Monday, August 4, 2008

Word of the Gay: "Turner Syndrome"

"Turner Syndrome" is one of the causes of intersexuality. It occurs in one out of every 2,500 female births and is when instead of two XX chromosomes only one X chromosome is present. In rarer cases if the other X chromosome is present it is not functioning properly.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's similar to my condition, except I had a defective Y chromosome.

Queers United said...

efeminate - what is yours called? how do you feel about it being called a condition? i think intersex is natural and a third sex, and we shouldnt stigmatize people born that way.

Anonymous said...

Mine is called Swyer Syndrome, or Pure XY Gonadal Dysgenesis. I agree with you about it being natural, though I still recognise it as a condition, because I am effectively post-menopausal (as well as being pre-menstrual), and am at a high risk of bone mass density loss. Having said that, I am resisting estrogen treatment because I like my body the way it is.

Andrea said...

Hi. I happen to have Turners Syndrome and I don't feel that it is a cause of intersexuality. We are missing or have a defective x chromasome yes but we produce very little or no hormones of our own and must take HRT. Once we are placed on HRT we develop a chest and have periods. I have been very luck that I have had very few medical issues related to this other then that I can not have kids naturally. We are small (avarage about 4 foot 7). Any questions I would love to answer. Also why do you think it intersexed? I have never thought of it that way at all.

Queers United said...

Hey Andrea,

Welcome, and it's great to have you weigh in, as someone with firsthand knowledge and experience. My guess is that Turner's Syndrome is classified as intersex because any "condition" whereby one is not a fully biological male or female, would get classified into another sex. Many intersex people elect surgery and/or hormones so they can live out their life as male or female, but some choose to remain the way they were made naturally. I guess it is how you want to look at it really, some people even after taking medical steps to align their sex and gender identity still classify as intersex.

Anonymous said...

Look here you don't know what your talking about!!!!!!!Turner Syndrome has nothing to do with being Gay. All yall need Jesus. God made Adam and Eve no Andrea and Eve. I have Turner Syndrome and I am not gay!!!!!!!!!! So shut up!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!1

Queers United said...

Anonymous - I am not suggesting intersexuality has anything to do with being gay. Some intersex people are gay some are straight. Just like you were born intersex, others are born gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or asexual and Jesus loved everybody so maybe you should turn the other cheek rather than espouse your hatred. Especially since you are a minority being intersex you should be more understanding of other gender and sexual minorities.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I was just wondering why you would think TS girls are not fully biological female? I have a young daughter with Turners and she has all the female body parts. Would that not make her female? Maybe I am missing the point.

Queers United said...

Anonymous we tend to view people who are intersex as third gendered, neither male nor female, in their biological make-up. However if her gender identity which is separate from her sex, is female than by all means she should present and be accepted as female.

Anonymous said...

As a woman with Turner Syndrome, I don't agree that it is an intersex condition. Though a typical female has two X chromosomes, the typical human has 46 chromosomes. So, if we're not female because we're missing a chromosome, are we also not human?

Queers United said...

Anonymous - Intersex people are very much human, but Turner Syndrome is considered intersex. You are not 100% male nor female. Your gender identity may be female, and you choose to live as a woman, but your sex which is different than gender seems to be mixed due to TS no?

Anonymous said...

I don't see how a person with Turner Syndrome (45X)'s sex is mixed, exactly. In my experiences with these girls, the second X seems kind of redundant, actually. lol They have all the female internal and external genitalia. Typically, they are often shorter than average and are often infertile due to premature ovarian failure. I was under the impression that you need to have a functioning Y chromosome to develop male anatomy. I guess I always sort of thought that TS girls are female sort of by default since they don't have an active Y chromosome. Having said that, I can see how having a mosaic karyotype of 45X, 46XY could have intersex anatomy, but I wouldn't consider any of the girls I have met with TS intersex at all. I personally feel that not all disorders of sexual development are intersex. Other than the missing X chromosome, what exactly is "intersex" about them? There are some girls with TS who have two X chromosomes with one of the chromosomes messed up somehow. If this is the case, how is this intersex? Who decides what the requirements to be male/female/intersex are, exactly, anyway? I guess I'm just confused...

Anonymous said...

I do agree. What I said was that Turner syndrome is not a cause for being gay. People shouldn't use it as one. That is what I said ,thank You. I have no problem with people who chose that life style ,my problem is when people take something and use it as an excuse.
How could you compare Turner Syndrome to being gay?
Yes God works in mysterious ways. I know that. I just don't think God goes around and pick who in this world is gay. Maybe your the one who need to take it up with God.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see some evidence or proof. Get me some statistics and we will see.

Anonymous said...

I have to say that if the definition for intersex is 'ambiguous' genitalia or a conflict between internal and external genitalia (which IS the definition I have found given in all of my searching), then Turner's Syndrome (except perhaps those with a 45x/46xy karyotype) DO NOT fit the definition for intersex. TS women are essentially post-menopausal. The ovaries either do not produce or quit producing hormones at some point (POF). Those with TS have all of the 'typical' female genitalia, both external AND internal. So, unless you consider all girls and/or post-menopausal women to be intersexed, TS does NOT fit the criteria. Those with TS are FEMALE, inside AND outside. There is no 'intermingling' or confusion AT ALL of either internal or external genitalia.

Queers United said...

It's not simply about genitalia but also about chromosomes.

Anonymous said...

I would like to point out something. I think that people who use God to speak condescendingly to others should be ignored. This person that is so offended didn't actually read what was written and is overly sensitive about a perceived insult (notice I wrote perceived, not real). No one said that she was gay or that her syndrome caused homosexuality, I'm sure causality is not definate in regards to TS and heterosexuality and homosexuality .
Not all people with Turner's syndrome are slow....but many are born with mental retardation. Maybe the issue is that the commenter is slow herself. Maybe she should read what was written before her comment very slowly, then comment after she speaks with someone of intelligence.
By the way...God does not make people gay, straight, retarded, average, black, white, albino, short or tall. Genetics and physiology play a factor whether she likes it or not. We don't have much of a choice about how we came out. For someone who was born abnormal, the commenter has harsh words.

Anonymous said...

I am 37 years old with TS and know many women with TS- I am very offended by the above contention that many of us are mentally retarted-teh vast majority of women with TS are of normal intelligence- however I also take issue with the bigotry of the earlier comments

Anonymous said...

"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31

Anonymous said...

Well I am a 36 yr old swf with turner syndrome and I identify myself as a lesbian and would love to locate other ts lesbians in OK if any one can give me info on a local support group in Okc please email me at radiochik1@yahoo.com or add me on facebook at that same email thank you. And btw I think I was born gay I certainly didn't choose live a life of hate and ridicule where I could walk hand in hand with the one I love or kiss them in public and not get stares and snide remarks.

Anonymous said...

As a TS woman (yes woman, I have a fully functioning vagina, that makes me female) who is also bisexual, I am offended by the TS women here spreading hate. They said nothing about TS being related to sexual orientation. We should be thankful for the awareness spread by this thread.

Also, to the person who said most TS women were mentally retarded, fuck you. Actually talk to a woman with TS and then report back to me.

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