What is Gender Diversity?

There are a number of different reasons for why individuals may present, or express themselves differently than a culture's norms of masculinity or femininity. Some of these are associated with sexual orientation (e.g. gay) or sex development (DSD/intersex). It's not inevitable that sex non-conforming people experience distress related to their biological sex or sex characteristics. When they do, it's called Gender Dysphoria. 

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Sex non-conformity exists across cultures as an organic variation of personhood. Gender dysphoria, on the other hand, tends to be a culture-bound psychological condition related to poor frameworks or integration of those traits. Gender Dysphoria is rare in environments absent of hostility towards sex non-conformity. For example, in Samoa, where the sex non-conformity of gay men and women is well tolerated and integrated into society, it is unusual for those individuals to experience distress or seek medical interventions. However, they do continue to face discrimination and low social status.

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My primary goal is to help individuals, families, organizations and communities find ways to integrate sex non-conforming persons into their cultures in meaningful, agreeable, safe, and respectful ways.