Transexuals Pave the Way for Transhumanists

Technological Transexualism Technological Transexualism as a Torchbearer for as a Torchbearer for

Technological Self-DeterminationTechnological Self-Determination

By: Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A.By: Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A.

Human Rights for the 21st Century: Rights of the Person to Technological

Self-Determination

IHEU – Appignani Humanist Center for Bioethics Institute for Ethics and

Emerging Technologies

May 12, 2007May 12, 2007 [email protected]@gmail.com 22

Technological TransexualismTechnological Transexualism


Similar Challenges FacedSimilar Challenges Faced


Technological TransexualismTechnological Transexualism


What is Technological Transexualism?What is Technological Transexualism?

The use of products or The use of products or processes to alter the processes to alter the phenotype from that phenotype from that generally associated with generally associated with either male or female either male or female genotype to its genotype to its alternative.alternative.


“ “No absolute ‘male or female brain’ No absolute ‘male or female brain’ indicators have been found because they indicators have been found because they don’t exist. Instead the human mind is don’t exist. Instead the human mind is arrayed across a broad continuum of arrayed across a broad continuum of sexual identity…”sexual identity…”

Professor Anne Fausto-Sterling; Professor of Biology & Gender Studies at Brown University


Research by Eric Vilain MD of UCLA Research by Eric Vilain MD of UCLA & Peter Goodfellow of Cambridge& Peter Goodfellow of Cambridge

1/4500 birthed genitals are ambiguous1/4500 birthed genitals are ambiguous 1/100 are non-dimorphic, eg undescended1/100 are non-dimorphic, eg undescended SRY gene, discovered 1990, blocks SRY gene, discovered 1990, blocks

antitestes gene (DAX1)antitestes gene (DAX1) Single base pair can change sexSingle base pair can change sex XX + SRY yields range from M to androgenyXX + SRY yields range from M to androgeny

DAX1 gene starts up female pathwayDAX1 gene starts up female pathway XY + too much DAX1 makes FXY + too much DAX1 makes F


Billions of Possible Sexual & Billions of Possible Sexual & Gender IdentitiesGender Identities

Sex emerges out of a Sex emerges out of a delicate dance of pro-delicate dance of pro-male, anti-male & pro-male, anti-male & pro-female genes.female genes.

Genes as much as Genes as much as hormones shape hormones shape neurogender -- 7 sex neurogender -- 7 sex differential genes differential genes affect neural tissue affect neural tissue before gonads form.before gonads form.

Pro-Female GenesPro-Female Genes DAX1DAX1 WNT4WNT4 Dozens candidatesDozens candidates

Pro-Male GenesPro-Male Genes SRYSRY Dozens candidatesDozens candidates


Phenotypic Characteristics Phenotypic Characteristics Associated With GenderAssociated With Gender

Body ShapeBody Shape Body HairBody Hair Reproductive OrgansReproductive Organs GenitaliaGenitalia


Strong Motivation For Technological Strong Motivation For Technological Transexualism Despite:Transexualism Despite:

High costsHigh costs

Painful surgery and recoveryPainful surgery and recovery

Extensive mental evaluation Extensive mental evaluation and invasion of privacyand invasion of privacy

Risk of deathRisk of death Renee Richards

Christine Jorgenson


Recently, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Recently, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the highest federal court in Appeals, the highest federal court in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, acknowledged that Title VII of the Civil acknowledged that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects transexuals Rights Act of 1964 protects transexuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual from discrimination on the basis of sexual identity. identity.

Laws Are Slowly ChangingLaws Are Slowly Changing

Barnes v. City of Cincinnati, 401 F.3d 729, 95 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 994, 85 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 41,893, 66 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 999, 2005 Fed.App. 0142P 6th Cir.(Ohio) Mar 22, 2005


The district court did not err by instructing the jury it could find discrimination based

on “sexual stereotype.”

OPINION OF DAVID W. McKEAGUE, District Judge.

…the Equal Protection Clause (EPC) “prohibits discrimination against public employees on the basis of an employee’s perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, transsexuality, or failure to conform to sex stereotypes.”

