Fenny, I think we need to start with some education on simple definitions. Choice means the act of making a decision. This does not necessarily mean a good choice or an easy choice which I am certain is not guaranteed in life. So yes, you are very wrong….EVERYONE has a choice. Trans individuals choose to pursue becoming a different gender than what they actually are. It may not be a good choice and it many not be an easy choice but it is absolutely a choice. Perhaps its time to look at issues a little broader than simply through a selfish filter of what a particular individual wants.
Why should i “ Taste a bit of (your) reality when I have my own”? While I may not be faced with the difficult choice of becoming a different gender, I am faced with my own difficult choices . The difference is I don’t expect you to fix, approve of, participate in or accommodate my difficult choices.
Individuals are free. Employers have as much power as the employee agrees to afford them…unless they are slaves. For instance IBM has zero power over me. I do not work for them and have given them no power. Again….my choice and perhaps not an easy one. Work safety laws and Non discrimination laws exist to first protect people from unnecessary / undisclosed risk and to assure everyone has access to society that is not limited due to …well not having a choice.. such as uncontrollable factors of race, sex, disability. This falls under …” we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are Life (safety), Liberty (freedom to choose), and the pursuit of happiness (access to society).” This does not mean everyone else (who is also free) has to cater to an individuals desires and whims. I certainly see why you would desire another person (or group of persons who own what is called a “company”) to pay for your stuff. I would like for you to pay for my stuff in fact. That would be very helpful and nice on your part. Back to reality….should you have to pay for my stuff? If you agree to up front and I say “Fenny, if you do this (pay for my stuff) I will do this in return”. Then yes, you should be required to live up to your agreement. The law provides for this. However, why should the law say “ Fenny, he is doing this so you must do this….even if you disagree with it.” For instance what if the law required you to pay for my concealed carry handgun license. Would you like to have the law impose my personal choices and its expenses on you? I realize health is different due to its intimate and mandatory nature but there are many choices in healthcare. Still, while its wrong to force one to pay for something for another, its profoundly wrong to force someone to pay for something for another based solely on their personal wants rather than needs. This is unfortunately where our self absorbed society is headed.
Yes, we can talk about the benefits of birth control, safe legal abortion services, cross sex hormone therapy, breast enhancement, concealed handguns, weight loss drugs, tooth paste, hair cuts, toe nail clippers, and on and on and on. All true and all personal choices that should be the expense of the individual desiring the service. Freedom affords us all the right to choose. It is very sad that people face difficult circumstances such as dysphoria, drug addiction, being nonathletic, being unattractive, being overweight, being socially awkward and on and on. The law should protect all of these individuals from physical harm by others, and it does ..perhaps not as effectively as we would like at times. The law should assure that they have the right to access society but the law should not impose acceptance upon others. You cant apply for the Lakers if you are 5' tall and suck at basketball but they should not be required to employ you. Yes, people often look at transsexual individuals as odd. Its unfortunate. No one is killing them (without it being illegal). I am sorry but the law can not make others responsible for the profoundly unhappy and suicidal consequences of an individual’s circumstances which ultimately originate from a free and individual choice whether its dysphoria, drug addition or other mental condition. “…But it would mean people have to live a lie…!” Perhaps. People do it every day by staying in marriages they are unhappy with, in jobs that they need but hate, caring for kids that are difficult and draining, by dieting /exercising to overcome weight control problems, by choosing not to harm others when they have rage issues and so on. WE all have issues. Its just that some are not so self centered as to project their own hardships and challenges upon everyone else. Fyi….I have never harmed or mistreated a transgender and don’t intend to. I have have my own issues to deal with…without blaming them or anyone else for my difficult choices or the consequences of those choices. Do I and others need help from time to time…certainly. The difference is I appreciate the charitable help of others……I don’t demand it or expect it.