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This article sheds light on the normative dimension of birth registration and explores how birth registration practices intertwine with traditional notions of child care. It shows that, while birth registration may appear a straightforward and factual procedure, it actually rests upon and perpetuates the notion that care 'naturally' stems from gestation and birth, and is by definition maternal. This normative dimension of birth registration becomes especially apparent when trans families and families created through surrogacy are denied registration in line with their lived experience. By delving into two case studies, namely the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's latest case-law on surrogacy and recent cases involving trans birthing men, this article shows that birth registration practices fail to recognise caring relationships in non-traditional families on their own terms. In the context of surrogacy, the understanding of care as 'naturally' arising from gestation and birth downgrades the relationship between the child and the intended mother by requiring her to pursue step-child adoption, despite having cared for the child since birth and sometimes being genetically connected. In a similar vein, birth registration practices tend to (mis)classify a caring relationship between a trans birthing man and his child as 'mother-child', thus rendering trans male care invisible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparison of the applicability, safety, and surgical outcomes of total vaginal NOTES hysterectomy (TVNH) using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, which is considered a natural orifice surgery for hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (HBSO) in virgin transgender men, with conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2019 and 2021. The results of transgender male individuals who underwent HBSO operations using TVNH (n = 21) were compared with those who underwent operations using TLH (n = 62). TVNH was performed in 21 individuals, while TLH was performed in 62 individuals. Patients in the TVNH approach group had a longer operation duration than those in the TLH group (p =.001). Patients in the TVNH group experienced less pain at two hours (5 ± 1.56), six hours (4 ± 1.57), 12 h (2 ± 0.91), and 24 h (1 ± 0.62) postoperatively (p =.001). The postoperative hospitalization duration was shorter in the TVNH group (1.6 ± 1.01) than in the TLH group (2.9 ± 0.5) (p =.001). For the HBSO operation of female-to-male transgender individuals, TVNH, which is completely endoscopically performed, can be preferred and safely conducted as an alternative surgical method to conventional laparoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender minorities disproportionately experience stigma and violence after coming out. This study was conducted to examine how individuals perceive characters identified with various gender identity labels (transgender man, transgender woman, genderfluid, non-binary, cisgender man, cisgender woman), to better understand the effects of these labels on people's perceptions. Student participants (N = 498) were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions and read six vignettes briefly describing characters with the aforementioned identities. Conditions included explicit labels (e.g. 'Mike is a transgender man'), implicit labels (e.g. 'Mike was assigned female at birth, but now identifies as a man'), and no gender labels. Participants then rated each character on 19 different traits/attributes (e.g. 'likable', 'perverted', 'masculine'). All characters were rated more positively when described with an explicit or implicit gender identity label in comparison to the no label control condition. The manipulation of gender labels had little influence on ratings of negative traits. These positive and encouraging results may be partially attributed to the sample which predominantly comprised young, liberal, women and may be indicative of a welcoming university environment for gender minorities. Future studies could further explore this topic by expanding the scope to the larger national population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differences in immune responses between women and men are leading to a strong sex bias in the incidence of autoimmune diseases that predominantly affect women, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS manifests in more than twice as many women, making sex one of the most important risk factor. However, it is incompletely understood which genes contribute to sex differences in autoimmune incidence. To address that, we conducted a gene expression analysis in female and male human spleen and identified the transmembrane protein CD99 as one of the most significantly differentially expressed genes with marked increase in men. CD99 has been reported to participate in immune cell transmigration and T cell regulation, but sex-specific implications have not been comprehensively investigated. Methods: In this study, we conducted a gene expression analysis in female and male human spleen using the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project dataset to identify differentially expressed genes between women and men. After successful validation on protein level of human immune cell subsets, we assessed hormonal regulation of CD99 as well as its implication on T cell regulation in primary human T cells and Jurkat T cells. In addition, we performed in vivo assays in wildtype mice and in Cd99-deficient mice to further analyze functional consequences of differential CD99 expression. Results: Here, we found higher CD99 gene expression in male human spleens compared to females and confirmed this expression difference on protein level on the surface of T cells and pDCs. Androgens are likely dispensable as the cause shown by in vitro assays and ex vivo analysis of trans men samples. In cerebrospinal fluid, CD99 was higher on T cells compared to blood. Of note, male MS patients had lower CD99 levels on CD4+ T cells in the CSF, unlike controls. By contrast, both sexes had similar CD99 expression in mice and Cd99-deficient mice showed equal susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis compared to wildtypes. Functionally, CD99 increased upon human T cell activation and inhibited T cell proliferation after blockade. Accordingly, CD99-deficient Jurkat T cells showed decreased cell proliferation and cluster formation, rescued by CD99 reintroduction. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that CD99 is sex-specifically regulated in healthy individuals and MS patients and that it is involved in T cell costimulation in humans but not in mice. CD99 could potentially contribute to MS incidence and susceptibility in a sex-specific manner. Plain Language Summary: The immune system protects us from bacterial and viral infections and impacts the outcome of many diseases. Thus, understanding immunological processes is crucial to unravel pathogenic mechanisms and to develop new therapeutic treatment options. Sex is a biological variable affecting immunity and it is known that females and males differ in their immunological responses. Women mount stronger immune responses leading to more rapid control of infections and greater vaccine efficacy compared to men. However, this enhanced immune responsiveness is accompanied by female preponderance and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). MS sex ratio varies around 2:1 to 3:1 with a steadily increasing incidence in female MS patients making sex one of the top risk factors for developing MS. However, the underlying biological mechanisms including sex hormones as well as genetic and epigenetic factors and their complex interplay remain largely unknown. Here, we discovered the gene and its encoded protein CD99 to be differentially expressed between women and men with men showing increased expression on many immune cell subsets including T cells. Since T cells are key contributors to MS pathogenesis, we examined the role of CD99 on T cells of healthy individuals and MS patients. We were able to identify CD99-mediated T cell regulation, which might contribute to sex differences in MS susceptibility and incidence indicating the importance to include sex as a biological variable. Of note, these differences were not reproduced in mice showing the necessity of functional research in humans. Highlights: Profiling of differential gene expression between sexes in the human immune system to delineate differential regulations that might impact immune responses. CD99 is genetically but not hormonally regulated on transcript and surface protein level with higher expression in men in healthy individuals as well as MS patients. Confirmation of CD99 as a critical co-stimulatory molecule on T cells, thus having an impact on T cell activation, proliferation and