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Gender Change:
What do Spiritists think about it? |
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The gender
reassignment
surgery,
correctly
called gender
reassignment,
was approved
in Brazil by
the Federal
Medical
Council, in
2002, for
individuals
over 21
years of
age, with a
medical
diagnosis of
transsexuality
for at least
2 years, and
after an
evaluation
by a
multidisciplinary
team
consisting
of a
psychiatrist,
surgeon,
endocrinologist,
psychologist
and a social
worker. The
transsexual
is the
individual
who has the
biological
sex with
which he was
born, but
has the
sexual
identity of
the opposite
sex: a man
who looks in
the mirror
and sees
himself and
feels like a
woman, and a
woman who
looks in the
mirror and
sees herself
and feels
like a man.
Transsexuality
is a
definition
based on
sexual
identity and
not on
sexual
orientation,
and thus
differs from
homosexuality,
which is a
condition
related
solely to
desire. The
homosexual
feels sexual
attraction
and
affection
for people
of the same
sex, but he
does not see
himself and
does not
feel like
being of the
opposite
sex.
Not all
transsexual
people feel
the need for
surgery.
Some feel
good with
their body
and accept
it with no
rejection
about their
appearance
or genital
organ. For
those who
want a
surgical
intervention,
the SUS
(Brazilian
National
Health
System)
offers some
procedures
such as
removal of
the breasts,
surgical
removal of
the uterus
(to get rid
of menses)
and
trans-genitalization
(surgery to
modify the
genitals -
removal of
the
testicles
and
construction
of the
vagina or
removal of
ovaries and
construction
of a penis).
Hormone
treatment is
available at
clinics
specialized
in large
centers.
One of the
discussions
around this
issue is
about the
rate of
individuals
who regret
having had
the surgery.
The rate is
low.
Alexandre
Saadeh, a
psychiatrist,
who
coordinates
the hospital
outpatient
clinic, and
attends
patients at
the
“Hospital
das Clinicas
de Medicina
da USP”,
says that
considering
that the
screening
and
preparation
before
surgery is
too much
work, it is
very rare to
find a case
of
post-surgical
regret.[i]
Among
Spiritists
there is no
consensus as
to the
validity and
applicability
of these
surgeries.
Let us see
some
opinions.
Contrary
positions
Two of the
most
important
mediums of
our
Spiritism
movement -
Chico Xavier
and Divaldo
Franco -
manifested
themselves
against
gender
reassignment.
Interviewed
in October
1966 by the
newspaper Folha
Espirita,
Chico
commented on
a message he
had received
from a
person, who
disincarnated
in Paris and
underwent
this type of
surgery - he
changed his
name, but
when he
arrived in
space, his
relatives
told him
that while
he was
living on
Earth, he
would have
had to use
the name of
the man he
was born in
this world.
He commented
that it is
possible for
those, who
have
outstanding
morphological
difficulties,
to use
plastic
surgery to
recover;
however,
regarding
the gender
reassignment,
he
commented:
Now, simply
because of a
psychological
issue, for
example -
for the man
who is born
with female
tendencies
or for the
woman who
manifests
masculine
tendencies
since early
- I believe
that, if
this is the
only reason,
the surgery
should not
be done.
Let's hope
the
physician
will help
the patient
think a lot,
because if
the doctor
finds a
morphologically
perfect body
with
masculine or
feminine
characteristics,
I think it
would be
totally
against the
Law of Cause
and Effect
and the need
for
segregation
of that
Spirit in
its body,
because the
surgery
would be
just a
pleasure-hunt
issue. [ii]
The main
argument
presented by
Chico is
that such
surgery
comes
against the
need of the
Spirit to
live an
experience
in a body
that does
not identify
with its
psychology.
Such a
procedure
would
contradict
the Law of
Cause and
Effect.
Divaldo
Franco
defends an
equivalent
position.
According to
him, this
[...]
violence
that the
individual
imposes on
himself will
bring him
serious
damage in
the present
and in
future
reincarnations.
As the
psyche is
the most
important
element in
the relation
spirit-matter,
the act of
hating the
body itself
will be
impregnated
in the
psychic
organization
and will
have
repercussions
in the next
incarnation.
In addition,
the
anatomical
and
physiological
modifications
promoted by
a gender
reassignment
imply
creating the
memory of a
body that
the
individual
already
possessed
and in whose
experience
he may have
failed, now
needing to
remain in a
physio-psychological
condition
opposite to
that which
has brought
him severe
spiritual
commitments.
