerk reaction to anything that comes from Fox News or from O'Reilly. Quite often when he issues his opinion as part of his talking points the first question he poses to his guest is "Tell me where I am wrong". As a non-lawyer O'Reilly often makes generous use of the Socratic method. <br />Like you, I do not agree with O'Reilly all the time...in fact I think that he does not agree with himself all the time, but he does often go the extra mile to keep an open mind on the subjects that cross his desk. While our friend Sophie castigates the GOP position, whatever that may be, O'Reilly himself is an independent.<br />PatPat Scaleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148601231866277374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-74900755798413463482013-03-12T03:44:59.662-04:002013-03-12T03:44:59.662-04:00Yeah! I wouldn't say that I agree with him all...Yeah! I wouldn't say that I agree with him all the time, but there are many times when I do. Believe it or not, there are lots of conservative transsexuals around!<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to read my blog Tammy, it's appreciated!Lauren Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293724106380438921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-88850267862214591312013-03-12T00:53:44.759-04:002013-03-12T00:53:44.759-04:00Wow, you usually find much common ground with Bill...Wow, you usually find much common ground with Bill O'Reilly?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08767601269354468304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-840715388382383712013-03-10T19:41:14.238-04:002013-03-10T19:41:14.238-04:00Hi!
I live with my mother in law, who watches Fox ...Hi!<br />I live with my mother in law, who watches Fox constantly. so I'm familiar with their propaganda. That said, my standard news source is the BBC. non slanted.<br /><br />my point in bringing up gay marriage was to show the hypocrisy of the GOP's position. note I didn't say "conservative" position, as often they are 2 different things.<br /><br />As for O'Reilly, he wouldn't agree with a DOE unless it was from Texas. I assume you know what they're doing down there.<br /><br />thanks for replying!<br /><br />Ps: Holmes was paid to say he's a liberal. he isn't one.Sophie Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04333071551207169892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-27796723734283437652013-03-10T18:31:03.798-04:002013-03-10T18:31:03.798-04:00Hey there Sophie, thanks so much for commenting on...Hey there Sophie, thanks so much for commenting on my blog. It's important to get a wide range of opinions from all sides and degrees of the political spectrum.Your comments are welcomed and valued whether we agree or disagree!<br /><br />First I need to clarify an assumption you have made about my news source viewing. I am not a regular viewer of Fox News and have not been for a number of years, more than 6, though at one point I did watch Fox News for the most part. I came to the conclusion that whether I watched CNN, MSNBC,Fox,CBS,NBC,ABC or any other new source for that matter, they are all biased. Fox stands out from the others because they are conservative. I would wager that they are the only conservative news source on television. It sounds as if you are a regular viewer of this network, which does surprise me! Who knew?<br /><br />The only reason I happened to catch this segment of The O'Reilly Factor was because my friend sent me a message about it being on and I recorded it. I only got around to watching it yesterday.<br /><br />Whether Colmes is a liberal or a consevative is in the eye of the beholder (or in the ear of the listener LOL!),and from your political perspective, he may seem very conservative to you and I infer that you think he is a foil for the conservatives to play off of. Mr. Colmes though identifies himself as a liberal. He has been both endorsed and panned by others who identify themselves as liberals. It's no secret that I am conservative, but by the same standards, a lot of conservatives would consider me liberal. I guess the bottom line in this controversy is that "one woman's floor is another woman's ceiling".<br /><br />Though this article is not about homosexuality and really isn't pertenant to this discussion, you pose the legitimate question to me asking whether my position is that the government should have nothing to do with family life except from preventing gay marriage. No, that is not my position at all. I think that gay people should be entitled to all the freedoms and privileges guaranteed to any other legal citizen of the United States. I do, however believe that the U.S. government has been too intrusive into family life and that is one most important reasons that we have way too many single parent households. I believe that single parent households are in general detrimental to raising children in many ways. There are, however clear instances where children are better off with a single parent than in a family where one parent is a disaster, for whatever reason (active addiction or being abusive).<br /><br />Having said that, I'm guessing your question in response to that would be " Are you saying that gay parents aren't as good as heterosexual parents in raising children?!" <br /><br />My answer to that is in one word, no. I believe that homosexual couples are every bit as capable and do as good a job of raising their children as heterosexual parents. I believe that in most cases, children are best served by having two parents in an intact family unit. <br /><br />Whether Mr. O'Reilly is prejudiced against transgender people is a separate discussion. What I heard him say that transgendered people have a legitimate problem and need to be taken seriously and helped. He was speaking of adults. It appears to me he does not approve of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Education's policy. I'm sure it is well intentioned, but Mr. O'Reilly doesn't agree that facilitate a young person's actual transition without parents being aware this is going on is ethically sound.<br /><br />As always, thank you for taking your time to read my blog and contribute to the discussion!