The Gender Identity nondiscrimination Bill first establishes the science defying "fact" that in Montgomery County any 'males wishing to be female can be' or any 'female wishing to be male can be' and then gives the Human Rights Commission (HRC) the ability to fine those who disagree for "harassment and bigotry". In DC a similar program rewards users of the "wrong pronoun" with a $500 fine. The fines in Montgomery County have been estimated to possible be as high as $500,000. The Bill further tasks the HRC with introducing programs to promote "tolerance" for gender identity confused individuals.

It has been our experience that such programs promote acceptance instead of "tolerance", and often hide the health and other lifestyle risks of the transgender lifestyle in order to do so.

What are the health risks involved in Gender Identity Disorder?

TRANSGENDER HEALTH RISKS

HIV

a)

High HIV Prevalance in the Transgender African American Community in San Francisco

b)

CDC HIV AIDS and Transgender persons

c)

HIV prevalence, risk behaviors, health care use, and mental health status of transgender persons

d)

Fighting HIV by Reaching Out to Transgender Prostitutes

DRUG USE - "Substance-Related Disorders are commonly associated"
(American Psychiatric Ass)

High HIV Prevalance in the Transgender African American Community in San Francisco

HORMONE RISKS

a)

Ten Things Transgender Persons Should discuss with their Health Care Providers

"Estrogen...blood clotting, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and water retention...
Testosterone, ...liver damage.
...increased risk for heart attack or stroke, ...at high risk for STDs including HIV...Alcohol abuse...Tobacco use...
Depression/Anxiety - For many reasons, trans people are particularly prone to depression and anxiety...
Suicide...risk, both prior to transition and afterward."(bold and underline added)

b)

Transgender health medical issues

"Side effects in (Male to Female) MTF treated with estrogens may include: ...venous thrombosis with a risk of fatal pulmonary embolism...pituitary tumors...weight gain increased emotional sensitivity and/or instability...liver disease"

SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

a)

"This is one place you do NOT want to go!"

b)

Are sex change operations justified?

"I should never have had sex change surgery," Claudia MacLean, a transsexual woman told the audience at a recent debate organized by the BBC Radio 4 programme Hecklers and the Royal Society of Medicine in London.
"As a result of the surgery, I am incapable of sex and I have lived a life apart."

c)

"magnitude of benefit and harm for individual surgical procedures cannot be estimated accurately using the current available evidence"

d)

"Several complications occurred such as partial flap necrosis, rectovaginal fistula formation"

e)

One study in Singapore found that a third of the persons would not undergo the surgery again.

f)

Sex reassignment through surgery and hormonal therapy is an option, but identity problems may continue after this treatment.

g)

We have wasted scientific and technical resources and damaged our professional credibility by collaborating with madness rather than trying to study, cure, and ultimately prevent it." Surgical Sex, Nov 2004 Dr. Paul McHugh, Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University.

h)

If we normalize gender identity disorder will body integrity disorder be next? ----- Now, years later, Josh says he feels wonderful without his hand, that his amputation finally ended a "torment" that had plagued him since middle school. "It is a tremendous relief," he told NEWSWEEK. "I feel like my body is right."