This allows
us to
conclude
that the
attempt to
change the
gender is an
inadvisable
proposition,
despite the
right of
each to act
as he sees
fit.
When a
surgery or a
radical
intervention
in the body
is made due
to an
unavoidable
necessity,
for the
preservation
of health,
the
originated
anatomical
and
physiological
alterations
do not
affect the
perispirit
that creates
matrices
when
occurrences
of such size
take place.
It remains
as a molder
organ in
healthy
conditions
for future
reincarnation
experiences.
However, in
cases of
transsexuality,
when there
are
amputations
or organ
reconstructions,
a serious
injury
inevitably
occurs,
which is the
result of
the
contribution
of the
psyche of
the patient,
who wishes
to
circumvent
the laws of
Nature to
practice sex
at any cost
with the
objective of
experiencing
sensations
that life
denied to
him, being
in the
process of
an
evolutionary
reeducation.[iii]
In the text,
Divaldo
ratifies
Chico's
argument
about the
need of the
reincarnated
entity - in
the
transsexual
condition -
to live that
experience,
without
"dribbling
the Laws of
Nature",
commenting
that the
gender
reassignment
could be
accompanied
by current
and future
consequences,
presenting
the idea of
a possible
perispiritual
injury.
Those who
manifest
themselves
contrary to
gender
reassignment
also refer
to the
thought of
Joanna de
Angelis,
presented in
the book Glorious
Days (Dias
Gloriosos),
Chapter 14,
when,
examining
the possible
influences
of the
maternal
mind and
genetic
engineering
on the
gender of
the baby,
states that in
the vain
attempt to
change the
gender,
embryonic
formation or
any other
period of
physical
existence,
the Law of
Harmony in
force is
challenged
in the
Creation,
which will
cause
unnamed
disorders in
the
personality
and mental
life of
those who go
through
gender
reassignment.
Philomeno de
Miranda, in
turn,
although he
does not
specifically
deal with
surgery,
examining
transsexuality,
states in
the book Madness
and
Obsession (Loucura
e Obsessao),
Chapter 6,
that there
is no other
treatment
for these
marks of the
soul other
than the
overcoming
of the
problem
through
abstinence,
channeling
the sexual
strength to
other areas.
Favorable
position
There are
favorable
opinions
among other
Spiritist
scholars.
Jaider
Rodrigues de
Paulo, a
psychiatrist
and founder
of the
Medical-Spiritist
Association
of Minas
Gerais,
comments
that
throughout
his
professional
practice he
witnessed
several
cases of
transsexual
patients who
rejected
their bodies
because they
were
different
from their
real
feelings,
their
psychic
identity. This
caused
terrible
conflicts
and
inhibitions. One
of them -
recalls Dr.
Jaider -
even
mutilated
his penis,
saying that
it did not
belong to
him, being
rescued in
an emergency
room in a
serious
condition.
Another
patient
could see a
penis
instead of a
vagina,
denying her
female body
because she
did not feel
like a
woman. He
also
comments on
a patient
who felt
like a woman
in a man's
body since
childhood.
He liked
feminine
elements,
and when he
became an
adult he
looked like
a woman. He
was making
raffles,
collecting
donations
for a gender
reassignment
in France.
He had a
boyfriend,
but he
decided that
he would
only date
after the
surgery. Dr.
Jaider
wrote:
Is it fair
to ignore
human pain
and let
these people
suffer?
Pedagogically,
what is more
sensible and
productive:
a human
being
repressed,
excluded,
depressed
and
constrained,
or someone
more attuned
to life and
productive
for him and
for society?
Let
transgender
people
decide their
future,
accepting
them in the
way they are
and feel,
valuing the
immortal
Spirit that
we are all,
children of
God. [iv]
The current
president of
the
mentioned
institution,
Andrei
Moreira, has
been
carefully
studying
issues
related to
sexuality
and
presented
his opinion
in two
works: Homosexuality
from the
standpoint
of the
immortal
Spirit and Transsexuality
from the
perspective
of the
immortal
Spirit.
Andrei
comments
that
transsexual
people live,
in different
degrees, the
called
gender
dysphoria,
that is, the
psychic
suffering
resulting
from the
dystonia
between
their
psychology
and their
body. This
suffering
varies from
individual
to
individual,
but some
live it so
intensely
that they
even
mutilate
their own
genitals
because they
look at
their sexual
organs as
the wrong
sexual
apparatus.