<br /><br />Lauren<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lauren Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293724106380438921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-54803032289989708972013-03-10T17:31:14.610-04:002013-03-10T17:31:14.610-04:00You and I are on the same page about that, Marsha....You and I are on the same page about that, Marsha. I had prefaced my opinion with the comment that if a child is being physically, emotionally or sexually abused they should be removed from that environment. I don't think ( and I stated0 the fear that this MIGHT occur warrents the state subverting parental rights and move to act without informing the parents, though I believe that children and adolescents have the right to confidentially speak with counselors and medical professionals. <br /><br />To make my point more clear, as I may not always be clear in my writing as I strive to be, if a young person discusses his or her gender identity and wishes to move forward with transitioning, the school counselor or mental health therapist who the young person came to can facilitate the process of discussing this most sensitive topic with the young person's family. This also provides the equally important function of making sure the young person is not abused or neglected as a result. In this manner, I think both the rights and the needs of the young person are attended to and respected as well as the rights of parents to be involved in decision making for their child.Lauren Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293724106380438921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-49383459558926049012013-03-10T14:56:32.384-04:002013-03-10T14:56:32.384-04:00Lauren, my only issue with required parental knowl...Lauren, my only issue with required parental knowledge and consent is that some parents (usually the father) would treat their child terribly if they were informed they are transgender. I happen to know of a few cases where the child finally, and agonizingly revealed their gender incongruence to their parents only to be met with absolute rejection to the point of being kicked out of the house and shunned. <br /><br />I realize that parental knowledge is almost a segue from the original discussion point, but it is no minor issue either. I also find a slippery slope here that troubles me, and obviously you, that parental rights are being slowly removed and children are becoming legal wards of the state. marsha Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05372219106238645940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-51625543461336440692013-03-10T14:20:46.171-04:002013-03-10T14:20:46.171-04:00Here's where you and I disagree: O'Reilly...Here's where you and I disagree: O'Reilly's tone was NOT toward the DOE. It was toward US. (Yes, I watched this show.)<br /><br />He has on several occasions come out as a foe of the Transgender community. Google this, and you'll find out.<br /><br />A question: You state "The role of the government should be to strengthen families, not to destroy them." As a right winger, and Fox "news" watcher, isn't it your position that the government should have NOTHING to do with family life (except from stopping gays from marrying, etc)? I'm confused.<br /><br />Aside from that, we agree. :)<br /><br />Oh, and point of order: Colmes is NOT a liberal, nor does he state a liberal point of view. He was the "Washington Generals" to Hannity's Globetrotters- set up to look bad. Anyone who said "George W. Bush is a genius" is NOT a liberal. He is at best a moderate, more likely a conservative paid to seem "liberal." I should know- I AM a liberal (as you know) ;)<br />Sophie Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04333071551207169892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-89371043946331428822013-03-09T22:17:27.311-05:002013-03-09T22:17:27.311-05:00I think that once someone has been prescribed horm...I think that once someone has been prescribed hormones, they should be allowed to begin playing sports in their identified gender. You are correct in observing that the physical changes do not happen immediately, but I think that over the course of a sports season, that physical changes will begin to occur and I also think that if a person has decided to take the major step of deciding to take hormones, that indicates in almost every case this person has made a well thought out decision to live publically in the gender that is congruent with their identity. I see no reason to deprive a minor student of the opportunity to participate fully in extracurricular activities that the school affords any other student.Lauren Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293724106380438921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413603525256803350.post-35454934958707395102013-03-09T19:24:30.524-05:002013-03-09T19:24:30.524-05:00Lauren, Much of what you say makes sense and I do ...Lauren, Much of what you say makes sense and I do agree it allows the government to interfere in matters that concern the individual and their family. However I quarrel with your use of hormones as the identified of a gender change candidate. What of the individual who has the body of 1 sex (use the male here)has started to take hormones but has not started showing the effects of it? should he be prohibited from playing in his new gender as well as his old? If the taking of hormones is the deciding point then we must admit that until the effects are known of the taking the individual must remain in their (or his) born gender and that also means he (or she)is not seen as transgendered even tho identifying as the opposite gender. And if that is the case your argument would appear to be self reducing ie if you take the hormones you are whatever you choose to be only if you show the effects of it. I f you do not show or do not take the hormones you are not in whatever sex you define yourself as. This may appear a small point but it is an important one.....hormones are not the true deciding point. They are only 1 of many. Perhaps the easiest but not the only correct one.JinianVictoria@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.com