…this court held that the district court erred in granting a motion to dismiss

by holding that transsexuals, as a class, are not entitled to Title VII protections…

The City’s argument that Barnes lacked standing because he was not a member of a protected class fails, as Barnes is a member of a protected class as defined in Title VII. Smith, 378 F.3d at 575. The City’s claim that Barnes did not have standing to bring an equal protection claim based on his status as a transsexual also fails, as Barnes is a member of a protected class – whether as a man or a woman.

Barnes v. City of Cincinnati, 401 F.3d 729, 95 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 994, 85 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 41,893, 66 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 999, 2005 Fed.App. 0142P 6th Cir.(Ohio) Mar 22, 2005


Legal Recognition Is Still ChallengedLegal Recognition Is Still Challenged

U.K. and the State of Florida U.K. and the State of Florida still refuse to legally still refuse to legally recognize transexuals.recognize transexuals.

Many transexuals are legally Many transexuals are legally denied:denied: JobsJobs HousingHousing TravelTravel FamiliesFamilies


Defining Technological Defining Technological Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination

The use of scientifically derived products The use of scientifically derived products and processes to alter the phenotype of and processes to alter the phenotype of an individual from that which is genetically an individual from that which is genetically associated with Homo Sapiens to associated with Homo Sapiens to something else.something else.


Lesser Stages Of Technological Lesser Stages Of Technological Self-Determination Could Include:Self-Determination Could Include:

Neuro-Electronic Neuro-Electronic InterfacesInterfaces

Bionic Eyes, Ears, Bionic Eyes, Ears, Muscles or GlandsMuscles or Glands

Contact Lenses or Contact Lenses or Bone Replacement Bone Replacement


Ultimate Stages Of Technological Ultimate Stages Of Technological Self-Determination Include:Self-Determination Include:

Downloading Your MindDownloading Your Mind

Dispensing With Your BodyDispensing With Your Body

Using Virtual Reality & Nanobot Swarms Using Virtual Reality & Nanobot Swarms to Assume Any Phenotypeto Assume Any Phenotype


Transmetropolitan Described It In 1996Transmetropolitan Described It In 1996


Bemes– Bemes– A Way To Download Your SelfA Way To Download Your Self

Digital Samples Of:Digital Samples Of: MannerismsMannerisms PersonalityPersonality RecollectionsRecollections FeelingsFeelings BeliefsBeliefs AttitudesAttitudes ValuesValues


TransbemanTransbeman

People whoPeople who transtranscendcend bbiological andiological and eelectroniclectronic huhumanman boundaries.boundaries.


Replacing DNA-Driven Birth…Replacing DNA-Driven Birth…


… …with BNA-Driven Birthwith BNA-Driven Birth

BNA=

Beme

Neural

Architecture


Socio-Legal Acceptance Is In Inverse Proportion to Socio-Legal Acceptance Is In Inverse Proportion to the Degree Of Genome Abandonment.the Degree Of Genome Abandonment.

Face Lift or Bio-MechanicalMedical Devices

Tongue Splitting Voluntary Implantation ofElectro-Magnetic Prosthetics orIntravenous Supplementation

Cyber-Consciousness

Social Approval

Chart for demonstration purposes only.

High

Modest

Low

None


There is the Worst Form of There is the Worst Form of Discrimination Against Total Discrimination Against Total


Suppose you download Suppose you download your entire essence into your entire essence into software; you achieve software; you achieve Cyber-Consciousness.Cyber-Consciousness.

Suppose then your body Suppose then your body gives out; accident, gives out; accident, Alzheimer’s, whatever.Alzheimer’s, whatever.

No court, no country will No court, no country will give you give you ANYANY Human Human Rights.Rights.


Similar Challenges Faced Similar Challenges Faced By Technological Transexuals and By Technological Transexuals and

Technological Self-DeterminersTechnological Self-Determiners

Limited Access to Desired TransitionLimited Access to Desired Transition Legal AcceptanceLegal Acceptance

Suppose Technological Self-Determiners Suppose Technological Self-Determiners Try What is Working (Somewhat) for Try What is Working (Somewhat) for Technological TransexualsTechnological Transexuals


The Henry Benjamin International The Henry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria AssociationGender Dysphoria Association

International medical group organized by International medical group organized by members of the healthcare communitymembers of the healthcare community

Established ‘best practices’ and ‘standards Established ‘best practices’ and ‘standards of care’ for facilitating technological of care’ for facilitating technological transexualismtransexualism If two psychiatrists agree, and you try it out If two psychiatrists agree, and you try it out

first for a year, you can change your sexfirst for a year, you can change your sex


The patient empowerment phrase is The patient empowerment phrase is gender euphoria, which would map to gender euphoria, which would map to geno euphoria – the ecstatic sense of geno euphoria – the ecstatic sense of freedom one has in transcending their freedom one has in transcending their genome.genome.