Many trans do
not even
look at
their
genitals
directly, or
in the
mirror. Many
touch
themselves
only to
perform
hygienic
functions,
but only
with a
towel. For
these, the
author
understands
that gender
reassignment
is essential
so that they
can be in
peace with
themselves.
He wrote:
If the
incarnation
experiences
have an
educational
character,
what is the
point of
wanting to
force a
person to
live in a
certain way
that causes
even more
suffering
and pain,
ending many
times in
suicide? In
addition,
what
prevents a
person, who
accepts
himself as a
transsexual,
or who even
underwent
hormone
therapy and
surgery,
from
thinking on
his or her
own
condition
and
"readjusting
their
feelings?
Real
achievements
revolve
around the
mind/spirit,
but we often
insist on
building
standards
and norms
sustained by
the
foundations
of matter
[...] even
those who
feel
inclined and
are able to
undergo
gender
reassignment,
question
themselves
along their
life on the
whats and
whys of that
experience. [v]
Examining
the question
of the
possible
influence on
the
perispirit,
Andrei
comments
that it is a
reflection
of the
mental body,
headquarters
of the mind,
of a wave
that derives
from the
thought as a
manifestation
of the
Spirit’s
will. In
this way,
the astral
body
reflects
what goes in
the mind of
the Spirit.
Thus it can
be deduced
that
transsexual
people have
in their
minds an
image of
themselves
in tune with
their
psyche. He
says:
When they
leave the
body,
therefore,
transsexuals
probably
possess the
astral body
in tune with
their mental
image, that
is, with the
sexual
expression
opposite to
their
biological
body. If
this is
true, then
trans-gendering
would not be
a mutilation
in the
astral body,
because it
is in tune
with the
mental image
and also
because
there is no
intention of
voluntarily
wounding or
self-harming,
but rather
of
harmonizing
biology and
psyche.[vi]
The argument
that gender
reassignment
is
preventing
the Spirit
from going
through the
tests it
needs to
pass has
been opposed
by some
scholars,
who consider
this
argument as
fatalistic
and
dangerous,
since it can
be
associated
with a
conformist
attitude,
stimulating
the culture
of
suffering.
These
scholars
refer to two
mediumistic
messages
inserted by
Kardec in
Chapter 5
of The
Gospel
According to
Spiritism. The
first
message,
signed by "a
guardian
angel",
appears in
item 26:
You ask
whether it
is lawful
for man to
slow down
his own
tests. This
question is
equivalent
to this
other: Is it
lawful for
one who
drowns to
try and save
himself? For
the one who
has a thorn
in his body
to pull it
out? For the
one who is
sick to call
the doctor?
The tests
are intended
to exercise
intelligence,
as well as
patience and
resignation.
It can
happen that
a man is
born in a
painful and
difficult
condition,
precisely to
be forced to
look for
ways of
overcoming
his
difficulties.
The merit –
if one does
not succeed
- consists
in
suffering,
without
murmuring,
the
consequences
of the evils
that cannot
be avoided,
of
persevering
in the
struggle, of
not
despairing.
However,
never in
negligence
for this
would be
more
laziness
than virtue.
The second
message,
found in
item 27, is
signed by
Bernardino,
a Protecting
Spirit, and
ties to
answer the
following
question:
Should one
put an end
to the
neighbor’s
trials? The
Spirit said:
Should a man
put an end
to his
neighbor's
trials when
he can, or
should he
let him
follow his
path in
order to
respect the
purposes of
God? We have
already told
you and
repeated
many times
that you are
in this Land
of atonement
to conclude
your trials
and that
everything
that happens
to you is a
consequence
of your
previous
existences,
it is the
interest of
the debt
that you
have to pay.
This,
however,
causes in
some people
thoughts
that must be
fought, due
to the
disastrous
effects they
could
determine.
Some think
that, being
on Earth to
atone, the
proofs must
follow their
course.
There are
others who
go so far as
to think
that not
only must
they do
nothing to
mitigate
them, but
that they
must
contribute
to make them
more
fruitful and
more
intense.
This is a mistake! It
is certain
that one’s
tests must
follow the
course that
God has
traced for
them; but
are you
acquainted
with this
course? Are
you aware of
how far they
are to go
and if our
merciful
Father has
not said
about the
suffering of
this or that
brother:
"Will you
not go
further?" Do
you know
whether
Providence
has chosen
you not as
an
instrument
of torment
to aggravate
the
sufferings
of the
guilty, but
as the balm
of
consolation
to heal the
wounds that
His
righteousness
has opened?
