Feel comfortable in your skin

The changes in Alberta’s Healthcare system marks the first time since it’s inception that Albertans do not have to pay healthcare premiums. The only requirement to receive these benefits is that you must be a resident of Alberta with the intention of staying in the province for a period of no less than 183 days in a 12-month period. This came at a time when our economy began sinking and our government brought in a deficit budget.

The sensible thing to do is to either reinstate premiums or trim the fat off the system. In other words cut back on certain procedures that can be claimed against Alberta Health Care. As it turned out the fat was cut, and two of the procedures that took a hit were to chiropractic treatments and sex-change operations. The logic taken is that other available services are covered that a claimant can take to address symptoms that these two services previously addressed.

This week the Edmonton Journal quoted Kris Wells, of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services as stating, "Ignorance is fuelling the decision. This is a case of sacrificing people's lives. This is a community that has higher rates of suicide, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, because there is so little understanding. Some members of this community report being born in the wrong body, and gender reassignment surgery helps to re-establish that congruency between their biological self and their emotional, inner sense of self .”

The person who is fuelling this recent liberal media hype is a fella by the name of Jamie-Lynn Garvin, who has been living as a woman for the past two years. He is currently on a waiting list for gender reassignment surgery. A surgery he will now have to pay for himself, as he was never approved for healthcare funding.

Let me just get this one out of the way right now… “A big pat on the back for our Minister of Health Ron Leipert!”

Of course, the argument the gay community cite for needing sex-change operations is that they were born in the wrong body. That a “gay-gene” exists that landed them in this situation, They further cite that ‘it is the operation that prevented them from committing suicide.’ They are happy now.

The Edmonton Journal story goes not to say, and I quote, “…as a man, Garvin was a jerk. But as a woman: ‘Wow, you’re the coolest person because you’re so happy.’” So Garvin is living proof that as a woman he is happy, but as a man he was an angry suicidal miserable woman stuck in a man’s body. Oh, wait! He has not had the operation yet!

According to this story, Garvin is now happy but just mad that Alberta won’t pay for the operation. Looks like all he needed was the hormone treatments to quell his misery, and that prescribed medicine is covered by Blue Cross. So, why should you and I pay for an operation that has proven to be unnecessary? Once again, thank you Mr. Leipert!

The onus of society to pay for unnecessary sex-change operations came in July of 1993, when the well respected journal “Science” published a study by Dean Hamer which claimed that there might be a gene for homosexuality. Research seemed to be on the verge of proving that homosexuality is innate, genetic and therefore unchangeable, a normal variant of human nature.

Soon afterward, the liberal media machine trumpeted his hypothesis as proven findings. Newsweek ran the cover story, "Gay Gene?" The Wall Street Journal announced, "Research Points Toward a Gay Gene...Normal Variation." Since these stories hit the newsstands, radio and the talk show circuits, studies have shown that there is no evidence for a “Gay Gene”

When Dean Hamer was asked by Scientific American if homosexuality was rooted solely in biology. He replied: "Absolutely not. From twin studies, we already know that half or more of the variability in sexual orientation is not inherited. Our studies try to pinpoint the genetic factors...not negate the psychosocial factors."

The choice a person makes towards choosing a sexual partner is based on chemistry and social stressors. Your eyes take in a sight, you start to feel kind of funny, and then the pursuit is on. The fact that a homosexual is attracted to someone with the same plumbing is unfortunate. But it is a condition that you either accept or, see a doctor for pharmaceutical or hormone treatment. Toss on a dress, and begin to feel good in your skin. But to ask society to pay to have sexual mutilation surgery is in my opinion, unacceptable.

Unfortunately, this story will not end here. Mr. Gavin will take ‘you and I’ to court under a human rights issue of discrimination. Just like a recent court case, in Ontario that caused that province to pay for sex-change operations, Alberta may see a reversal of Alberta Health’s policy. In the meantime, I have had my say, and I’ll just sit back and zip-it.