I recently read an article in The Dickinson Press entitled, “Full gender reassignment surgery believed to be the first in North Dakota.” While you may have some idea of what this is, let me provide an overview, what it means in a biblical context, and what it may signify for North Dakota going forward.
Before I tell you about Brianna Cassady, the transgender person who is the subject of the article, let’s define a few terms relevant to the discussion.
Transgender: Self-identification of a person who lives their life presenting to others as the opposite gender from which they were born (birth sex). If a man says he feels like a woman, dresses like a woman, acts like a woman, and calls himself a “woman,” then that individual has a “transgender identity.”
Gender Dysphoria (GD): A medical term used to refer to an individual who has intense unease or dissatisfaction with their biological body. GD is classified as a psychiatric diagnosis and can be treated as such; however, gender activists are adamant that GD is not a psychological problem and cannot be treated with therapy.
Transitioning: A person who is transitioning is in the process of trying to change (or transition) from, for example, living their life as a male to a female.
Brianna, who is a biological male, suffered from gender dysphoria. Rather than seeking comprehensive mental health care, he underwent full “sex reassignment” surgery at a clinic in Fargo two weeks ago (surgery to permanently change his physical attributes to that of a female). This is the final step in medically transitioning to a “female.” Although “Brianna” will have to take feminization hormones for the rest of his life. The doctor who did the surgery stated, “…one of our patients ended up being the centerfold in Penthouse magazine,” something he was obviously proud about.
What should we as Christians think about this?
First, God created humans as male and female. We believe our biological sex is intricately interwoven with how we live in society and how we relate to others. We believe that women and men are fundamentally different from each other in many biological, psychological, and emotional ways.
Second, sex and gender cannot be logically separated. Our sexual identity is not a random, meaningless, designation. A man or woman can never change their gender – it was established the day they were born.
Third, sex reassignment surgery is drastic and irreversible.
What is next? We need to be vigilant. Issues such as gender transition services for minors or public funding of gender transition services have arisen in similar conservative states with strong biblical values. We at Kansas Family Voice of North Dakota® promise to alert you if these or similar issues arise in our state and you can be assured that we will be there representing you and our shared biblical values. God clearly created us to be biologically unique, as man and women, so let’s honor and protect His creation order.
Sincerely,
Mark Jorritsma
President and Executive Director