The Teen Zine 

Transgender- a term used to describe someone whose gender identity is not the same as their sex assigned to birth.

 

No matter what form of social media you use, or what school you go to, there's bound to be someone who identifies publicly or closeted, as trans. It's not surprising, and it's not unnatural. Truthfully, the amount of science behind it is limited, but incredibly supportive of these gender conformations.

 

Genetic Sex

It all starts right at the beginning of your creation, right when the (blank) and (blank) meet. Depending on your father, once 6-7 weeks (about 1 and a half months) hit you develop genetic variation, most commonly as a XX or XY chromosome. XY chromosomes are what we classify as male genetics, where the production of SRY (testosterone) on XY chromosomes leads to development of male reproductive organs. XX chromosomes are what we genetically classify as female. As the XX chromosomes have no SRY or Y chromosome, the female reproductive organs develop from estrogens and the early kidney. However, it can often not be nearly as easy as this. Sometimes, a person's body and brain choose two directions on gender. Your gender is decided by your brain, not your genitalia.

 

Transgender is an Umbrella Term

Other rare combinations are very much possible, such as XXY, XXX, and XXYY. Though much rarer, people who end up with this as their genetic orientation are classified as intersex. Intersex variations occur in about 1.7% to 2% of the population, making individuals who genetically identify as such rare. Being intersex is not the same as being transgender or nonbinary, as it is not a gender identity. Intersex individuals can hold any gender identity or sexual orientation.

Those who identify as non-binary, who feel that they are not of the gender binary of male or female. The binary is male and female, and all those who do not fall cleanly into such are considered to be non-binary. This can mean they/them pronouns, but is not limited to only these options, and once again means that is an umbrella term. Others identify as genderfluid, a term for someone whose identity changes over time. They can sometimes be classified as non-binary, depending on the prefaces of the person. The same goes for agender identity, which means that they do not describe themselves of having a gender.

The term transgender can mean many different gender identities and is constantly covering more.

 

Realizing gender identity

Between 3-8 years old children find their gender identity. This goes for all kids, not just those who are trans, but doing so as trans will often feel more uncomfortable. Those who are trans often go through gender dysmorphia, from feeling sad when certain words are used to address them, to feeling as though they wish to wear different clothing and feeling that genitalia assigned to them at birth are incorrect.

Once these realizations have been made, children under the age of eight in the us and many other countries are limited to social transitioning. This often means coming out to yourself and many other loving trusted people around you if it is safe to do so. This also often includes using gender affirming names, pronouns, and appearances. These can be done with no drawbacks or harm done to the child and often serve as a key role in helping themselves and others understand what they feel.

When family and friends accept this change with open minds and hearts, the child will have less anxiety, depression, and less harmful effects overall. Around puberty is when you are really allowed to explore your gender identity with certified physiatrists and doctors. Both can prescribe puberty blocker drugs with will, obviously, pause puberty but it may be unpaused at any time. Certain risks come with this, such as slowed physical growth, affected height, and decreased bone density. And, such as any other drug, unknown yet continuously observed long lasting effects.

Once these children age into full puberty, they begin to transition in other ways. From trans men wearing binders to conceal their breasts to trans women wearing tucking underwear to hide their groins. Often, if they are denied the right to such tools, they will rebel and use other methods to conceal, which is unsafe and may cause lasting damage.

 

Hormone Replacement treatment

Legally, you cannot start HRT in the US until you reach 16 and get written permission from your guardian, family doctor, and licensed physiatrists. These precautions are taken due to the fact that unlike puberty blockers, you cannot reverse its effects.

HRT in trans female

• Gain growth of breast tissue and buds.

• Move fat away from the abdomen and toward the hips, thighs, buttocks, and breasts.

• Skin becomes softer and thinner, and facial and body hair grows slower and thinner.

• Muscle mass and overall physical strength decrease,

• Testicles decrease in size, sperm production drops, and erectile function is reduced

HRT in trans male

• Vocal cords thicken, causing a permanent drop in vocal pitch.

• Facial hair and coarser body hair (on the chest, back, and limbs) begin to grow. • Skin becomes oilier and thicker, acne may develop, and muscle mass and overall strength increase. • Body fat shifts away from the hips and thighs, sometimes increasing around the abdomen, and facial structure appears more angular.

• Growth of the clitoris (often called "bottom growth") occurs as a permanent change.

• Monthly periods typically stop within a few months of starting treatment.

 

Difference in the Brain

Although a controversial topic of discussion, male and female brains are structurally different. Males have a larger cerebellum, ceribulain, and hippocampus. On the other side, women have denser left frontal lobes, and larger volume in the right frontal lobe.

In brain scans conducted on transgender individuals, their brain is more structurally similar to their experienced sex/gender identity, then their biological sex. For instance, transwomen who were assigned female at birth have more female hypothalamus, and show that they are more in line with experienced gender identity, despite genetically identifying as something different.

An investigation was led to study this, led by Guy T’s Joen. He took 2,600 trans women and men, all who were taking hormone medicine throughout the study. He took MRIs of their brains, giving them an exact image. He took 2,600 cis participants and took MRIs of them. In all the scans, they could not find a single trans brain scan that did not match perfectly with its counterpart, proving that trans is scientifically backed.

 

Genetic Heritage

Something that is still heavily explored and researched is genetic heritage. Many with transgender parents or grandparents are more likely to be trans themselves, leading to evidence that heavily suggest that this is a trait that is inherited.

CYP17 controls levels of hormones and is found with unchanged alle in trans men.

 

Conclusion

Even the amount of research we have over this topic is extremely limited. Even with all the evidence and studies we have over the science of being transgender, those who identify as such are met with unfair and biased hate and discrimination. Suicide and anxiety rates are much higher in all LGBTQ2+ identifying individuals, especially in those who are rejected by their family and loved ones.

These suicide and anxiety rates decline significantly once gender affirming surgeries are performed, which shows what an emotional toll those with gender dysphoria face every day. Identifying as transgender is valid and completely natural, and we together as a community need to speak out against transphobia and homophobia in our day-to-day lives, so that everyone feels just as safe and loved.