CSPP Professor Emeritus Bernardo Ferdman, Ph.D. publishes a poignant response to administration’s proposed transgender policies in the New York Times.

To the Editor:

The Orwellian implications of this move by the Trump administration cannot be overemphasized. It not only denies the existence and humanity of part of the population, but also ignores basic science. External genitalia are but one of many characteristics combining to comprise a person’s sex, and up to 1.7 percent of people are intersex in some way rather than unambiguously male or female.

Gender identity is also complex; for millions of people, it does not match their sex assignment at birth. And, as documented by much research, including work by colleagues and me, transphobia is real and dangerous. This hateful and wrongheaded policy flies in the face of reality, science and democracy. Permitting its adoption would be dangerous for every American, not just transgender people.

Bernardo M. Ferdman

San Diego

The writer is professor emeritus at California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University and a diversity and inclusion consultant.

Original Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/us/politics/transgender-trump-administration-sex-definition.html?module=inline