A recent 11-hour-operation on sex change at the People's Hospital
of Henan Province, in this provincial capital, was ignored by the
media and the public, compared with the first such operation in
China in 1986, which then made a hit in the country.
The fact is, nowadays Chinese people have become more tolerant of
transsexuals.
According to official figures, there are nearly 400,000
transsexuals in China, and over the past 16 years, more than 1,000
of them have realized their life-time dream to live as their real
selves.
Zhang Zhengwen, of the Zhengzhou hospital explained that prior to
such an operation, the patient must undergo a thorough
psychological examination to make sure that the change will not
adversely affect his or her life or mental health. In addition, the
patient must get permission from the public security authorities,
and his or her family and employer, according to official
regulations.
A
local sociologist said that whether or not a person who has had a
sex change operation can enjoy his or her new life depends on
understanding and care extended by the whole of society, especially
by their relatives.
In
1996, four Chinese transsexuals got married, and are now leading
normal lives.
"The normal lives that these people are leading prove that the
Chinese public has adopted a more tolerant attitude towards
transsexualism," said Prof. He Qinglian, a leading orthopedics
expert.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 8, 2002)