Why Gender-Affirmative Therapy?

A Latter-day Perspective

 © Jason Stitt - FOTOLIA

What is Gender-Affirmative Therapy?

Gender-affirmative therapy is the process of helping individuals understand their gender development and assisting them in making choices in accordance with their freely-chosen value systems. The basic premise is that social and emotional variables affect gender identity, which, in turn, determines sexual orientation. The focus of therapy is to help individuals fully develop their masculine or feminine gender identity.

Gender is an essential characteristic of our existence that is both a physical and spiritual designation that we are required and expected to develop. Clinical and scientific resources must be made available to assist individuals in reaching their full potential.

A Latter-day Perspective

Clinical experts often note that homosexuality isn't about sex–it is about relationships. In much the same way, the Latter-day Saint view of homosexuality has far less to do with sexual orientation than it does with a theological view concerning the meaning of gender.

In the 1999 document The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stated, "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." The use of the term gender is intended to have implications far beyond the physical characteristics that designate an individual as biologically male or female. Gender is an eternal role with specific responsibilities and characteristics.

Weekly classes for men, called priesthood meeting, and corresponding classes for women, called Relief Society, include instruction on what are the eternal attributes of gender. Several times each year, the General Authorities and the President of the Church give their direct edification to the members of the Church in a general priesthood meeting and women's conference on their specific gender responsibilities. Members seldom think of these meetings as being related to gender, but the differences in the characteristics the men and the women of the Church are asked to cultivate make the intention of the leaders clear.

Men are expected to cultivate the attributes of fatherhood that include, but are not limited to, presiding in love and righteousness, acting as a provider, and being a protector of those for whom they have responsibility. Women are obligated to cultivate the attributes of kindness, compassion, and nurturing, particularly for children. Both men and women are expected to be chaste, loving, compassionate, and faithful in their obligations toward one another, and by implication toward all the sons and daughters of our heavenly parents.

It is therefore obvious that any thoughts or behaviors that would detract from the cultivation of eternal responsibilities as they apply to gender would be discouraged. Philosophies that lessen the emphasis on marriage as being sacred, fatherhood and motherhood being inseparable, or the suggestion that gender responsibilities are less than eternal in nature could not receive the endorsement of the Church or its leaders.

Ecclesiastical leaders, professional therapists, and counselors should understand that they have an opportunity to assist individuals in their journey toward an eternal destiny. All too often, the counseling emphasis is placed on stopping behaviors that are wrong or controlling thoughts that are sinful. While this may be the easiest suggestion to offer or even the most important priority, unless seeking individuals are taught how to replace these distracting impulses with an appreciation of their value as a child of God, we will in all likelihood fail.

Gender-affirmative therapy has particular importance for Latter-day Saints because it's goal is to help individuals appreciate the eternal nature of gender and assist them in making choices that will be congruent with their value system. Gender-affirmative therapy asks what is available, not what is missing. Gender-affirmative therapy assists clients in their growth process as they seek to become more like the Savior.

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