cluster formation. CD99 expression is elevated on T cells in the CSF compared to the blood. In male MS patients CD99 expression on CD4+ T cells from the CSF was lower in comparison to healthy men. Species difference in CD99 expression and its functional role with lack of differential CD99 expression in male and female mice as well as Cd99 deficiency not altering experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmasculine and non-binary individuals frequently experience stigma related to their gender identity, which leads to higher rates of mental health problems in comparison with the cisgender population. This study describes the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) attempts and explores its association with indicators of violence, discrimination, and gender affirmation among people who self-identify within the transmasculine and non-binary spectrum from Argentina. Between May and September 2019, 415 participants completed an online survey. The median age was 23 years (IQR = 19–27). Most of the sample (84.6%) self-identified as transmasculine (e.g. trans man or male) and 15.4% as non-binary. The prevalence of NSSI attempts was high (74.6%). The first attempt frequently occurred during adolescence. NSSI attempts were negatively associated with indicators of psychological, medical, and legal gender affirmation only at the bivariate level. In the final multivariable model, NSSI attempts remained associated with younger age, bullying at school, violence from family members, and sexual abuse. Prevalence of NSSI attempts among transmasculine and non-binary people from Argentina is disproportionately elevated. It is critical to prioritise this population in policies and interventions to prevent this problem from an early age. Such interventions should address discrimination and violence against this community, since these are the factors primarily associated with occurrence of NSSI attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a gamut of sensational issues affecting transgender communities in Malaysia proliferates in academic scholarship and activism reports, and transgender experiences of tragedy and violence are often amplified in the news media, less attention is given to the everyday forms of aggression and vulnerability that transgender people encounter in seemingly innocuous spaces. Guided by a Constructivist Grounded Theory Methodology, I analyse selected narratives of three local transgender men to theorize their experiences of 'oblique hostility' in Malaysia, or subtle and implicit manifestations of discrimination and harassment that threaten to annul their gendered liveability. I argue that these spaces which initially and ostensibly do not target gender normativity for valid accessibility – such as airport x-ray scanners, road blocks and local Roman Catholic ecclesial communities – are actually implicitly grounded in normative gender expectations and thus perpetuate a condition of precarity for transgender men who struggle for recognizability, dignity and security in their everyday lives. My analysis is framed by Judith Butler's ideas on precarity as the consequence of exaggerated and protracted state-sanctioned exposure to vulnerability, and Judith/Jack Halberstam's concept of the bathroom problem writ large, an insightful reference to spatial apparatuses of gendered invigilation that pronounce the (in)validity of gendered lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and asexual (LGBTQA+) young people with disability are known to experience higher rates of harassment or abuse than LGBTQA+ young people without disability. This study focused on participants in Australia and identified factors associated with harassment or abuse among LGBTQA+ adolescents and young adults who reported a disability as well as associations with mental health outcomes. Analyses were conducted from a national survey that included 2,500 LGBTQA+ people who reported a disability and were aged 14 to 21 years. Measures included experiences in the past 12 months of verbal and physical harassment or abuse due to one's sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment or abuse, mental health, suicidality, and sociodemographic traits. Overall, 48.4% of participants with disability reported experiencing verbal harassment or abuse, 12.4% physical harassment or abuse, and 29.7% sexual assault or harassment. In multivariable regression analyses, verbal harassment or abuse was significantly more likely among trans men, participants with an intellectual disability, and those who were "out" to most or all of their family. Physical harassment or abuse was significantly more likely among participants with a physical or sensory disability. Sexual harassment or abuse was significantly more likely among trans women and participants with a physical or sensory disability. Participants who experienced harassment or abuse were also significantly more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months. These findings will assist policymakers and practitioners in identifying contexts linked to a heightened risk of abuse among LGBTQA+ young people with disability and further underscore an immediate need to address and prevent harm in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisexual+ (bisexual, pansexual, queer, attraction to more than one gender) people are at elevated risk for sexual victimization relative to their heterosexual counterparts. Disclosure of sexual victimization and social reactions received upon disclosure can play a major role in recovery following an assault. Using an online survey, the current study examined whether bisexual+ and heterosexual survivors of sexual victimization (N = 657) varied in disclosure of victimization, the type of disclosure (in-person vs. online via #MeToo), and receipt of various social reactions to disclosure in person and online. A chi-square test examined differences in disclosure and differences in types of disclosure (in-person only vs. MeToo across sexual identity). MANOVAS were used to examine whether in-person and online reactions varied across sexual identity. Bisexual+ survivors were more likely to disclose sexual victimization relative to heterosexual survivors. Among those who disclosed, bisexual+ survivors were more likely to disclose in person only whereas heterosexual survivors were more likely to disclose online via #MeToo. Whereas we did not find any significant differences for in-person reactions, we did find significant differences for online social reactions using #MeToo. Heterosexual survivors received higher turning against reactions (e.g., avoided talking to you or spending time with you) and more unsupportive acknowledgment relative to bisexual+ participants. Whereas bisexual+ participants received less turning against reactions and unsupportive acknowledgment during #MeToo/online disclosure, they were also less likely to disclose using #MeToo. Findings suggest that bisexual+ and heterosexual people vary in the way they disclose sexual victimization, and in how they are responded to when disclosing in person and online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender expansive youth, including trans and non‐binary (TNB) individuals, encounter unique challenges in educational contexts, often marked by hostility, exclusion, and discrimination. This research, adopting the social justice youth development (SJYD) framework, aims to investigate the challenges experienced in Italian secondary schools, amplifying the voices of TNB activists. A total of 15 activists (average age 23.8), comprising 5 trans men, 2 trans women and 8 non‐binary individuals, were recruited. Most identified as White Italian, with one of Italian‐African descent and one multiracial. Interviews collected participants' perceptions of barriers and areas for improvement in school contexts. Reflexive thematic analysis confirmed schools as challenging contexts for TNB identities, highlighting critical flaws in the educational system, such as macro‐ and micro‐aggressions, insufficient knowledge among teachers and staff to support gender expansive students, and a tendency to systematically exclude LGBTQIA+ culture‐related content from curricula. Participants reported engaging in individual and collective activism, striving to adapt and transform educational environments into inclusive spaces for gender identity exploration. Activism stemmed from a sense of responsibility to enhance the well‐being and recognition of the TNB community. Practical implications for school community practices and policies, informed by the SJYD framework in dialogue with participants' experiences, are proposed. