Tom Gabel announces he's transgender: What is gender dysphoria?
Musician Tom Gabel of Against Me! performs at the Greek Theatre on Aug. 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
/ Kevin Winter/Getty Images(CBS News) Against Me! lead singer Tom Gabel surprised fans when he announced that he had decided to transition into a woman.
Gabel described his long battle with gender dysphoria in Rolling Stone's latest issue, out on newsstands on Friday. The singer plans to undergo hormones and electrolysis treatments to remove unwanted body hair.
Tom Gabel, front-man of punk rock band Against Me!, announces sex change
"I'm going to have embarrassing moments," Gabel said to Rolling Stone, "and that won't be fun. But that's part of what talking to you is about - is hoping people will understand, and hoping they'll be fairly kind."
It seems that fans in the online community is supportive, but understandably many people have questions about what "gender dysphoria" is and what transitioning to another gender might entail.
Dr. Vernon Rosario, associate clinical professor at UCLA, Department of Psychiatry, says that the disorder - previously known as gender identity disorder of adolescence and childhood - involves feeling uncomfortable with one's biological sex.
"It often causes one internal psychological discomfort," Rosario told HealthPop.
It is important to note that the disorder is not just that a person simply wants to change gender, but includes depression and feelings that come with the helplessness that you were born into sex you weren't supposed to be, Dr. Philip Muskin, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University and chief of consultation-liaison psychiatry at Columbia Psychiatry, pointed out. These individuals feel like there is nothing in the world that can help them be the sex they feel they should be, leading to emotional problems. This often leads to higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, he said.
Traditionally, those with gender identity disorder manifest symptoms in childhood or adolescence. Rosario said often these children are "gender atypical children" who want to cross-dress or display "tomboyish" behavior. They normally have playmates of the opposite biological sex that they are close to earlier on, he said. Very rarely does the child outright say they feel like they are the opposite sex or express a desire to grow up to be a different gender.
Adolescence is usually a very difficult time in these individual's lives because of all the physical changes that occur seem counterintuitive to how they actually feel about themselves. Rosario said often times people will try to stop the changes or hide who they are because they get beat up in school or get in trouble for letting their feelings be known.
Occasionally, the symptoms are experienced later in life or people don't realize the uncomfortable feelings they have are related to their gender identity until adulthood, which is why limiting the disorder to childhood or adolescence is often misleading. Also, some of these children that display these symptoms may identify as gay or lesbian later in life, which is not part of gender dysphoric disorder, Rosario said. For the most part, homosexual people don't feel conflicted about their core gender identity, Muskin added.
"It's not just 'I like women's things. I like makeup. I like fashion," Muskin explained. "It's that I feel like a woman, not a man that loves men. That's different than being gay. Gay men like being men that like men. Gay women like being women that like women. We consider that to just be the way things are. It's not an illness: They are unhappy because of the way people treat them. Gender dysphoric individuals have problems emotionally, biologically and spiritually with themselves."
In order to help deal with the depression, many people enter counseling or talk therapy. However, sometimes it isn't enough to make them feel complete.
"For some people, it's not something that's going to go away with therapy," Rosario explained. "There's a range of treatments including hormones to surgery to living all the time in their target sex."
Hormone treatments - estrogen for men who identify as women and testosterone for women who identify as men - can help with some of the symptoms. While biological women will experience a voice change, men who take estrogen will normally keep the same vocal pitch and tone and will have to work on other ways to change how they sound.
Sex reassignment surgery is also an option for some individuals. Biological males may opt to have breast reconstruction, change certain facial features, have their Adam's apples reduced and may opt to undergo sex reassignment surgery. For females transitioning to male, it is often more difficult. Many opt to have a masculine chest construction, have their uterus and fallopian tubes removed or undergo difficult sex reassignment surgery, but Rosario points out that there have been great advances in surgical procedures in the past few years that make the procedure more promising.
