Gender Manifesto

The sexual binary is a matter of biology that warrants the respective identifiers; male and female. But many species in the animal kingdom bear no visible evidence, or behavior characteristics that can be associated with their respective sexual anatomy. In humans, anatomical sex characteristics exist within the binary polarity of male and female, and in variable degrees, somewhere in-between based on hormone levels, chromosome count, and sex organ duplicity (intersex). Furthermore, gender identification is a matter of individual volition.

Generally, anatomic sex identity is visibly either male or female, and as a general social rule, gender-sex assignment is either man-male or woman-female. But chromosome variances (Klinefelter's syndrome - an extra X in men), and hormone levels can cause the presence of both sex characteristics anatomically and emotionally. The respective male/female binary sex anatomies are the most common and therefore have been the predominant basis of identification in most societies. Clearly this system of identification does not include all possible sex-gender identities. The absence of legal and sociological provisions for those who have characteristics of both sexes (seeking anatomical sex reassignment or not), and those who otherwise identify as gender neutral (or something else), is common in most social systems.

To avoid ambiguity this article proposes the distinction between the terms 'transgender' and 'genderqueer' as an anatomical sex variation, and a volitional gender identity variation respectively. Specifically is as follows:

Transgender: having an anatomical variance that transcends the binary sex assignment (including chromosome or hormone variances). Variances may occur naturally, by supplementation (hormone therapy), or anatomical sex reassignment, and including all stages of the reassignment procedure (if any).

Genderqueer (or queer): a chosen gender identification as something other than the man-male or woman-female assignment regardless of anatomical characteristics.

Within the realm of human gender identification this distinction is nominal at best. The issue of gender identification is obviously far bigger than the normative binary, and the limited exposition of this article. Gender identification is dynamic, multidimensional, and as nebulous as the human mind allows - not bounded by the social norm or other such restrictions. Expressions of self-identity cannot be codified or regulated. But with respect to communication, identification is needed to adequately and fairly represent everyone, and of course be afforded equal rights and protection against discrimination.

In a freedom-based society, gender identification is an aspect of personal identity that must be accounted for, and represented without discrimination. The transgender and genderqueer constituency of most "modern" societies are subjected to workplace discrimination, difficulties or outright denial of parental rights, inadequate healthcare access, and a myriad of obstacles obtaining name and gender designations on identification documents. The establishment of justice, and liberty for all, is the defined goal of any democratic society, but the goal goes unrealized as long as the majority rule excludes and discriminates against anyone or group regardless of their minority.