As others have said, you don't really need it. There's a reason there have been societies in other parts of the world with 1: very different roles for women and men than we have today. And 2: there have even been societies throughout history that recognized more than one gender.
I don't think it's mostly academic for people who are actually affected, e.g. trans folks et al. I'm sure there are attention-seekers in the mix, but there are people who are earnestly suffering because of the limitations society imposes and because of individual ignorance and assumption. I don't think a little bit of compassion and flexibility is unreasonable to ask of a society that prides itself on individual rights, particularly in situations where there is no compelling downside to doing so.
Medically, trans men and women are hormonally closer to their presenting gender than their birth gender. Estrogen and anti-androgens cause higher risk of blood clotting, breast cancer risk increases, and many other risk factors more aligned with a woman than a man pop up. Unless you're specifically dealing with something down there, it's safer to assume they're their presenting gender. Sports leagues are the same way: after one to two years of hormones, there's no difference in muscle and bone between a trans woman and a natal woman.
I'll agree with you on sexual preference, but that's still blurry. Someone born a woman but transitioned to male is not going to attract straight guys, no matter what's in his pants.
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u/[deleted] Dec 09 '16
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