There is one thing that I would add. In some ways it is a refutation of an implied distinction you make. Both gender identity and reproductive sex are biological. Let me repeat that. Both are biological. so what is a woman? One with reproductive capability or one with a female brain and therefore female identity? I would posit that our sense of self and identity lies in our brains—and it is immutable and therefore defines who we are. just as primary sex characteristics were assumed to be determinative until recently. The difference is that external biology is observable, biological identity is not. Even that is not exactly true. When trans brains are dissected they look like the brains of the genders they identify with structurally. Hard to determine while we are alive. so what else? Neurochemically brain activity and hormonal response can be measured. Trans brains fire like the gender they identify with. A researcher at the Cleveland Clinic is currently testing the response of trans brains to certain stimuli to which men and women react differently. Unsurprisingly, trans brains fire like the gender with which they identify. Gender identity is not only real—it is BIOLOGICAL, just like primary sex characteristics. The one difference? Primary and secondary sex characteristics can be changed; brain structure and operation cannot. I am a post op trans woman (in saying this I am not somehow diminishing the status of other trans women who have not had surgical or medical intervention; their life experience and identity is equally valid as mine.) I am literally indistinguishable from any cis woman in appearance and function when it comes to sexual characteristics. No man can tell the difference; neither can my gynecologist. I have a letter from my surgeon should the issue ever come up, explaining to my gynecologist that no I’m not pregnant, just my HRT creates hormonal levels that mimic pregnancy no matter what her physical exam might suggest.
Bottom lime, my biological gender identity is female and now my biological primary and secondary sexual characteristics are as well. How could you consider me anything but? Let’s get rid of the red herring discussion about reproductive capability. It is irrelevant to the issue. Plenty of women AFAB have never been able to reproduce, and of course no post menopausal woman can either. We do not consider women who have undergone hysterectomies or mastectomies any less female. Reproductive capability is not s differentiating characteristic. Now biological brain structure and operation—that is a different matter.
