Originally Posted by Gilda

Two problems with this argument. First, leopard isn't on the continuum of human sexuality. Female is. An MTF is already female in her mind; that part of her is already at the female end of the spectrum. Sexual reassignment moves the body and social role along from one end of an already exisiting continuum to the other. The differences between male and female are smaller than the similarities, and most of those can be altered to the preferred form with differing degrees of success.

Second, I don't accept the premise that transsexuals are mutilated or disfigured that is driving the analogy here. It's an irrelevant sidetrack, as the surgery in question did not create a disfigurement and isn't visible. Many younger MTF's will undergo facial feminizaion surgery, which is visible, but which makes them more attractive and feminine in the process. They no longer look like males, but that's precisely the point, and not male =/= mutilated or disfigured.

SRS surgery gives the genitals a different, more pleasing appearance and function for the person having the surgery and, in the case of younger transsexuals, for their partners. The appearance and function of the new genitals ranges from similar to to indistiguishible from those of a biological woman.

Gilda