What makes one an expert in a subject? Often it’s credentials, such as degrees or certificates. Often it’s position, such as being the executive in charge of a university department, or a non-profit or business that works in a particular area or field. Often it’s research one has done has done on a subject, such as research for an article or book. Sometimes its personal experience with a subject, such as an alcoholic with alcohol abuse, or knowing about spouse abuse because a person was the victim of domestic violence, or a police officer who’s assigned to the domestic violence beat of his or her city.
There are degrees of expertise, and relative values of expertise. Does one put more weight to what a domestic violence counselor knows about domestic violence, or does one put more weight to a researcher with a Sociology doctorate whose researched domestic violence? It may depend on whether one is gauging the personal pain of domestic violence victims, or gauging the societal costs of domestic violence.
And then there is Appeal To False Authority, where an authority is speaking outside his area of expertise, but still functions as an authoritative speaker. When false authority is coupled with Argument From Spurious Similarity (where it’s suggested that some resemblance is proof of a relationship), or an Appeal To Widespread Belief (which includes the idea that a belief held by many people makes something true), arguments become particularly troublesome.
Recently, I pointed out in In Defense of Harassment: Ex-Gay Opposes Unisex Rest Rooms that self-identified former homosexual Sylvia Bertolini claimed expertise on transgender issues specifically because she is a former homosexual. Her initial piece read to me and others as an Appeal To False Authority, coupled with an Argument From Spurious Similarity; the spurious similarity being that sexual orientation and gender identity are the same thing, or are so intertwined that these two issues have the same root cause or causes.
Now in a similar fashion, Exodus International’s Alan Chambers (in World Magazine’s “Pick and choose; Health: Sex selection in New York City soon will be all about how he — she? — is feeling”), comments on New York City’s now abandoned plan for altering the birth certificates of pre-operative and non-operative transgender people:
Alan Chambers of Exodus International, a Christian ministry that helps people leave homosexual and transgender lifestyles, agrees that the policy [of allowing the city’s residents to change the sex on their birth certificates if they believe they are transgender] is “dangerous . . . especially for the people confused enough to believe they were born in the wrong bodies.”
Chambers, a former homosexual, recalls the anguish of feeling, “I should have been born a girl.” He says society shouldn’t “put a stamp of approval on gender fluidity. . . . The most loving response is to tell people the truth and show them grace.”
The critique of Alan Chambers here in this article isn’t about the merits of changing the gender marker criteria for non-operative or pre-operative transsexuals — it’s not about even about his opinion he expressed on the subject. Instead, it’s about Chambers’ qualifications to be quoted as a subject matter expert on transgender issues — Are transgender and gender identity issues subject matter areas where Chambers can plausibly be identified as an authority?
I’d argue “no.”
Chambers’ authority to speak on gender identity issues as an expert doesn’t seem to be derived from his formal education or formal credentials, as his biography doesn’t indicate he has any formal education or credentials related to the subject. Also, none of Alan Chambers credited published works deal with transgender issues directly, so from the public record it appears he hasn’t done any scholarly research specifically related to transgender people. (And, neither of Exodus International’s uncredited pieces relating to transgender issues — LGBTQ labels and Gender Identity — are scholarly, referenced works.) And even though the World Magazine piece describes Exodus International as “a Christian ministry that helps people leave homosexual and transgender lifestyles,” Exodus International’s Who We Are webpage describes themselves as “…a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization promoting the message of Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.” Exodus International’s work with transgender and ex-transgender people is only mentioned when a spokesperson from the organization comments on transgender and gender identity issues; Any work Exodus International may do with transgender and ex-transgender people doesn’t appear to be found within the primary mission of the organization.
And, since about 75% of children diagnosed with Childhood GID report a homosexual or bisexual orientation in adulthood, drawing conclusions about to the similarity between adult transgender people and adult gay people based on one’s own experience with Childhood GID appears a suspect means to make an analogy. Although there are similarities of experience (such as shared experiences of societal discrimination), there are dissimilarities in the adult experiences of gay men and transgender women, as well as lesbian women and transgender men. For example, most transsexuals want to express a gender identity different than that of their natal sex, most gays and lesbians are comfortable with their gender identity matching their natal sex. The dissimilarities are significant enough to indicate that just because one is an expert on gay, lesbian, and/or bisexual life experiences, it wouldn’t mean that one is an expert on transgender life experiences, and vice a versa.