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender self-identification (transgender) is not permitted in most Asian countries. In Taiwan, individuals recognized as transgender must meet requirements mandated by the Gender Recognition Act. Currently, lifting the requirement for proof of sex-reassignment surgery is pending. The aim of this study was to survey a large sample of Taiwanese to gain a better understanding of the general population's attitudes toward gender self-identification. A self-report survey, entitled "Opinions of Gender Self-Identification," collected demographic information and responses (agree = 1, disagree = 0) to 14 statements about transgender women and women's safety, personal rights, and the law; one statement discussed rights of transgender men to give birth; total scores ranged from 0 to 14. The online survey was distributed to non-government organizations across Taiwan and the Taiwanese islands and was available between April 16 and 30, 2022. Most of the 10,158 respondents were female (77.4%); ages of respondents ranged from 15 to > 65 years. The mean total score was 0.95 ± 2.27, indicating respondents strongly disagreed with support for transgender females; 91.56% disagreed with all statements. Although there were significant differences in scores between parents and non-parents, and those ≤ 35 years versus ≥ 36 years (p <.01), all strongly disagreed with gender self-identification. Given the majority of respondents were females, survey findings should be regarded with caution. Public acceptance of gender self-identification requires support from its residents. Our findings suggest that gender self-identification has not begun to approach even a moderate level of public support among survey respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fear approach is a theorized mechanism of exposure treatment for anxiety-based disorders. However, there are no empirically established self-report instruments measuring the tendency to approach feared stimuli. Because clinical fears are heterogeneous, it is important to create a measure that is adaptable to person- or disorder-specific fears. The current study (N = 455) tests the development, factor structure, and psychometric properties of a self-report instrument of fear approach broadly and the adaptability of this measure to specific eating disorder fears (i.e., food, weight gain). Factor analyses identified a unidimensional, nine-item factor structure as the best fitting model. This measure had good convergent, divergent, and incremental validity and good internal consistency. The eating disorder adaptations retained good fit and strong psychometric properties. These results suggest that this measure is a valid, reliable, and adaptable measure of fear approach, which can be used in research and exposure therapy treatment for anxiety-based disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comprehensive healthcare for patients with gender dysphoria includes access to gender‐affirming hormone therapy. It may cause cutaneous and adnexal side effects, which often affect quality of life, are underdiagnosed, and do not receive timely treatment. The literature on this subject is scarce. The main objective was to identify skin manifestations secondary to hormone treatment in adults with gender dysphoria. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross‐sectional study. A search was performed in the database of patients with gender dysphoria older than 18 years treated at the dermatology and/or endocrinology outpatient clinic of the Hospital de San José de Bogotá in the period 2015–2021. Medical records of patients on hormone therapy with skin manifestations were selected, while patients using other medications as possible triggers were excluded. Results: In total, 85 patients were included, with a predominance of young transgender men (average age was 27 ± 9 years) in whom the main manifestation was acne (87%), followed by androgenetic alopecia and acanthosis nigricans. Transgender women presented more acne, androgenetic alopecia, hypertrichosis, seborrheic dermatitis, and melasma. The majority received treatment, mainly topical therapies. More than half of the patients were treated by the endocrinology and dermatology services. Conclusions: Skin manifestations in patients with gender dysphoria on hormone therapy are frequent, so they should be known and taken into account in the multidisciplinary approach to these patients, which should involve dermatologists. This is the first Colombian and Latin American study focused on documenting skin manifestations in patients with gender dysphoria undergoing hormone therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Using Asia’s first nationwide cohort dataset, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of anti-transgender discrimination and healthcare avoidance and delay (HAD) and examine their associations among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed a two-wave (2020–2021) longitudinal dataset of 190 Korean TGD adults. Anti-transgender discrimination were classified accordingly: experienced at (1) neither wave, (2) baseline (2020) only, (3) follow-up (2021) only, and (4) both waves. We also asked about HAD in the past 12 months at follow-up for both transition-related and non-transitionrelated healthcare services. Multivariate modified Poisson regression was used to examine the associations between anti-transgender discrimination and HAD. Results: Of 190 participants, 102 (53.7%) experienced anti-transgender discrimination at both waves, and 130 (68.4%) reported HAD at follow-up. Compared to those without any experiences of anti-transgender discrimination, those who experienced it in both waves had a 1.78-times (95% CI: 1.21–2.63) higher prevalence of non-transition-related HAD, but not among those who experienced it in either wave. In contrast, anti-transgender discrimination was not associated with transition-related HAD. Conclusion: In order to enhance healthcare access for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals, it is necessary to implement interventions, such as anti-discrimination laws, that protect them from discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Past research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a chronic endocrine condition, has focused on the experiences of cisgender women. Aims: The purpose of the present study was to address the knowledge gap about gender-diverse individuals by exploring their lived experiences with PCOS and to better understand if and how their gender identity affected their experience of PCOS. Methods: To explore this, we recruited nine non-binary people and one transgender man with a PCOS diagnosis for qualitative interviews. Results: Three overarching themes emerged: PCOS as a burden, PCOS as an occasion, and PCOS as a benefit. While some aspects of PCOS created an additional burden for our participants, other symptoms such as excess body and facial hair could be empowering and affirming, revealing a positive aspect of this chronic condition. Conclusion: This study is the first to describe the lived experiences of gender-diverse individuals with PCOS, uncovering burdens as well as some benefits. Future research in this population may reveal not only the particulars of what PCOS is like for them but also more generalizable insights into the highly gendered perception and treatment of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fearless ancient Amazons have been seen as forebears and prototypes by lesbians, feminists, and transgender men. In this introduction, I will explore why the Greek legends of the Amazons lend themselves to such interpretation. Ancient Greek literature details how the Amazons challenged patriarchy, lived without men, and defeated their male enemies, thus setting a precedent that would later be emulated by feminists and lesbians. Though the Amazons are clearly designated as women they are also identified with men in ancient Greek lore; in ancient Greek vase painting, they wear masculine outfits and engage in masculine habits, including fighting and hunting. Thus I will examine the Amazons' gender transgression in ancient Greek contexts in order to understand how and why these myths set the stage for the adoption of the Amazons as role models by later generations of gender nonconformists. I will also briefly examine the history behind those myths, a history which is just as important to lesbian and other queer communities as the myths which it spawned. Finally, I will weave my analysis of the ancient Greek ideology of Amazons with innovative, new research on the reception of the Amazons found in the six other articles that make up this special edition. These essays explore the powerful place of Amazons and Amazon-like women in the imaginaries of peoples ranging from the ancient Romans to modern lesbian feminists, and the importance of historical and legendary warrior women who defied patriarchy and colonialism in locales ranging from the West to Africa to India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Surgery to masculinize the chest is a frequently sought-after procedure by transmen who wish