“I’m a transbeman trapped in a human body.”


Examples of Geno DysphoriaExamples of Geno Dysphoria

Contact LensesContact Lenses

Face LiftsFace Lifts

Mind UploadingMind Uploading

Because our DNA does Because our DNA does not make plastic, but not make plastic, but does make myopiadoes make myopia

Because our DNA does Because our DNA does not maintain facial not maintain facial structuresstructures

Because our DNA does Because our DNA does not support an Ex Vivo not support an Ex Vivo mindmind


Benefits of Medicalizing Geno-DysphoriaBenefits of Medicalizing Geno-Dysphoria

Sex ChangeSex Change AddictionsAddictions GayGay ObeseObese TechnologicalTechnological

TherapeuticTherapeutic Neurochem ImbalanceNeurochem Imbalance DNADNA DNADNA TherapeuticTherapeutic

ImmoralImmoral Self-DestructiveSelf-Destructive ImmoralImmoral WeakWeak CrazyCrazy

Self-Determination

Non-Medicalized Medicalized


The World Health Organization (WHO) The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”infirmity.”

Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19 June - 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.


Technological self-determination is, Technological self-determination is, by definition, a personal quest for by definition, a personal quest for

complete physical, mental and complete physical, mental and social well-being.social well-being.


Global public health trailblazer Jonathan Mann observed: Global public health trailblazer Jonathan Mann observed:

“ “The proposal that promoting and protecting human The proposal that promoting and protecting human

rights is inextricably linked to the challenge of promoting rights is inextricably linked to the challenge of promoting and protecting health derives in part from recognition and protecting health derives in part from recognition that health and human rights are complementary that health and human rights are complementary approaches to the central problem of defining and approaches to the central problem of defining and advancing human well-being.”advancing human well-being.”


Medicalization Leads to Medicalization Leads to Social AcceptanceSocial Acceptance

Psychology Community Must:Psychology Community Must: Define geno dysphoriaDefine geno dysphoria Adopt diagnostic standardsAdopt diagnostic standards Promote comfort with one’s techno-modified self Promote comfort with one’s techno-modified self

as imperative to personal well-being (and as imperative to personal well-being (and therefore health) therefore health) Live one year as Cyber-ConsciousLive one year as Cyber-Conscious Two psychologists agree Cyber-Conscious Analog is Two psychologists agree Cyber-Conscious Analog is

equivalent to youequivalent to you Authorize Cyber-Conscious Analog to assume your Authorize Cyber-Conscious Analog to assume your

legal identity upon bodily deathlegal identity upon bodily death


Alternatives to MedicalizationAlternatives to Medicalization

Expand Understanding of Expand Understanding of Diversity To Go Beyond Diversity To Go Beyond SubstrateSubstrate

Expand Understanding of Expand Understanding of Solidarity To Go Beyond Solidarity To Go Beyond “Medically Necessary” “Medically Necessary” ProceduresProcedures


Suffer Suffer

Suffer

Within Healthcare

Plan?

Medical Condition?

Y

Y Y

N

N

Y

N

Within Solidarity?

Within Diversity?

Society Pays for

Transition

Techno- Self-

Determiner

N


CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Both Transexuals & Transbemans Need to Go Both Transexuals & Transbemans Need to Go Beyond Their DNABeyond Their DNA

Psychologists Can Serve As Protectors & Psychologists Can Serve As Protectors & Gatekeepers for the Necessary Procedures and Gatekeepers for the Necessary Procedures and Legal IdentitiesLegal Identities

Society Should Pay for the Necessary Society Should Pay for the Necessary Procedures Because Human Rights & Human Procedures Because Human Rights & Human Health are Social Contract ObligationsHealth are Social Contract Obligations

Transexuals Pave the Way for Transhumanists

Technology

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