In arguing for her transitional surgery, transgender woman accidentally makes case surgery isn't the answer

Last week essayist Andrea Long Chu had an opinion piece published in the New York Times that rocked the transgender and cisgender communities alike. Chu is about to have vaginoplasty, a surgery that will give her a new vagina as part of her process of transitioning from male to female. However, instead of persuading readers of how incredible it will be, Chu admits it may not make her happy after all.

Chu even admits that taking female hormones as part of partially transitioning has made her feel worse. Still, Chu is going ahead with the surgery, and believes the rest of us should support and encourage her, because desire to transition (regardless of results) should trump outcome, necessity, and even science.