to conform their physical appearance to their gender identity. In our study, the outcomes of surgical masculinization comprising subcutaneous mastectomy through a modified elliptical incision, liposuction, reduced inert nipple–areola grafting, and quilting stitches were analyzed. Materials and Methods Thirty-two transmen with large breasts and hypertrophied nipples and areolae underwent the above-mentioned masculinizing procedure in this prospective cohort study. Our statistically validated institutional aesthetic outcome assessment score (IAOAS) was used to analyze the outcomes at the end of the follow-up period. Results The average period of follow-up was 24.5 months. The average final IAOAS was 23.1. The rate of complications was found to be associated with using breast binders. In all, 22 of 32 patients (68.75%) had an excellent outcome score, while 10 patients (31.25%) had a good outcome score (p = 0.025). Conclusion Top surgery is crucial for transmasculine patients to achieve their desired gender identity as males. It is imperative that this procedure is performed to their complete satisfaction. Our single-staged comprehensive approach of subcutaneous mastectomy and liposuction with reduced inert nipple and areola grafts, which aids in a swift transition to a male role, is a prerequisite for bottom surgery at our institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, transgender persons in Pakistan were granted right for a legal third gender identity, and in 2018 the Transgender Persons (Protection) of Rights Act affirmed transgender people's right for self-perceived identity. Further, gender affirming medical treatments were also legalized to support gender transitioning in transgender persons. The current study was conducted to explore barriers faced by female-to-male (FtM) transgender persons/trans men in accessing gender affirmative treatment for the purposes of gender transition. To achieve the objective, 11 trans men were interviewed who had Childhood Onset of Gender Dysphoria screened through Urdu translated versions of Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults and Recalled Childhood Gender Identity Questionnaire. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted and grounded theory method was used for analysis. Analysis revealed medical, educational, social, legal, religious, financial, and psychological barriers that participants faced during the process of transitioning. Findings are discussed within the cultural context of Pakistan and in light of the existing literature. The findings of this research would help clinicians, academicians, policy makers and other stake holders in raising awareness regarding problems faced by FtM transgender persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of breast cancer in trans men is currently a poorly understood subject and trans men likely carries a different level of risk from that of cis women. Aim: This review aims to review several aspects that affects breast cancer risk in trans men and to apply the Swiss cheese model to highlight these risks. The study takes its cue from a systematic review of all described breast cancer cases in trans men following medical or surgical intervention because of gender dysphoria. Methods: PubMed was systematically searched on the 14th of March 2023 to find all published cases of breast cancer following chest contouring surgery in trans men. Included articles had to involve trans men, the diagnosis of breast cancer had to be preceded by either a medical or surgical intervention related to gender dysphoria, and cases needed to involve invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ. Articles were excluded if gender identity in the case subject was unclear and/or a full English version of the report was unavailable. Quality and risk of bias was evaluated using the GRADE protocol. A literature review of specific risk altering aspects in this population followed. The Swiss cheese model was employed to present a risk analysis and to propose ways of managing this risk. Results: 28 cases of breast cancer in trans men have been published. The Swiss cheese model identified several weaknesses associated with methods of preventing breast cancer in trans men. Clinical implications: This study may highlight the difficulties with managing risk factors concerning breast cancer in trans men to clinicians not encountering this patient group frequently. Conclusion: This review finds that evidence for most aspects concerning breast cancer in trans men are inadequate, which supports the establishment of a risk-management approach to breast cancer in trans men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive longitudinal designs have been increasingly leveraged to examine short-term risk factors for suicidal ideation and intent. Less understood, however, are factors that may increase risk for momentary engagement in suicidal behaviors (i.e., plans, preparations, and attempts). The present study examines commonly cited transdiagnostic suicide risk factors as predictors of suicidal behaviors at the prompt-, day-, and participant-levels using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). A sample of 237 community-based adults at high risk for suicide (Mage = 27.12 years, 61.6% cisgender women) completed six EMA prompts per day for two weeks. Three-level multilevel models, nesting prompts (Level 1) within days (Level 2) within participants (Level 3), were used to examine concurrent and prospective predictors of suicidal behaviors. Several factors, including general rumination (OR = 2.03, p =.049), suicide-specific rumination (OR = 13.88, p <.001), physical distance to suicide methods (OR = 3.09, p =.002), psychological distance to suicide methods (OR = 2.34, p =.042), and life event stress (OR = 1.96, p <.001), were significant prompt-level predictors of concurrent suicidal behaviors. However, no significant day-level or participant-level predictors of concurrent suicidal behaviors emerged. Furthermore, prospectively, there were no significant predictors of subsequent time-point suicidal behaviors at any level. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for the roles of perseverative thinking, lethal means accessibility, and stressful life events as correlates of suicidal behaviors. Notably, however, these findings also highlight the difficulties in predicting future suicidal behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: The reported case was the fourth instance of MF‐FM transsexual non‐twin siblings, and their father had pedophilia. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether there is a genetic link between gender dysphoria (GD) and pedophilic disorder. Gender dysphoria (GD) refers to a persistent incongruence between a person's experienced gender and assigned gender, causing discomfort or distress. Family studies and reports of GD co‐occurrence in a family can help clarify whether GD is a familial phenomenon. In this case report, a male‐to‐female (MTF) and female‐to‐male (FTM) transsexual sibling pair with a father with pedophilia was presented, which is a rare occurrence. More research is necessary to understand the potential genetic connection between GD and pedophilia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hil Malatino's book, "Side Affects: On Being Trans and Feeling Bad," explores the negative emotions often associated with trans cultural production and experience. The book delves into various trans-specific affective experiences, such as fatigue, numbness, envy, rage, and burnout, and examines how these experiences shape trans individuals. Malatino emphasizes the importance of understanding the messy and complex aspects of transition, challenging normative structures of feeling. The book also addresses topics such as disorientation, envy, rage, burnout, and the intersections of race, gender, and class in the medical industry's limitations on transition. "Side Affects" offers a valuable contribution to feminist, queer, trans, and affect studies, providing a foundation for understanding and analyzing trans embodiment and day-to-day traumas. [Extracted from the article]