It appears to me that what we’re left with then is Chambers’ apparent lack of academic or professional credentials indicating expertise, his personal statement of experiencing Childhood Gender Identity Disorder (GID) in his personal childhood belief he “should have been born a girl,”, his presidency of an organization whose “Who We Are” page doesn’t identify itself as an organization with any distinctively transgender/ex-transgender focus, and his status as a self-identified former homosexual. Given what we know about Alan Chambers’ resume before us, it’s difficult to support recognizing him as an expert on transgender or gender identity issues.
And given what we know about Chambers, we’re left much as we were with Sylvia Bertolini’s claims of expertise — Appeal To False Authority coupled with an Argument From Spurious Similarity. And perhaps in Chambers’ case, an added Appeal To Widespread Belief can be added, in that many in Chambers’ circle of ex-gay, religious right, and anti-gay friends believe sexual orientation and gender identity are tightly entwined in sexual confusion.
For Alan Chambers to be presented as, or present himself as, an expert in gender identity or transgender issues based on his resume seems unsustainable. Since I now see a propensity for Chambers’ overreaching his resume to speak on issues, I, and I hope my peers, will keep their eyes open for other Exodus International false claims of authority.
Hi Timothy,
I’m curious about your statement, “And while estrogen levels in adult males do not have any correlation with orientation, it may be the case that estrogen levels pre-natal or in early childhood development may have an effect on the eventual sexual orientation of some male fetuses or infants.”
Where/what research supports your claim that estrogen levels have an affect on orientation? The article stated (Atlantic Monthly)? Any primary source documentation on this?
Thank you.
You can find information on the study on both pre-natal and estrogen levels of gay men here.
https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/09/60minutes/main1385230.shtml
You are being far too rational for the likes Mr. Chambers.
Logic is lost upon these clowns – they don’t believe they need ‘rational’ facts – their faith is the only “fact” they care about.
Of course, the sky in their little world must be some very interesting colours, too.
– Michelle
I agree completely, except that I have one nagging thought.
We who are pro-gay tend to lump transpeople in, too–“LGBT.” We say very little that is specifically about transpeople, but we include it like it’s a similar issue.
There are reasons for that–for instance, effeminate gay men and butch lesbian women are punished for their gender expression at work, by families, and on the street. So there are places where the two groups intersect. But can les-bi-gays and transsexuals really work together as a group, and if so, is there a more intelligent way to go about it?
I guess by only learning about Transgender people and accepting them into our community will the LGBT definition be complete. Transgender people bring up interesting ideas like how does one deal with hair removal? electrolysis FDA approved. Should you buy hormones on the internet? No should see a specialist. Interesting culture, nothing “sick” about it. I am not an expert, sometimes read up on the subject.
Hi Javelle,
There are many reasons why the T is part of LGBT.
– There is a large historic reason: Drag queens and transsexuals — at that time usually lumped together under the name “queens” — were key figures at the Compton Cafeteria and Stonewall riots.
– Quoting Mara Keisling of the National Center for Transgender Equality: “While we might parse out the differences between gay, bisexual and transgender people, our enemies don’t. If I am ever a victim of a hate crime, the odds are the person stabbing me 48 times is going to be calling me ‘faggot.’” I’d argue the same standard of external lumping of LGBT people together also applies to discrimination. The reality is that greater society doesn’t see much difference between effeminate gay males, transsexual women, cross-dressers, and drag queens. And, apparently neither can ex-gay organizations like Exodus and Americans For Truth.
– Even issues like same-sex marriage impact transpeople. Again quoting Mara Keisling, “Every trans person who’s in a relationship, regardless of what their gender is or ever was…they’re either in a same-sex relationship or in an opposite sex relationships that somebody could claim was a same-sex relationship.” To see examples of this, compare these examples of relationships involving transpeople that I would consider an opposite sex relationship with one I’d consider a same sex relationship. In both cases, someone considered them same sex relationships — that impacts marriages involving transpeople.
T’s have distinct issues that aren’t the same issues as LGB issues — such as with healthcare and identification documentation — but there are many overlapping issues — such as marriage, housing, employment, and hate crimes. When overlapping issues are coupled with the external societal grouping of LGBT people together and LGBT history, it does make some sense that a “T” is in the alphabet soup.
I guess my suggestion for how LGBT people could work together better is to focus on the issues we have in common instead of looking for differences.
The simplest way to tell if someone is an expert on something is to gauge whether they know what they’re talking about. The phrase “transgender lifestyle” makes about as much sense as “diabetic lifestyle,” ergo, Chambers is not an expert.
I did challenge Chambers in another thread regarding his expertise, and how people with credentials could be complete quacks and gave him historic examples.
