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jon sinton's avatar

Gordon, this is a brave and forward-looking column that I'm sharing as widely as I can. Thanks for stepping up.

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Tamar's avatar

Good reading this post. You had indicated at least a year something rumbling, wanting to be born inside you. I didn't understand. Now, I think I do. And knowing you are "on the other side" of the wall/closet door that shut you off from your whole self and other people inspires pride, hope, and courage for everyone claiming such.

Backed by Talmudic readings and others, it is clear to me that trans is an orientation such as gay, nothing a person intentionally opts for. He/they/she simply are. The Talmud discusses, neither judges nor condemns gender expression, physical and other. Expression becomes relevant; for example, when qualifying witnesses to testify in courts. Among those unqualified are females, children, deaf mutes, and persons observed, for example, as androgynous or of undetermined gender.

(Codified late 5th century CE, in Mesopotamia aka modern-day Iraq, the Gemara, a written version of an oral tradition of transmitting remembered rabbinic discussions, debates, legends, parables on Halacha Law that the Hebrew Bible describes generally. Yet, questions remain — When is a law or ruling applicable? And where and under which conditions? The Mishna [codified around 200 CE, in the Land of Israel] and later the Gemara [together, both comprise the Talmud] offer commentaries on these questions and offer parameters and more sometimes using endless, even seemingly unreasonable examples. It's a fun read for learners eager to parse the serpentine arguments/discussions!)

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