Seeking and receiving social support following violent and abusive relationships is a complex process, involving a range of barriers for anyone. LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence face additional barriers to both seeking and receiving appropriate help, yet few studies have explored the way these barriers are navigated from the experiential viewpoint. Knowledge of the subjective journey to access social support may help improve social work practice with LGBTQ people leaving abusive relationships. This study explored the lived experiences of support-seeking through in-depth interviews with LGBTQ survivors of IPV in Sweden (n = 7, age range 18–56). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used for interview design, conduct, and analysis to offer a detailed, first-person, and contextual account of the support-seeking process. Drawing on a phenomenological analysis of lifeworlds, five main themes were produced which illuminate some of the shared experiential features of participants' journeys to access support. Within each main theme, the analysis also highlights divergences relating to participants' differing lifeworlds. The analysis thus provides an in-depth, phenomenological understanding of the support-seeking process, including the barriers to, but also the individual and social enablers of, seeking support. Support-seeking processes for LGBTQ survivors of IPV may, at the experiential level, be more diffuse than current theoretical models suggest, with relational 'strategies of navigation' being of primary concern to individuals. For policy and practice, the importance of the wide range of generic professionals, who may be the first point of contact, should be emphasised, as well as the role of family and friends as a support and catalyst in the support-seeking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a methodology of reaching in historicity. It does so by tracing the technical object of synthetic testosterone as it has been used by trans people for gender affirming care. To show the usefulness of the method, this article employs it first in relation to mentions of synthetic testosterone in the South African Medical Journal as a primer to understanding its relationship to the state and the law in South Africa from 1963 to 2003, reaching an apex in the Cape Town Transsexual/Transgender Groups advocacy for self‐identification, much of which hinged on the role of synthetic testosterone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The memoir of Kenan Çinili, a transgender person who was widely covered by newspapers in Turkey in the second half of the 1930s, sheds light on the historically and geographically unique workings of cisheteronormativity. Through a self‐reflexive reading of the memoir and newspaper accounts from this period, this article explores how a narrative transgender subjectivity emerges from the appropriation and negotiation of tropes, figures and discourses that make this subjectivity intelligible. Through the use of the medium of photography, which exposed and spectacularised gender nonconformity, Kenan was able to performatively embody and visually present a masculine gender identity. However, the space Kenan created for narrative and visual self‐constitution was conditioned by their privileges based on class, urban–rural hierarchy, ethnicity and normative sexual dimorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I contextualise and explain the restriction of what I term 'trans potential' in later hagiography on the Spanish visionary abbess Mother Juana de la Cruz (1481–1534). The first written work on Juana included a functionally transmasculine narrative (Juana passed briefly as a man) and a functionally transfeminine narrative (God miraculously feminised the previously male Juana prior to her birth, leaving her with an Adam's apple). In later works, the transmasculine narrative appears significantly modified, and the transfeminine narrative does not appear at all. These textual reformulations, I conclude, are most legible within the framework of transmisogyny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masculinity studies has been slow to explore trans men's lives including how trans masculine embodiments are represented in the media. In this article, we examine how the masculinities of trans men are represented in the context of sport through two issues of two print magazines specifically targeting trans men audiences: The Jock Issue of Original Plumbing and The Sport Issue of FTM Magazine. Through combining body-reflexive practices and gender as a social structure in our trans gaze framework, our multimodal critical discourse analysis reveals that trans masculinity is presented as hegemonic, diverse, reflexive and subordinated within the micro, meso and macro levels of social life. As trans people continue to experience social marginalisation that adversely impacts on their health and wellbeing, how they are represented within the media – particularly by those media specifically targeted towards them – is important to examine and recognise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been limited empirical study allowing athletes to voice their opinions on transgender participation in elite sport. This study surveyed 175 national, elite and world class athletes eligible to compete in the female category regarding transgender inclusion and eligibility. The study compared current Olympic versus current Olympic Recognised sports, elite versus world class, and current versus retired Olympic sport athletes. Most athletes favoured biological sex categorisation (58%) and considered it unfair for trans women to compete in the female category, except for precision sports. This view was held most strongly by world class athletes regarding their own sport (77% unfair, 15% fair). For trans men inclusion in the male category, most athletes considered it fair, except for Olympic sport athletes regarding contact sports (49% unfair, 27% fair) and sports heavily reliant on physical capacity (53% unfair, 29% fair). Notwithstanding those views, athletes (81%) believed sporting bodies should improve inclusivity for transgender athletes. Opinion varied somewhat according to career stage, competitive level and sport type. Nevertheless, athletes in the present study favoured categorisation by biological sex and did not support trans women eligibility for the female category in sports reliant on performance-related biological factors that differ between sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans people face numerous barriers to access and permanence in health services, which makes it difficult, among other things, to know about their quality of life and satisfaction with health services related to these users. Thus, the objective was to describle the quality of life and satisfaction with pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in transgender people. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted between January and September 2022 at a specialized outpatient clinic for transgender individuals. The following aspects were describle: sociodemographic and medication profiles; quality of Life, which was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire; and levels of satisfaction with Pharmacotherapeutic Monitoring, assessed through the Pharmacy Services Satisfaction Questionnaire (QSSF). Descriptive analyses employed measures of central tendency, absolute and relative frequencies, while inferential analyses used the Student's t test. A total of 101 transgender individuals participated in the study, with a mean age of 25 years, the majority being single (79.2%/80), having more than 11 years of education (47.5%/n = 48), and comprising 48.5% (n = 49) transgender women. Hormone use was reported by 59.4% (n = 60) of the participants, with 18.3% (n = 11) of self-medication. Testosterone cypionate was the most common hormone used by transgender men (84%), while cyproterone acetate and estradiol represented 60.4% of hormone use among transgender women. Additionally, 36 transgender individuals were taking other drugs (n = 60), mainly antidepressives (28%). The WHOQOL-BREF showed higher scores in the domains of self-rated Quality of Life, and physical, and psychological well-being among transgender women compared to transgender men, but without statistical differences. Income revealed a statistically significant association with psychological domains and overall quality of life. The results of the QSSF indicated that the overall mean and average scores per question were higher than 4, suggesting that 100% of the sample was satisfied with the provided service. No statistically significant differences were observed in the Quality of Life between transgender men and women, but income was associated with the psychological domain and overall Quality of Life. All participants reported satisfaction with the Pharmacotherapeutic Monitoring service; however, there is a need to expand service offerings, such as medication dispensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transgender men (TM) seeking gender-affirming phalloplasty and transgender women (TW) seeking vaginoplasty and desiring insertive intercourse must consider penis size. Evidence has shown that, at least among cisgender men (CM), penile dimensions tend to be poorly estimated. In transgender patients desiring gender-affirming surgery, inaccuracy in estimation of penis dimensions may lead to unnecessary morbidity: for TW, trauma to the neovagina; for TM with excess girth, an inability to insert. Studies on the accuracy with which transgender and cisgender patients estimate penis size are limited. Aim: To