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Don Bessey of Old Orchard Beach is a graduate of the University of Maine and a U.S. Air Force veteran, who served in the Vietnam era.
I understand that there are many — too many — people who prefer that their opinions not be clouded, confused or contradicted by such things as facts and science. Science allows us to understand our world, our universe, our existence, just as mathematics is the language of the universe.
Ignorance and denial of science can, and does, cause pain and suffering in many facets of life. As a simple example, many feel they can defy the scientific laws of physics. This often ends in severe injury or death.
I think this same mentality can be seen in the current debate regarding sex and gender, which is causing unnecessary pain, suffering, and sometimes death, in those marginalized by this kind of thinking.
The terms sex and gender are sometimes considered interchangeable. They are not!
Sex refers to the biological characteristics such as chromosomes and reproductive organs that differentiate individuals from one another. An open mind realizes that we are all “individuals” as different as the snowflakes we reference in poems. Also that our bodies, our minds, change as we grow, learn, experience and mature. We evolve daily, second to second, cell by cell.
There are two primary biological sexes, which so many seem to want to be “law.” The standard “XX” and “XY,” female and male, combinations. The biological reality is very different, much more complex and variable, with many more combinations and multiple pairings that occur and have occurred in nature for as long as we have existed. Science confirms this.
There are XX and/or XY biological individuals who do not develop as expected. There are X, XXY, XXX, XXXY —— on and on, pairs and combinations that occur every day in life. Many of these have serious developmental and emotional consequences. As of 2025, there are at least 40 scientifically documented sex characteristic variants — or Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) — identified in humans.
Recently I heard a young intersex person speak about the pain and discrimination faced in that life. I knew it existed but had not encountered it first hand. I cannot validate the facts, but believe they were honest and truthful. The numbers presented were that there may be more intersex than trans people in the U.S. and that intersex was subject to even more discrimination just for being “born different.”
This individual was born with both female and male genitalia. A life goal was to serve in the military. That was denied.
The main focus of the speech was that sex was “not binary!” The expressed desire was to be considered, accepted and respected as a person. Why would we not do that?!
Gender is totally different from sex, but, of course, may be associated with sex. Gender is a multifaceted concept encompassing a diverse range of social, psychological, cultural and behavioral traits associated with being male, female or many other gender identities. It is not solely determined by biological sex assigned at birth. It includes a person’s internal sense of self, their identity and how they express themselves. It too is individual.
Gender identity and expression is also not new. It has existed as long as history has been recorded and I believe long before. It still exists, and is often revered, not feared, around the whole world today in many societies, cultures and religions.
I believe we should open our minds and learn from this. No one should be denied the right to their identity. How does it hurt anyone if someone else is different? How would you feel if suddenly someone with blue, or brown, or green eyes was inferior? Controlled psychology studies have shown the results are rapid and very negative.
There are obvious issues dealing with sex and gender, and we need to logically and rationally find ways to deal with them. Denial, rejection and discrimination is not the way. It is, or should be, absolutely unacceptable. First we need to dispel our ignorance, to understand and accept biological fact and scientific truth. Then we need to respect each individual for who they are, not who we think they should be.
If, as a whole society, we could do this, stop blinding ourselves with narrow-minded opinions and ideologies, I believe we would see constructive solutions that would enrich us all.
