Chaz Bono, formerly Chastity, currently stars in a show, “Becoming Chaz,” that takes a close look at his life as a female-to-male transperson. This show has received some buzz, as it is currently being broadcast on Oprah’s “OWN” network. It’s been too much buzz for Exodus International blogger Randy Thomas to ignore. His latest post retreads an argument he previously made which calls the gay community “hypocritical” for welcoming transpeople into their ranks while shunning ex-gays like himself. And, in the process, he makes a statement which is a complete fabrication.
Let me state right out of the gate that there is no proven genetic link to homosexuality.
This is a bold statement, literally and figuratively. This is not the ambiguous argument that “there is no gay gene,” a statement that is technically true, but infers the lie that there is no genetic component to sexual orientation. There is, in fact, a proven genetic link. This complete fabrication that there is zero genetic component has been stated by Exodus before, by Alan Chambers in an audio interview. Evidence of a biological/genetic connection continues to mount as time progresses, with studies that demonstrate this link in multiple ways.
That aside, Randy continues with his tired argument about the “hypocrisy” of his “gay activist friends:”
That said, It’s always confounded me that my gay activist friends will vehemently defend people who identify as transgendered as having a “right” to go against their biology to “become who they truly are.” Yet that same activist will vehemently say that for people like myself, homosexuality is genetic and there is no way to escape that reality. That I should just accept being gay and stop the self-loathing they seem to think I live in.
If you take that thinking to its logical conclusion, genetics has a tyrannical hold on my life, identity and self-determination but does NOT hold that same power over the transgendered.
That, my friends, is hypocrisy.
Transwoman Yuki Choe explained the flaws in this argument in a previous XGW article:
[Randy’s] belief that transgenders are ignoring their “genetic destiny” is completely inaccurate. He takes for granted the biological, chromosomnal and psychological state of transgenders, as the whole article failed to address sexual ambiguities that may face children even before puberty. The genetic destiny of transgenders actually lies in these various factors, something which Thomas did not seem to be well informed of.
Indeed, both transgendered people and homosexual people are embracing “genetic destiny:” by coming out of the closet; by embracing their true gender identity despite their physical biological state. The difference between ex-gays like Randy and transgendered individuals like Chaz Bono? Transsexuals, many of whom spend thousands of dollars on multiple surgeries to harmonize their physical appearance with their gender identity, do not need to bring themselves to their knees and pray for the daily strength to “deny what comes naturally to them.” They know who they are and embrace it. Ex-gays like Randy and Alan are in a perpetual battle, fighting their “natural sinful nature,” which they conflate with their sexual orientation.
The final part of Randy’s article delves into Christian theology having nothing to do with Chaz’s life, since his conversion was biological and not religious. Randy seems to think that Chaz’s gender transition is a blind maneuver; a gamble that “might” give Chaz a secure identity. The implication is that Chaz will remain confused and searching because his transition was not one to an “identity in Christ.” Quite the contrary, Chaz has made a long thought-out decision, one that will ultimately give him the liberation Randy is so earnestly “praying” that Chaz “will find someday.”
Although I see you corrected yourself in later references, you used the wrong pronoun in the first sentence when referring to Chaz.
only one problem with this article- the word ‘her’ should be ‘his’..
The confusion in pronouns occurred because I was referencing both the names “Chaz” and “Chastity” in the same sentence. Nothing more. Fixed now.
I’m pretty sure that was a simple error and Emily has corrected it. Any comments on the content? Aside from the blatant falsehood about there being no proven genetic links to homosexuality, Randy’s broken logic in trying to equate ex-gay ideology with gender reassignment is astounding.
While we’re on the subject of Chaz Bono, his interview with David Letterman was excellent. It makes a good introduction to transgenderism and the issues transgenders face. It starts roughly at 6:00 on this video. You should be able to find the remaining parts easily in the “Suggestions” sidebar.
That was an unusually candid and honest interview, especially for American TV.
I wish Randy and Alan would just quit it. It’s true, THEIR conversion is a matter of RELIGIOUS choice and disciplines, not biological ones. And this is about an individual’s right to be happy with themselves.
What Randy and Alan won’t understand, is that they are making THEIR personal mission, isn’t just one of their personal happiness, but putting down that of the gay and transgendered as false or misleading. THAT is why they aren’t accepted by the LGBT, it’s because Alan and Randy treat gay people as being people who are damaged and pursuing a bad life, by accepting their gay orientation or transitioning. If Randy and Alan were truly all that happy with THEIR religious decision, then why the hard sell of it? Why aren’t they questioning why it’s rejected, rather than criticizing what gay people do with their own lives?
And the fact that they have participated in political action to have equal protections and rights for the LGBT is the biggest reason why no one will respect them. I for one, love and respect Yuki with my whole heart and she is one of many trans women I go to for advice and information.
I’m not trying to preach to the choir here, I’m trying to demonstrate that I am paying close attention and hopefully understand exactly what Emily K and our other contributors are saying.
I have, on several occasions told Randy and Alan exactly why it’s WAY past time to give the floor to gay and transgendered people. Their opinions and attitudes are outmoded and outdated, and there is clear and irrefutable evidence of why their statements aren’t healthy, nor as concise as they think. And I mention that it doesn’t serve the truth or honesty about a subject, if the subject themselves don’t have the same opportunities to be visible and open. And I WANT to hear it from the source, not from someone who themselves is in a place that’s so superficial and lacking in empathy.
THEIR time is over for chumming the water, and it hasn’t done much good as they think.
Yuki was very generous in her assessment that these guys are ill informed.
I can’t be that classy and generous about it.
I prefer to say, STFU….it’s someone ELSE’S turn, and being petulant about not hogging up the time for people to learn something different.
OMG…my post is full of grammatical errors and omissions! So sorry. I was trying to say that R and A’s political action AGAINST equality and protections for gay people is why they aren’t respected. The gay community, after all isn’t doing that in any way against THEM.
I find Alan and Randy’s complaints, childish and arrogant. To say, again…petulant. They don’t wish Chaz good luck with his new life. They don’t assume that Chaz knows what HE wants, but Randy and Alan like to think THEY know what is best for gay and trans people.
The truth is NO ONE knows what an individual’s degree of happiness is, nor can they assume they have the magic to make it happen. No one thing works for everyone and never did.
If Randy and Alan want to be respected, they have to start GIVING it to get it. What makes them think they deserve that sort of thing to move ONE way? And only THEIR way?