Recently, I gave a lecture to a medical conference in Phoenix. Because President Trump declared that there were only two sexes in the USA, I felt compelled to study and share information that refuted this notion. This is a thumbnail sketch of a huge topic. I’d be happy to share the full presentation and references to interested parties if requested. All over the world, for centuries, there have been people whose sexual identity does not fall into the typical pattern. Many cultures honour them; some despise and kill them.

What is going on?

There has been a world-wide increase of people who identify with being homosexual or transsexual. A Gallop pole from 2022 in the USA showed that 20.3 per cent people born between 1997-2003 identified as LGBTQ, compared to 2.65 per cent of those born between 1946-1964. A study conducted by the CDC of two million people showed an increase from 0.53 per cent in 2014 to .89 per cent in 2023. However, age 18-24 showed an increase from 0.59 in 2014 to 3.08 per cent in 2023. While these numbers are low, it is an increase of 422 per cent! These trends are shown the world-wide. Of those identifying as LGBTQ, 57 per cent were bisexual, 35 per cent were gay or lesbian and 10 per cent transgender. Multiple studies have shown that transgender people experience extreme poverty, unemployment , homelessness, increased risk of HIV, suicide, being bullied and 57 per cent faced family rejection.

Would anyone choose that?

There are many detailed scientific studies that show genetic differences in these people. Forty per cent of the variance in sexual orientation in men is controlled by genes, and 20 per cent in women. Identical twins are more likely to show the same orientation but certainly not all which leads to the conclusion that there is more than DNA causing this. There must be some epigenetic influences that come to play. While our gonads are formed early in pregnancy, sexual orientation develops later, during late second and third trimester of pregnancy. This development is influenced by the action of hormones that transform our brains. There are sexual differences in different areas of our brains. For instance, males have a greater volume of grey matter; females have greater density. Females have greater blood flow, higher connectivity state, better verbal tasks, perceptual speed and fine motor dexterity. Males have better visual spatial and math abilities. The bed of the nucleus of stria terminalis is critical for communication between limbic, hypothalamic and brain stem. It controls male sexual behaviour, aggressive sexual behaviour and gonadal secretion. It is 2.5 times larger in men than in women and transgender male to female. There are many more differences and they show that homosexuals and transgender have volume and connections similar to those of their sexual orientation. Even neurotransmitters that are the chemicals that allow communication between neurons are affected. The effects are more global than just sexual orientation which is why there are also increases in anxiety, autism and ADHD along with the gender dysphoria.

What could have such an influence on pregnant women that the fetus could be so transformed?

The American Endocrine Society sates that there are 85,000 human-made chemicals and at least 1,000 have properties that disrupt normal hormone functioning. There are endocrine disrupting chemicals all around us. We are eating, breathing and touching them daily. It only requires a small amount at a vulnerable time in pregnancy to have a significant effect.

What are these chemicals?

Glyphosphate (Round Up), dioxin, atrazine — commonly used herbicides. In 2016, 6 BILLION pounds were made, likely much more now. BPA, bisphenol A , 5 Million tonnes made annually worldwide, used in plastic, epoxy, canned goods, toys to name a few. PFAS, used in firefighter foam, non-stick pans, cosmetics, textiles, medical devices, cleaning products, is ubiquitous in our environment. Phthalates are in liquid plasticizers, food packaging, cosmetics, nail polish, toys, medical plastics, hair spray and shampoo. These chemicals are simply bad, not only affecting sexual identity, but such things as cancer, asthma, diabetes, gynecologic irregularities, difficulty getting pregnant, polycystic ovarian disease, cancer, thyroid disease, early puberty, autism. And yet, we as a society consume all this unknowingly. It can be measured in our bodies. These are called forever chemicals because they do not breakdown and remain in the environment forever.

So, here we have these innocent fetuses being marinated in these chemicals, developing differently, having a genetic difference and we as a society blame them somehow for having physiologically and anatomically been formed in a way different than the usual. Isn’t it time that we accept them as the whole, innately different and yet wonderful people that they are and could become with more support from an accepting community? Isn’t it time that we seriously develop more stringent standards for the use of chemicals?

Dr. Vicki Holmes is a Saskatoon retired family physician who has a special interest in Palliative Care and Women’s Health. She is passionate about sharing medical information with the public! (Vicki’s Photo: Memories by Mandy)

– Dr Vicki Holmes