Therefore do
not say when
you see one
of your
brothers
hurt, "It is
the
Righteousness
of God, it
is necessary
that it
should
follow its
course". Say
instead:
"Let us see
what means
the merciful
Father has
put me in
reach to
soften the
suffering of
my brother.
Let me see
if my moral
consolations,
my material
support or
my advice
can help him
to succeed
in this test
with more
energy,
patience and
resignation.
Let us see
if God did
not put into
my hands the
means of
making this
suffering
cease; if He
perhaps did
not give me,
also as
atonement,
to stop evil
and replace
it with
peace".
Those who
are in favor
of gender
reassignment
understand
that
evidence
does not
disappear.
It goes on
existing in
the
conflicting
experience
of the
individual
inserted in
families and
social
contexts
often
prejudiced
and
excluding.
Surgery,
they said,
would be to
relieve the
psychic
suffering of
the dystonia
between the
gender
identity and
the
biological
gender,
often
preventing
major evils
such as
chemical
dependency,
prostitution,
delinquency,
madness and
suicide. The
rate of
school
dropout
among trans in
Brazil is
around 82%
(often
motivated by
the intense bullying they
suffer),
which
contributes
to low
schooling,
unemployment
or
underemployment
(the job
market
closes the
doors for trans people),
which leads
to
prostitution.
According to
data from
Antra
(National
Association
of
Transvestite
and
Transsexuals),
90% of
transvestites
and
transsexuals
prostitute
themselves
(most of
them after
being denied
job
opportunities).
Research
shows that
41% of young
transsexuals,
who do not
have family
support and
acceptance
try suicide
until the
age of 20.
The
trans/homo
community
presents a
risk of
self-extermination
eight times
higher than
the hetero
community in
general. [vii]
Conclusion
New themes
propose new
reflections.
Spiritism
presents a
body of
ideas
defined by
Allan Kardec
and
developed by
the
subsidiary
works, which
help us to
think
deeply,
because it
is based on
the
principles
of
existence,
survival and
pre-existence
of the soul,
yet does not
have ready
answers for
all the
issues of
human
individuality.
We need to
open more
spaces so
that issues
like this
and many
others are
discussed.
If, without
questioning,
without
evaluating
and
understanding,
we
stubbornly
give answers
based solely
on old
concepts,
this is
prejudice.
If, on the
other hand,
unthinkingly,
we open
ourselves to
the new and
surrender to
it without
seeking
further
maturation,
we can
descend to
the
lightheadedness.
As we have
noted in the
thoughts
previously
related, the
issue
involving
gender
reassignment
causes
opposite
opinions and
it is
natural that
this is so.
The
differences
that exist
between us
promote the
philosophy
of dialogue,
which is
healthy,
when
together
with the
brotherhood
spirit.
Urged to
position
himself on
the subject,
Emmanuel
states that medical
surgeries
for gender
change fit
the
principles
of free will
with their
derivations
in the Law
of Cause and
Effect. [viii] It
is perceived
that the
Benefactor
delegates to
the creature
the final
decision and
in a manner
equivalent
to the
responsibility
before it.
It will
always be
like this:
free will
and
responsibility
go together.
Whatever our
personal
opinion, it
is up to us
to respect
the decision
made by
those
involved,
taking care
not to fall
into
enthusiastic
support or
blunt
criticism -
because the
ultimate
responsibility
will always
be of who
decides.
i Transsexualities
from
the
viewpoint
of
the
immortal
Spirit,
Andrei
Moreira,
Chapter
5
ii Lessons
of
wisdom,
Chapter
36
iii Sex
and
Conscience,
Chapter
7,
organized
by
Luiz
Fernando
Lopes
iv Transsexualities
from
the
point
of
view
of
the
immortal
Spirit,
Andrei
Moreira,
preface.
v Transsexualities
from
the
viewpoint
of
the
immortal
Spirit,
Andrei
Moreira,
Chapter
4
vi Transsexualities
from
the
viewpoint
of
the
immortal
Spirit,
Andrei
Moreira,
Chapter
5
vii
Transsexualities
from
the
point
of
view
of
the
immortal
Spirit,
Andrei
Moreira,
Chapter
2
viii
Lessons
of
wisdom,
Chapter
36
Translation:
Eleni
Frangatos - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br