(A Freak Of Nature,
Born At A Time Prior To DNA Testing)
The only term that was known, as far as I was ever told, was
that I was an Open Birth, meaning I had ambiguous genitalia, that I
could not be identified by the people who examined me as either a male or a
female. These people were a Catholic Sister and a Veterinarian, both in a small
western town, dealing with a premature and abandoned miscarriage.
This was a condition ascribed to the youth and/or illness of my
biological Mother at the time of my birth. In certain conversations discussing
me, I had overheard this on various occasions. I recall that I was stripped
naked many times and exhibited to other adults. As a small child, from age 2-4,
I remember that I enjoyed being the center of attention and awe and speculation
by adults.
The man I knew as Dad was, I believe, related to me. Whether he
was, in fact, my biological parent is unknown. His sibling and a younger sister
were suspected to be in an incestuous relationship. My genealogical research indicates
that my genetic condition existed in the family. Two of three
"brothers" immigrated from Germany and came to America. The youngest
was listed as the "wife" of the older sibling on passports and ship
manifests. German/Gypsy/Native American lineage, I have reason to believe,
carried my rare DNA karyotype. Research is continuing at this time.
True Hermaphrodite
I am one of several types of true hermaphrodites. The
XXXY (mosaic) karyotype is extremely rare. One
theory of the cause of my own condition has a lot of support. It maintains that
two ovum were produced simultaneously in my mother and the eggs fertilized
independently as maternal twins. During gestation the eggs merge into a single
fetus, one ova was destined as male the other as female.
My understanding is that sometimes both ova might well have been male XY or
female XX, in which case the child would have both distinctive DNA chromosome
karyotypes, a XY/XY or a XX/XX (mosaic).
These people would appear perfectly male or female unless some medical
situation required a chromosome karyotyping. That is an unusual procedure. How
many are like this is unknown, as few are tested. They, like me, would have two
separate chromosome karyotypes, similar to Siamese Twins sharing one body to
varying extents. It is also my understanding that present fertility drugs today
may make this condition much more common. In my case, my karotype is XX/XY,
hence I have characteristics of both male and female.
Confusion and Abuse
I was given a boy's name and a separate girl's name by my "Father"
and his wife, my "Mother," with two birth certificates. Neither was
recorded at the time, but awaited a future decision. Eventually, I was
"recorded" later as a male, but called by an ambiguous nickname of a
comic strip character, a child that no one knew what sex the child was, which
was fitting (from Barney Google).
I was left "as is" awaiting further physical
development. From the age of four to sixteen years old, I was sexually,
physically and mentally abused by several members of my own family. Then I was
able to stop the most invasive abuse by choosing to be a male, at age fifteen,
accomplished by taking massive doses of testosterone to effect secondary male
sexual characteristics. ( Deeper voice, body and facial hair, that allowed me
to pass as a male.)
If you refer to the sexual abuse
links, you may get some idea of the traumas caused by this abuse. The
intersexual condition caused me to be abused by both "normal" sexes.
Something seemed to drive others to experience their sexual fantasies, with me
as the unwelcome recipient. Personally, all I derived was pain, frustration,
and fear of failing to please those I was dependent on as a child. I suffered
extreme feelings of guilt when I learned what these acts were.
Not Everything Bad
Not all of my life was bad or sad. Many parts were humorous, as
I kept my own sense of humor, much of which was due to my masquerade as a macho
male, as I perceived and played that role in many all-male environments, ie:
military, jails, and prison. I never succumbed to a male/male relationship, due
to inhibitions and prior abuse by homophobic males. Actually, the only way I
could even have a homosexual relationship would be to have sex with another
like myself (not likely), so homophobia is not an issue with me.
In public, I have been, in all respects, a male heterosexual.
And like many real males, I've felt woefully inadequate for much of that time.
I had several advantages as a partner: insight, companionship, and
communication, and my own desire for lengthy foreplay.
Although inadequate, I was married for eighteen years to two
"normal" women. However, when I revealed my condition (to the extent,
I was aware of it), they reacted first with disbelief for a few years, then
rejection, as they had homophobic reactions, social concerns with "their
being bisexual," worries about themselves being gay. Both sought
"normal" affairs while married, unable to accept me as is, and mostly
unable to deal or cope with their own sexuality .
A Good Parent
Having raised three children alone through pre-teen and teenage
years (11 years), I can appreciate the problems of single parenting. With two
girls, I discovered the bias and prejudices of a male dominated school system.
With 90% of discretionary funds expended on male sports activities, I resented
and fought the system on behalf of my daughters, and my son, feeling he too was
being brainwashed into participating in aggressive sports.
No one that knows me could fault me on my parenting skills. The
idea that a gay, lesbian or gender dysphoric person is unfit as a parent for
"normal children" is ludicrous! My own children never knew my
intimate identity, until a local laboratory gossip leaked my DNA tests results.
The two oldest have not changed and support me, however, my youngest daughter
(15) was teased at school and chose to go live in another state with my
ex-wife. They are all heterosexual as far as I know, but perhaps they are more
tolerant of others, having known, loved and respected me.
More Information on Hermaphrodites
For those who want to know more about the strange disassociated
life I led, and my own traumas, I can recommend a book, Herculine Barbin: Memoirs of a French Hermaphrodite.
Herculine was raised as a female in convent surroundings. I felt the trauma and
the emotions expressed in this book as my own. It is sad that there has been so
little difference in public tolerance. Much has remained unchanged since 1838.
My own book "Masquerade," is being edited as I write
this. Perhaps it will make a little difference in public attitudes, and assist
some lost soul who feels like a lonely outcast, as I did, to perhaps accept
themselves better and find out they're not alone. Hopefully, others can find
acceptance and be themselves, live a productive life, beyond a sick social
preoccupation with pseudo-gender differences, associated sex and hate crimes
and stop the reactionary response habits to childhood traumas.
As you look through my site, I hope you'll think about these
questions:
- Can we heal the mindless wounds we and others have inflicted on us, for the
crime of being different outside than we are inside, by divisive and false
social conditioning?
- Are we not all the same ambi-gendered children of the universe, residing in
some arbitrary physical form?
- Who's agenda is furthered by dividing us?
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