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A controversial topic, but one that can't be resisted:

Check out this series from 2008 on NPR about gender identity. There are two installments:

Part 1: http://www.npr.org/2008/05/07/90247842/two-families-grapple-with-sons-gender-preferences
Part 2: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90273278

Read or listen to the reports. The first story is about two families seeking two very different forms of therapy for their children with gender identity issues. The second story is about a family considering hormone treatment for their per-pubescent son who identifies as a female. I definitely recommend reading both articles in full.

In a sensitive manner, address at least one of the following things in your response:

1. Considering the fact that the APA defines the psychological "treatment" of homosexuality as unethical, explore the ethical implications of psychologically treating gender identity issues or transgenderism.

2. Given the side effects of the hormone treatments (namely, infertility after "Step 2"), do you feel that a family can ethically make the decision to begin treatment for a child as young as 10 years old? At what age would you consider a child/teen able to say with certainty that they identify with one gender over another?

3. Choose one of the families from the articles and write a response that discusses the struggles that they experience, the options before them, and any opinions you may have about the particular therapies the family is using/considering.

Responses due Sunday, October 2nd.