Sure, Ask the Tough Question First

As always I beg you to read the executive order and refer to it multiple times while reading this blog so you can better understand what is or is not going to change for individuals in this country as a result of the Executive Order.  (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/)

First and foremost, there is substantial misinformation and subsequent misunderstanding regarding assignment of sexual identity and gender.  Currently, in the scientific world, assignment of sexual identity is made by medical personnel in conjunction with parents at varying times during fetal development and immediately after birth.

I'm not sure how far back you want me to go but let's start at the beginning, conception.  I'm not going to insult your intelligence by explaining that half of your genetic make-up comes from your mom and half from your dad, but you have to remember mom typically contributes an X chromosomes and dad contributes either and X or a Y.  During embryonic development, prior to approximately six weeks, its a crap shoot to determine if the resulting individual is going to be inherently male (with typical male body parts and able to produce sperm) or female (with typical female body parts and able to produce eggs).  Now when I say that, let me explain that in situations like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) chromosomal and genetic testing can identify before implantation in a mother's uterus which chromosome (X or Y) dad contributed to the fertilized egg.  That kind of testing isn't commonly done when fertilization happens without assistance. 

A fertilized egg is called a zygote. This cluster of cells rapidly divides, forming an embryo within a complex structure known as the blastocyst. When the blastocyst reaches the uterus, it implants in the endometrium–the mucus membrane which lines the uterus. At this point, internal organs and external structures begin to develop. After ten-twelve weeks of pregnancy, the embryo moves into the final stage of development–a fetus. (https://pathfertility.com/the-stages-of-embryo-development/)

Sex differentiation, development of male sex organs or female sex organs externally and internally, is the subsequent complex process regulated by various genetic and environmental causes.  There are 70 different genes located on the sex chromosomes that define a baby’s sex. Throughout pregnancy, exposure to hormones decided by your baby’s genes affect a baby’s anatomy, physiology and even behavior. Up until about week 7, both sexes have what’s known as a “genital ridge”, an identical preliminary set of genitalia that will eventually differentiate to become either male or female sex organs. At around week 7, male genitalia begin to develop when the Y chromosome signals for the start of testosterone production. In girls, the ovaries will first appear around weeks 11 to 12 of pregnancy. And by about week 20, a baby girl will have somewhere near 7 million primitive eggs. That eye-popping number will eventually whittle down to about 2 million by the time she’s born. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/fetal-development/fetal-sex-organs-reproductive-system/) 

So, simple, right?  Everyone is either a male biological being or a female biological being.  NOPE!  There are numerous individuals in this world, in our country and in our neighborhoods who differ from the "typical" pattern of sexual biological development.  Most typically, a female fetus secretes little or no testosterone. Their external genitals remain female-like. They typically identify as female, exhibit girl-like play patterns, develop feminine bone structures and body motion, and exhibit increased empathy, verbal fluency, perceptual speed and accuracy, associative memory, and a sexual orientation toward men.  Most typically, a male fetus secretes testosterone imprinting the brain and causing continued growth of a penis and continued descent of the testis into the scrotum. They identify as male, exhibit boy-like play patterns, develop masculine bone structures and body motion, vocal range, math abilities, and an orientation toward women. 

We all know, however, that we don't all develop the same way.  Since the genitals develop in the first trimester, and the brain becomes imprinted in the second half of fetal development, it is possible for the fetal brain to be imprinted differently than the genitals.  It is also true that sometimes, a baby can have genitalia with some male characteristics and some female characteristics. Some people are born with a mix of male and female biological features (such as a uterus and testicles) that can’t be seen on the outside.

I have a dear friend who when born was identified by doctors and parents as female.  Remember, someone who had girl parts and whose body produced eggs.  She is tall and athletic, absolutely gorgeous.  When she didn't start her period by the time she was a Sophomore in high school her mom became worried.  On gynecological exam her vagina led to no internal female organs.  There was evidence of very early testicular formation but neither those nor ovaries ever developed.  This, not totally uncommon happening is called intersex.  Approximately one in one thousand individuals are intersex individuals.  Sometimes, like my buddy, no one ever realizes the situation until puberty doesn't occur "typically".

These variations can happen randomly and spontaneously during conception. Sometimes it’s due to egg cells, and sometimes it’s due to sperm cells. The variations can also happen due to other causes. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009082581731510X) The changing levels of hormones and proteins during early fetal development send messages that place characteristics along a line between "he's all boy" and "she's all girl". If only the thirty-seven proteins and two hormones mentioned above can vary from high to average to low, there are billions of results that are unique to each individual. As children mature, these hormones and proteins result in human anatomy, gender identity, sexual orientation.  So, the idea that we're all born straight or gay, male or female, masculine or feminine is like opposite ends of a long line of human possibilities. Even though most humans appear clustered near the straight and cis-gender ends of the spectrum, it isn't just male or female.  It's just people being unique and born to be important, respected and protected.