assess the degree of accuracy with which CM and CW, as well as TM and TW, visually estimate the size of the human penis, including length, width, and girth. Methods: There were 142 participants included (25 TM, 47 TW, 30 CM, and 40 CW; net mean ± SD age, 36.6 ± 11.2 years). Participants were shown these models and asked to estimate length, width, and midshaft girth by visual inspection of 6 realistic models of a penis and scrotum of varying lengths and widths. We evaluated the accuracy of the visual measurements by comparing mean perceived dimensions with the actual dimensions of each model. Outcomes: We used a multivariate model of all 3 bias dimensions to test for differences in average bias among gender groups (CM, CW, TM, and TW). Results: TM significantly overestimated length across the longest models. TW significantly overestimated length in the longer 3 models. All groups except for TM significantly underestimated girth in at least 1 model. No groups significantly underestimated width. CM, CW, and TM significantly overestimated width in all 6 models. Clinical Implications: When transgender patients use numbers to express penis size (either in neophallus or vaginal depth based on perceived partner size), the result is likely to be larger than expected. Use of realistic penis models as a decision-making tool may help manage patient expectations and surgery decision making preoperatively and improve postoperative patient satisfaction and safety. Strengths and Limitations: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess visual estimation in penis size in TM and CM, as well as TW and CW. The penile models in our study were shown side by side and in the flaccid state despite having dimensions more consistent with an erect penis, which may have influenced estimations across all dimensions. Conclusion: Men and women (cisgender and transgender) tend to significantly overestimate penis length and width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auditory attribution of speaker gender has historically been assumed to operate within a binary framework. The prevalence of gender diversity and its associated sociophonetic variability motivates an examination of how listeners perceptually represent these diverse voices. Utterances from 30 transgender (1 agender individual, 15 non-binary individuals, 7 transgender men, and 7 transgender women) and 30 cisgender (15 men and 15 women) speakers were used in an auditory free classification paradigm, in which cisgender listeners classified the speakers on perceived general similarity and gender identity. Multidimensional scaling of listeners' classifications revealed two-dimensional solutions as the best fit for general similarity classifications. The first dimension was interpreted as masculinity/femininity, where listeners organized speakers from high to low fundamental frequency and first formant frequency. The second was interpreted as gender prototypicality, where listeners separated speakers with fundamental frequency and first formant frequency at upper and lower extreme values from more intermediate values. Listeners' classifications for gender identity collapsed into a one-dimensional space interpreted as masculinity/femininity. Results suggest that listeners engage in fine-grained analysis of speaker gender that cannot be adequately captured by a gender dichotomy. Further, varying terminology used in instructions may bias listeners' gender judgements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a patientreported outcome measure for gender incongruence specific to voice and communication parameters, including pitch, intonation, resonance, loudness, speech smoothness, speech clarity, word choice, facial expression, gesture, and posture. Method: The Utah Gender Presentation Scale for Communication (U-GPS) includes 10 items, each on a 10-point scale from masculine to feminine. Items were selected based on literature review and patient focus groups. During test administration, respondents provide their current rating and goal rating for each item. The difference between these scores is used to calculate an overall incongruence score. Prospective data from transgender and gender-diverse (n = 155) and cisgender (n = 69) individuals were then used for a multiparametric psychometric evaluation of the measure. Results: Findings demonstrate excellent levels of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha for current scores: α = .943; Cronbach’s alpha for goal scores: α = .970), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .905), longitudinal validity (improvement in therapy for trans women: F = 293.0, p < .001; nonbinary folx: F = 80.9, p < .001), concurrent validity (correlation with the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire: r = .51, p < .001), and known-group expectations (differences among five gender groups: F = 82.7, p < .001). Conclusion: The U-GPS is a meaningful measure of voice-related gender incongruence, which is clinically relevant for assessing goals in gender-affirming voice and communication therapy for individuals across the gender spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines differences in score profiles on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth in a clinical setting. Data were collected from youth receiving services at a gender care clinic in the Midwestern United States. Inclusion criteria were youth that identify as transgender, nonbinary, or another gender-diverse identity label between the ages of 6 and 18 and received services between October 2017 and November 2021. The analytic sample (N = 177) included 51.4% transmasculine, 17.5% transfeminine, 22.6% nonbinary/gender-expansive, and 8.5% questioning youth. 88.1% of youth were White. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared differences in mean T scores when using male versus female scoring templates for YSR and CBCL separately. Statistically significant differences were found on the majority of scales, particularly for TGD adolescents. For example, significant differences were found on the YSR for 10 of 11 scales for transmasculine and transfeminine youth ages 11–18 and 9 of 11 scales for nonbinary/gender-expansive youth. McNemar's test revealed significant differences in the number of clinical range scores for transmasculine YSR respondents on Anxious/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Thought Problems, and Internalizing scales. For CBCL comparison of clinical significance, significant differences were found for Anxious/Depressed, Attention Problems, and Total Problems scales for transmasculine youth ages 12–18. Selecting a scoring template is contextually relevant; however, template selection appears to matter less when examining clinical relevance. Results suggest that clinicians using the CBCL and YSR with TGD youth have flexibility in scoring template selection. Public Significance Statement: When using screening measures with transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth to assess for mental health challenges that only have binary (male or female) scoring templates, like the Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report, scoring template selection does impact scores but does not result in large clinical differences. Clinicians using these screeners with TGD youth have flexibility on which scoring template to use, including scoring with both templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body image is consequential for overall well-being and has a complex relation to gender. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals develop body image amid intersecting systems of oppression, such as sexism, cisnormativity, heteronormativity, and gender binary pressures. This study used an intersectionality framework to examine how various aspects of gender identification (cis/trans, binary/nonbinary, woman/man identification) related to body image differences among SGM individuals. We also assessed whether identification with conventionally masculine and feminine personality traits predicted body image. We used one-way and two-way ANOVAs and linear regressions to analyze two indicators of body image (body appreciation and drive for muscularity) in a sample of 643 SGM individuals (148 sexual minority (SM) cis women, 171 trans women, 121 SM cis men, 43 trans men, 160 nonbinary individuals). Results implicated cisnormativity as an influential and hierarchical force for body image, although woman/man and binary/nonbinary identification also played roles in group differences. With a few exceptions, masculine but not feminine trait identification significantly predicted body appreciation and drive for muscularity, indicating a complicated association with overall body image. These findings underscore the value of an intersectional lens for analyzing how broad social forces may manifest in individual-level body image for SGM individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans and gender-nonconforming people sometimes say that certain gender norms are authentic for them. For example, a trans man might say that abiding by norms of masculinity tracks who he really is. Authenticity is sometimes taken to appeal to an essential, pre-social "inner self." It is also sometimes understood as a moral notion. Authenticity claims about gender norms therefore appear inimical to two key commitments in feminist philosophy: that all gender norms are socially constructed, and that many domains of gender norms are both morally and prudentially bad. I argue that that this apparent tension is illusory. Concordant with existing trans narratives of authenticity, I articulate an existentialist view that understands authenticity as a socially embedded, constructive project undertaken in a non-ideal social world, rather than a reflective uncovering of a pre-given, essential self. I then show that authenticity and morality can come apart; what is authentic for someone need not be either morally good or good for them. I conclude that the authenticity of gender norms does not cut against the feminist commitments that I identify. This conclusion enables a theoretical space that is both respectful of trans experience and critical of dominant gender norms, an important liberatory goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Men in Place: Trans Masculinity, Race, and Sexuality in America" by Miriam J. Abelson is a book that explores the experiences of trans men living in different regions of the United States. Through interviews with sixty-six trans men, Abelson examines how race, sexuality, and class shape their understanding of masculinity in rural, urban, and suburban spaces. The book highlights the concept of "Goldilocks masculinity," a hybrid form of masculinity that reflects a receptivity to feminist, queer, and antiracist critiques while still reinforcing gender, racial, and sexual inequality. Abelson also addresses the ways in which whiteness, class, and heteronormativity intersect with masculinity, and emphasizes the importance of collective resistance to challenge systemic power relations. [Extracted from the article]

The history of marriage and family therapy includes various ways to map families. This pilot case study aimed to fill the gaps in research concerning the use of maps in therapy while also introducing a new concept in Internal Family Systems (IFS) of a structured formalized way to create maps with clients. Using a qualitative method, the researcher presented therapy sessions with one established IFS client using the Internal Relational Illustration (IRI) method. The goal of this case study was to show the effectiveness of IRI in clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans men often face discrimination in the hiring process. However, it remains unclear whether the disclosure of gender identity and perceived masculinity during transition play a role in first impressions and perceived job suitability of trans male applicants. Across two studies (N = 332), we examined how cisgender heterosexual participants perceived a transgender male candidate in terms of his masculinity and whether they judged him suitable for a stereotypically masculine job. Such judgments were first based on the candidate's voice at different stages of gender transition and, secondly, after disclosure of gender identity in the job application form. In Study 1, participants judged a trans man at the beginning of the voice transition (3 months on testosterone) or a trans man in advanced transitioning (1 year on testosterone). Study 2 involved the judgments of the same trans men at different times in the voice transition (1 week—beginning, 6 months—intermediate, and 1 year—advanced). Masculinity judgments were influenced by voice transitioning, but judgments were adjusted after his gender identity was disclosed. Disclosure created an advantage in perception of the trans man candidate as more suitable for the role, especially when he was at the beginning of the voice transition when his voice was not perceived as masculine. Findings are discussed in relation to trans men's employability and identity disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This exploratory quantitative study examined college students' social-psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: The sample included 1,723 students (undergraduate and graduate) at a public research university. Methods: Paired samples t-test were utilized to compare students' social-psychological well-being pre-pandemic, at the start of the Fall 2020 semester, and toward the end of the Fall 2020 semester. Regression analyses were utilized to identify predictors of students' social-psychological well-being at the start and toward the end of the Fall 2020 semester. Results: Students experienced a significant decrease in social-psychological well-being pre-pandemic to the start of the Fall 2020 semester and most had not returned to pre-pandemic levels toward the end of the semester. While demographics, housing arrangements, and course modality impacted social-psychological well-being, they only explained a small percentage of the variance in students' well-being. Conclusion: Students continued to experience low mental well-being during the Fall 2020 semester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans individuals routinely experience discrimination. In this study, thirty-nine couples consisting of a trans partner and a cis male partner from the San Francisco Bay Area were interviewed about their relationship. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and reviewed for accuracy. Guided by grounded theory, coders began thematic analysis until inter-coder reliability was achieved. Further qualitative coding produced several codes, two of which are focused upon here: namely, discrimination and support. This study highlights discrimination at the institutional level, such as being denied housing and employment, and at the interpersonal level, such as experiencing harassment from strangers and exclusion from queer community spaces. Trans individuals reported becoming desensitised to discrimination, moving to safer geographic locations, and acknowledged cis or straight passing as a privilege and a prevention tactic against discrimination, although this sometime left participants feeling their gender had been invalidated. Although most trans individuals sought support from their cis partners, some cis partners reacted with violence to discrimination, provoking the situation's severity and upsetting their trans partner. Transphobic discrimination is widespread, and it is crucial for frontline health and other service providers to understand the impact it has on both trans individuals and trans/cis couples, and for agencies to offer resources to support these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore trans men's access and use of healthcare services in Chile, based on the experiences of the trans men themselves, as well as of healthcare professionals. Methods: A qualitative study with an ethnographic approach was carried out with 30 participants: 14 trans men and 16 healthcare professionals. Semi‐structured one‐on‐one interviews with open‐ended questions were used to collect the data. A thematic analysis was carried out with the NVivo Software. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) failures in the recognition of trans identity, (2) challenges with patient‐centered care, and (3) use of other ("non‐trans") health services. Conclusions: The results suggest that not all transition processes are the same, individuals seek different ways; therefore, it is necessary to consider different body types and identities when planning programs and care for men in transition. Moreover, the accompaniment provided during the gender transition process should contemplate emotional and mental support. Clinical Relevance: The study outlines the need for all healthcare professionals to have training and knowledge about the transgender population, regardless of whether they are part of the teams supporting gender transition processes. The role of nurses and the contributions that can be made from nursing discipline in this research field are fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender identity refers to the consciousness of being a man, a woman or other condition. Although it is generally congruent with the sex assigned at birth, for some people it is not. If the incongruity is distressing, it is defined as gender dysphoria (GD). Here, we measured whole-genome DNA methylation by the Illumina © Infinium Human Methylation 850k array and reported its correlation with cortical thickness (CTh) in 22 transgender men (TM) experiencing GD versus 25 cisgender men (CM) and 28 cisgender women (CW). With respect to the methylation analysis, TM vs. CW showed significant differences