There is such a thing as misogynist, homophobic or racist science. I pointed out to him what segregationists (always expert on black people and looked to as such) depended on to further their aims.
He responded with one rhetorical and patently stupid question.
I think I threw him off, because he left the thread and never really addressed what I was saying.
He’s not stupid, he just relies on very superficial ways of dealing with this issue.
When someone is being paid for their so called expertise, they damn well better be able to hold their own when it matters.
I say often I’m no kind of expert on being gay.
I don’t especially like to come off as if I am.
However, I have mentioned to our detractors that I am a scholar on hate and justice issues.
And the gay, lesbian, bi and transgender community is in need of justice.
But Chambers isn’t seeking justice, nor equality for the community, he’s accomodating the more powerful and influential straight world.
I consider that the easy road, a submission of sorts without an appeal to it for understanding for those who are not going to also do as he did.
That’s why I told him point blank that he wasn’t qualified to speak for the gay community from beating the hardest option.
As for the estrogen issue and orientation, I doubt there is any correlation. Gays and lesbians have straight siblings, even if they are identical twins, exposed to the same intrauterine environment.
I don’t think the origins are biochemical at all. There is no biochemistry to being left handed or having any other kind of inversus.
I don’t think it’s all that deep an issue, but the curious straight world is trying to figure it out and floats all kinds of theories and hypotheticals.
When it well is just another norm as there are many norms of the same species all the time.
We’re just trying to insure that the LGBT community is treated decently and with respectful consideration, while the others are trying any excuse not to have to.
Alan Chambers ran in the same way many ex gays do when dealing with the sorts of questions I ask them to justify their agenda. And he’s not going to be confronted in person by the likes of us because he will avoid it.
Autumn, my dear….I am so glad you’re hear. I have plenty of transgender buds here in Los Angeles who are doing good work who educate me as I go.
I would love to meet you one day soon. I’d certainly let you know if you were in my area of Los Angeles.
Rest assured, I wouldn’t and never have looked to a person like Chambers or any other straight or faux straight guy who wasn’t chosen by the gay community to speak for them to inform me.
That’s what I meant by the greatest SOURCE on this issue, the gay and transgendered folks being ignored, is ludicrous to me.
It shows a subtler, but no less prejudicial and disrespectful attitude towards that community.
And that’s why I want them to just SHUT up and quit speaking ahead of everyone else and shutting out who this most matters to.
Whoops, my grammar meter had a glitch.
What I tried to say was, those like Alan Chambers, who I know have no expertise, should shut up and stop jumping ahead of those who are and shutting out who this issue most effects.
And maybe Chambers doesn’t think much of me either as any kind of expert.
Even though I am a black woman who HAS dealt personally with prejudice and it’s hurts and struggled to attain and ideal for other’s sensibilities.
But so far, I don’t avoid other people and the LGBT community hasn’t told me my efforts were wrong.
Well, Regan, you can contact me offline by clicking on my byline above.
I’m heading up to LA for California’s 2nd Annual Transgender Leadership Summit March 25-27, 2006, so that’s a possible weekend we could connect.
” But can les-bi-gays and transsexuals really work together as a group, and if so, is there a more intelligent way to go about it?”
Sigh. I’m (trans)genderqueer, but I can speak with the authority of a human being as opposed to the authority invested in me by my nature.
Many of the struggles that genderqueer people face are shared by other oppressed groups in our societies. We also have additional burdens placed upon us by people who are wedded to the idea of binary biological genders. As a whole, the category of people who will oppress me isn’t as relevant as the individuals will oppress me. I don’t see the value of lumping people together as groups when we’re talking about prejudice.
I want to ask the inverse of the question I’ve quoted above. Why shouldn’t other members of the queer community help each other? It’s good to have allies in our stuggles against the hegemony of mainstreamer’s oppression of all of us.
I personally feel that that the almost universal prohibition of medical insurance paying for gender confirming surgeries (GRS) is akin to contemptable & willful neglect Reagen showed to the begining of the HOV/AIDS pandemic. Life-saving medical technologies are not being made available to the segment of the population who needs them the most. The source of our oppression is a common ground between us.
As for the ‘transgender lifestyle’, right…whatever. It’s not a lifestyle, I wouldn’t choose this fate for anyone, let alone myself. I can’t begin to describe how horrible it is (for me), and I’m one of the lucky ones. Is being gay a lifestyle? Is being hispanic a lifestyle? Reality is far more complicated than the simple definitions people use to devalue all of us.