In my last blog, I discussed what Benjamin’s Syndrome is: a condition in which a person has the sexual organs of the gender opposite of what they are in all other respects. We discussed the fact that often, vaginoplasty is required to give a female born with a penis a vagina instead.
Now that we’ve talked about what Benjamin’s Syndrome is, let’s discuss what it is not.
First, Benjamin’s Syndrome is not homosexuality. Neither is it, by the way, heterosexuality. Just as with any other group of people, they can be gay, straight, bisexual, or even asexual. While this might be obvious to you, many people confuse sexual orientation and gender identity. Who a person is and who she finds attractive are totally different things.
Having said that, it’s true that often, people with Benjamin’s Syndrome will identify with homosexuals, because they share the trait of having an attraction for the gender opposite of that which most of the world things they should. Furthermore, it’s somewhat common for a person with Benjamin’s to change orientation in either direction as they transition to the other gender.
Benjamin’s Syndrome is also not transvestism or cross-dressing / drag. Although there are obvious visual similarities, once you get beyond the shallow similarities, they are actually quite different. A woman with male genitalia has little in common with someone who gets a thrill of wearing the garments of the opposite sex, or with the person who performs on stage in outrageous dress and makeup. In fact, just as with anybody else, those with Benjamin’s Syndrome are likely to be quite happy in t-shirt and jeans. Benjamin’s Syndrome can co-exist with cross-dressing, but they are not the same thing.
As we discussed last time, those with Benjamin’s Syndrome are simply those whose bodies has sent mixed signals. Their sexual organs do not agree with the rest of their body as to what they are. Many women who suffer from the syndrome will never be completely happy until they undergo treatment to make their bodies agree with the rest of them that they are,indeed female. This is only one of many reasons that when this person decides she is ready for the hormone therapy and surgery required to turn her into a female biologically, those who love her must support the decision. To do any less is patently cruel and inhumane.