In the past, people were required to live as the opposite sex or take hormones for two full years before they were allowed any surgery. Now, some hospitals that specialize in treating transgender patients treat some of the procedures like regular cosmetic surgery, though Muskin says that most medical professionals hope that individuals see a psychiatrist or psychologist before they opt to make this permanent change. Also, surgery used to only be an option for those individuals who felt they were heterosexual in their target sex, meaning a transgender male (who would transition to woman) could only be attracted to males. Now, however, doctors understand more about transitioning and understand that some people can be bisexual or be attracted to the same target sex because of many factors, including relationships prior to the sex change.
In any case, the goal is to help the individual feel more comfortable in their own body and help them be the person they feel they are inside.
"The pathology isn't the sex or the gender question. It's the unhappiness these people feel," Muskin said.
WebMD has more on gender identity disorder.
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The fact this Tom Gabel announced her transition, a usual procedure for the "Rich" and the "Famous" or "Celebrities", while those of us without any or all those advantages, pretty much live our lives, without too much fanfare. I began transition at 45 years old. It was no big deal for me. It was a matter of accepting and being confirmed what I had know since about age 6. I was certainly happy the hiding was done and I have lived very happily, for over 15 years, in my chosen Gender; a "Woman". It is unfortunate that, I lack the money to change my Sex (Birth sex) from Male to Female. It is not as easy as saying, "Hey. I am a Girl!!!! " The issue is far more complex than a statement. Complexities are so diverse, mind boggling. It's a shame such a social topic seldom gets attention, except when celebrity decide on a Life-Altering endeavor. It seems we speak of such an issue when it's someone well-know. The percentage of the Total world population is about 2 percent of over 8 Billion; or 160 million TS. I am first to admit, it is relatively safe entering transition and a reasonably acceptable life. There are circumstances few consider, when such a topic becomes news. I don't know Tom Gabel from Adam. I will also, respect her Gender Identity and use the female nouns, because that is simple respect. Whatever name is chosen, I do hope it's a correct and socially acceptable Female name. The male name of "Tom" might be replaced with "Tina", "Terrie/Terry/Teri", "Toni" & advisible to use a first name without a "T". She should consider "Sandra or Sandy" and even "Debbie/Debby/Deborah". Ultimately, it is her choice. I chose "Rachel" and "Marie", because I love the two names and for more reasons than most can imagine. The real problem is Cost of a Sex Change (Sex Reassignment Surgery [SRS]). It can be very inexpensive but there are other costs that must be paid out even before SRS. The amount of psychological testing, because no wishes to make a mistake, from which there is "No Return". Little in your life does change, you don't become less intelligent, but until SRS completion your losses are limited to sterilization, less erections, and the oddest of all these; how one is perceived, by those of their Birth Sex. With many Males you become someone your Male friends no longer associate with. There is Gender discrimination because some Males see Females as inferior to their Maleness. It is just Males socialization, in society.
I come from a very different set of circumstances than Gambel. I am a Combat Veteran, was Drafted and Inducted into the US Army, promoted to E5 (Sergeant) within six months of induction, an Eagle Scout and extensive combat to received the CIB First Class (Combat Infantry Badge) for 90 plus days of continuous combat. Wounded three times and was a Squad Sergeant. Believe you me, I have dealt with very awkward encounters. I have prevail, inspite other's thoughts. Easy? No, not by any means. When they learn you're a Combat Vet, even your Trans-sexuality and Non-assigned Birth gender is disregarded... you hear an offensive word, to M2F Transsexual; "Sir!". It causes anxiety and weighs on your mind. Even when I speak, most people refer to me as "Ma'am". I refuse to wear Man clothes of any form, regardless of popularity or youthful cultural ideas.
Youthful Cultural Idea 1: "Dude"; the word does not refer to a Female. The proper identity is "Dudette" or "Dudess". It is insulting to someone whom has struggle with a Gender Identity problem, for years, to refer to them by a Gender Term, referring to a Male.
Youthful Cultural idea 2: A Male is not always a "Man". That is to say one's Birth sex does not equal their Gender identity. This is a problem for the TS dating back centuries. The insecurity of any Males identity and desiring to be recognized as a "Man"; his Gender identity, is too often reflected onto the TS.