in 35 CpGs, while 2155 CpGs were found when TM vs. CM were compared. With respect to correlation analysis, TM showed differences in methylation of CBLL1 and DLG1 genes that correlated with global and left hemisphere CTh. Both genes were hypomethylated in TM compared to the cisgender groups. Early onset TM showed a positive correlation between CBLL1 and several cortical regions in the frontal (left caudal middle frontal), temporal (right inferior temporal, left fusiform) and parietal cortices (left supramarginal and right paracentral). This is the first study relating CBLL1 methylation with CTh in transgender persons and supports a neurodevelopmental hypothesis of gender identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) is to change an individual’s sexual orientation, not necessarily gender identity. Given that sexual orientation is a distinctly different construct than gender identity, sexual conversion therapy methods may be different for transgender individuals, and the impact may also be different. This qualitative multiple case study (N =4) investigated the experiences and impact of SOCE on transgender individuals in the Midwest using a phenomenological approach to develop the common meaning of a concept based on individuals’ shared lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data on participants'’ experiences of having undergone SOCE, and these data were used to uncover and describe cross-cutting themes. Participants identified the following as influences for having undergone SOCE: transphobia in the household environment, residence in a gender-normative environment, and religiosity in interpersonal relationships. The methods used by religious practitioners and those practicing reparative therapy; included electric shock therapy, electric shock on genitals paired with homosexual stimuli, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. The immediate negative impacts of SOCE included feelings of inauthenticity, pretend acceptance of their biological sex, and conformation to gender norms. Lasting effects included loss of faith, lack of trust, sexual dysfunction, and negative self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family communication plays a key role in children's body image, disordered eating, and full-blown eating disorders;. However, much existing communication research on eating disorders has focused on general populations. As the LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately affected by eating disorders , more work is needed to better understand how family communication may be perceived as influencing eating disorders in the LGBTQ+ community. Thus, the current study aimed to further this understanding by examining familial memorable messages reported by LGBTQ+ individuals which they perceived to have influenced their eating disorders. In a Qualtrics survey, participants (n = 73) provided memorable messages received from family members and explained their significance. Results of a thematic analysis indicate five themes among the memorable messages: Problematic Body Size/Weight, Pathologized Eating, Emphasizing Appearance Ideals, Emotion Origins, and Other Focus. Findings support the theory of memorable messages and reveal the ways in which diet culture and LGBTQ+ identity stigma intersect within parent-child communication toward a perceived influence on LGBTQ+ eating disorders. Implications for future communication research on LGBTQ+ eating disorders, as well as practical applications, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we draw on cultural cisgenderism to analyse the sporting experiences of trans men in Iran. Utilising semi-structured interviews with twelve trans men in different stages of transition, we consider their experiences of women's sport environments, the extent to which cisnormativity is embedded into the culture, and whether their gender identities are accepted. We found that essentialist understandings of sex and gender are evident in sport environments, with gender presentation policed by others, and expectations this should align with ascribed biological sex. While some interviewees' masculine expressions were valued, others were considered 'too masculine' to be eligible to participate in women's sport spaces; this led to restrictions around appearance and clothing, alongside instances of compulsory hormone testing. Finally, for those who were 'out' about their gender identity, this often led to hostility from others, including coaches, teammates, and spectators. Overall, this paper provides a critical understanding of trans inclusion in sport spaces in Iran. However, the findings may be useful for anyone working to make sport more accessible, regardless of geographical location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has made rulings on three cases involving transgender rights, force-feeding in prisons, and the treatment of individuals with mental disorders. In the first case, Georgia was found to have violated the Convention by denying transgender men legal gender recognition due to a lack of clear legal procedures. In the second case, Ukraine was found to have violated the Convention by force-feeding a prisoner without sufficient medical necessity or legal regulations. In the third case, Denmark was found not to have violated the Convention by readmitting a person to a psychiatric ward as part of their treatment sentence. These rulings emphasize the importance of clear legal frameworks and respect for human rights in different contexts. The text also discusses two separate cases before the ECHR, one involving allegations of medical negligence and the other related to the state's presumed failure to protect the right to informed consent to a surgical intervention. [Extracted from the article]

Religion and spirituality for transgender and gender expansive people (whom we refer to collectively as trans) are complicated by mainstream religions' history of stigmatizing and marginalizing sexual and gender minorities. We conducted an interpretive content analysis of biographical interviews with 88 trans older adults from across the United States, applying six tenets of spiritual psychotherapy to their life narratives. Our findings suggest that some trans older adults' spirituality is experienced both implicitly and explicitly. Implicit spirituality reflects the ways in which meaning, purpose, and connection in one's life are nurtured with respect to one's gender identity. Explicit spirituality reflects the process of consciously renegotiating one's spiritual beliefs and religious practices to validate one's gender identity and place in society. This knowledge is potentially helpful for gerontological social workers who seek to nurture trans people's spirituality and well-being as they age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on understanding the reproductive biology of Pinctada margaritifera, commonly known as the black-lipped pearl oyster, which holds significant economic importance due to its production of Tahitian cultured pearls. Research conducted in Mabahiss Bay, the Red Sea, Egypt throughout 2022 provided crucial insights into the reproductive cycle of P. margaritifera. The species exhibits protandric hermaphroditism, transitioning from male to female during its growth. Shell sizes inversely correlated with sex distribution, with a sex ratio of 1.05: 1.0: 0.1 for females, males, and undifferentiated individuals, respectively. The study identified a distinct spawning phase from June to October, peaking in July and August. Analyses of gonad index fluctuations in females and males provided additional understanding of reproductive dynamics. Among the methods tested to stimulate spawning, hormones and gonad stripping yielded positive results. The research also delved into the timing and early development stages of eggs and larvae of P. margaritifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender has been of explicit analytical interest in sociology for decades. Despite its centrality to the field, "gender" eludes conceptual specificity in significant ways, such as lacking distinction between gender category (identification as a man, woman, nonbinary, etc.) and gender status (the state of being cisgender or not). I contend that the cisgender status is a rich site of interpersonal and institutional power that has been understudied. This work forwards the concepts of gender category and status as analytical tools to help explore key elements of gender interaction and structure, such as cisness. I argue cisness must be teased out via the express distinction between gender category and status, and I provide empirical evidence from 75 interviews with various gendered actors (i.e., cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender men, transgender women, nonbinary individuals) to demonstrate the applied purchase of my findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]