a few thoughts

I wonder at the origin of the trans movement (beyond the truth that some people are born with very strange genitalia, etc.). I figure it has something to do with conservatives applying pressures to "Be a Man" upon young people growing up under the control of oft authoritarian conservatives. So they then seek out how to "be a woman". i think this happened in the larger gay movement as well. Conservative-type mindsets on this stuff CAN be VERY heavy on some people. That trans people believed in the medical establishment to help buttress this desire (under duress) is also an insight into gays' trust around the AIDs hysteria. Where most gays appear to be uncritically trusting of this alleged science (more business), at great expense to their own ranks (i.e. trusting AZT that later proved to be very very toxic and killing people; i can provide sources for this statement if anyone's inclined). You said: The one anti argument that carries any weight, IMHO, is that we tend to dispose of boys when they pass out of our AOA. If you commit to being there for a boy, you are THERE for a boy even when he turns into a bezitted, annoying adolescent with hair where there didn't use to be any. --- i agree, and the big picture answer to this comes from ancient truths: That in the context of meaningful community/villages STILL INTACT AROUND them, the AOA wouldn't matter so much. As OTHER TBLs would step in. And such would be viewed as quite natural. (Tho i do wonder about the rigidity to pre-pube attraction or post-puberty attraction and wonder what might be the true origins of such!) But of course, we're dealing with a situation in which the meaningful extended family and valuable village has been largely crushed and suppressed and flushed out of the memory of most people, apparently. So how to proceed? i think by bringing up the ancient values every chance we get. What do you think? And, yes, i agree whole-heartedly with your position on LOVING THE HUMAN BEING not just his phase of life. But many (?) maps have been separated from everything but this AOA thing. Their reality is that the attraction has "boiled down to" the "lowest common denominator"; at least until they experience liberation. Thoughtful input invited!