These are just 2 ideas and by far not the only problems, a M-2-F TS, like Gambel, must face. I hope she realizes those she once thought were her kind, may well, attempt to be her greatest oppressors. It should not be that way, but the fact is, it is that way. It is the Freedom to be comfortable with "Self" should be the greatest reward. Yes, to live in your own skin, as you see yourself, is the greatest reward of Transition. Remember, I spent 45 years, in turmoil with "Self" until I finally thought,
"To hell with them,they do not have to live my life. Most could not cut it, anyway. I be me and they be them is the rule."
I hope this has caused Gambel to prepare for changes one not thought possible, before. Also, I hope she continues her Musical career. TJ Hayes (Race Car driver) made the change and has never regretted it. I do not follow racing, so, I am unaware of her life now. Of course, Hayes or Gambel is no more important than any other person, is my opinion.
Peace & Love,
Rachel M. :)
You're comparing apples and oranges. Quickly google Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, a diagram which illustrates Maslow's theory of how basic human needs are met. The most basic, breathing, eating and so on, are on the bottom, and must be fulfilled before higher needs(such as intimacy, self-actualization, etc.) must be met.
You seem to be basing your argument around the idea that because gender identity isn't on the same base level as eating, it's an invalid issue. There are two issues here, though: one, gender identity often IS a base need, falling under the "safety" category in Maslow's Hierarchy. For many, many individuals untreated dysphoria results in suicidal tendencies and seriously risks that person's health; the suicide rate among per-transition trans folks is somewhere around 40%.
The second problem with this argument is that it's reducio ad absurdum. Of course a person in a hostage situation isn't exactly going to be worrying about gender. Basic survival is going to over ride that. Same way an African-American isn't going to be worry about racial politics in the middle of a fire-fight. If the standard for a valid struggle is "Does it concern you more than eating, or not being killed?", then almost no one has the right to complain or seek to change their lives. Using this sort of logic, I think a decent argument could have been made to defend various forms of sexism and racism. Again, referring to Maslow's Hierarchy, safety(especially immediate safety) and physiological needs trump any other needs.
Finally: Being trans isn't about being "effeminate" or "masculine," it's about being perceived and treated as the correct gender. It's about having a body which feels right. LGB folk most certainly don't have this issue, because it ISN'T one for them.
I realize you are asking rhetorical questions but I still want to respond:
People who are lucky enough to not have to deal with starvation (and the like) have the luxury to deal with lesser problems like not feeling comfortable in their own skin.
The point of gender dysphoria is that you're not comfortable in your body. It's totally about the body one lives in. It doesn't really have anything to do with sex. Little, little children have gender dysphoria.
Yeah, it's really a problem. I'm sure if you met someone with gender dysphoria, and they were kind enough to tell you their story and describe how it feels, you'd be less skeptical.
It doesn't have to make sense for it to be real.
I believe most people are too quick to assume it's about physical sexual pleasure. For example, I'm a man. Everything I think about myself falls into traditional male characteristics. I'm attracted to women, I have a provider nature, willing and able to physically protect my family from danger, stoicism in my emotions, decision/logical thought processes, etc. Now, what if I looked in the mirror and saw the face and body of a woman?
Flip the scenario and that's what Tom Gabel and hundreds of thousands of other world citizens experience every day. It's not about being effeminate, it's about feeling trapped in the wrong body. It's a biological prison where there's seemingly no escape.
It's different from homosexuality in that homosexuals are biologically attracted to the same sex that they themselves identify with. Gender goes beyond physical characteristics.
I wonder what starving people or people with real diseases think about something like this.
Seriously, is this something someone would worry about if they had terminal cancer or a child kidnapped or frantically trying to figure out how to pay off the mob?
Of course, I suppose it could be a real problem, but I'm not clear on what's the point... is it that sex isn't pleasant now, and they just *know* it would be pleasant as the other gender?
Why not just *be* effeminate without mutilating the sex organ?
Gays don't seem to have this problem...
I really am without a clue, perhaps it really is a problem, best wishes.