In the past couple of years, a topic that has gained overwhelming attention in the media is whether or not there are more than two genders. Based upon scientific truths and a moral standpoint, I believe there are no more than two, but I also respect the contrasting opinions of others.

Men and women are born with 46 chromosomes. The first 22 are the same in men and women. These are called autosomes. The 23rd pair of chromosomes is what determines sex, these differ between men and women. The 23rd pair for men is XY, while for women it is XX. The argument that there are more than two genders is based on a birth defect. For men, it is called Klinefelter Syndrome. According to Genetics Home Reference, this is a pretty common defect (1 out of 500 male children born) that occurs when a man’s sex chromosome count is XXY. Women have a similar defect with their 23rd chromosome pair. According to MedlinePlus, this defect is far less common (1 out of 20,000 female children born). It is called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) which means a woman’s sex chromosome is XY. Both of these defects affect both genders. According to Emory Health Science, these defects have lasting impacts on the reproductive system, not allowing either men or women to have offspring.

Whether or not you are born with one of those defects, men and women produce different hormones. Men produce testosterone, while women produce estrogen, progesterone, and a small amount of testosterone. For a man or a woman to become “transgender” and for their bodies to make the opposite sex’s hormones, they must choose to undergo hormone therapy.

Men will be injected with exogenous estrogen which will give men feminine characteristics. They will also be injected with anti-androgens which suppress testosterone to give them less masculine features. Women will be injected with exogenous testosterone to give women more of a masculine look and to suppress feminine characteristics.

Your body does not do this naturally.

It is a choice to undergo hormone therapy. Whether or not you go through this process these hormones are just giving you characteristics of the opposite sex. They do not change your biological makeup therefore does not change your sex  

Even though science backs the claim that there are only two genders, it is still your right as an American, protected by the First Amendment, to identify as whatever you please. However, it is also anyone’s First Amendment right not to agree with or recognize that there are more than two genders. But, some do not feel that you have this right.

In 2015, New York City’s Commission on Human Rights released new guidelines stating that if an individual uses the wrong preferred gender pronoun for another person they could face fines up to $250,000. California as of February 2018 has adopted the same regulations.

This is absurd.

In reality, they are being fined for hurting someone’s feelings. Rules and regulations like this go against what the First Amendment is supposed to protect.

As Americans, we live in the freest country, and anyone deserves the right to express themselves; whether you are for or against this claim, both opinions warrant a voice and both deserve the right of free speech and freedom of expression.