This was an interesting program aired recently on the BBC, although homosexuality is illegal in the Muslim state the program highlighted that gender realignment is not as it is seen as a disease that can be cured. It highlighted the work of one such clinic that carries out more than 400 genders realignment surgeries every year, over half the cost is paid for by the Iranian government.

What struck me was the strong identification with feelings and emotion and the fact that they felt that some how God made a mistake he had in fact put them into the wrong body. I feel female why am I in a male body; I am attracted to men so God must have made a mistake came the reply from one interviewed. Or that if I was a woman then I would be treated with respect, no one would hassle me and I would not be stopped in the streets

The situation with the women was more complicated the feeling that the Islamic laws were too restrictive, if I was a man then things will be all right life will be so much easier. If I was a man then I could have a good job and spend the money as I wish. I will be free.

This strong identification with the body and the feelings that if only I have a change in body then the problems found in life will be solved; could it be that simple? Could God have made a mistake as some state?

The surgeon highlighted several things?

He described the surgery that it is like going to hell, you are ripped apart what you are and who you are is taken out.
Your life problems are not solved each gender brings it’s own unique problems, happiness is not found in changing how you look.
That for those who changed their sex to male that this causes many more problems, it is not so easy to attract a mate and to find a well paid secure job is not easy and keeping a family is not an easy business.
That for those who changed their sex to female that they will have to follow the Islamic laws set out for women. You become an object of desire.
Ultimately although you will look like the sex you desire or feel you should be you will never be able to procreate you will never really be the sex you wish to be nor have the deep sensations felt if you were born that sex.

So for those who had the surgery did they find happiness? Sadly NO.

The problems for some were solved up to a point for others a nightmare and regret at ever having the surgery. The happiness they thought would come by having the gender realignment was not totally found, and for some the profound realisation that God had in fact not made a mistake.

For me the saddest point of the program was were one explained that now he was a she that her body was just being sold from one man to another just to pay the bills; this done by a short marriage arrangements permitted under Islamic Law. This reduced be to tears, the problems of identifying so closely to the body had caused so much heartache.

For me the answer to the problems that were faced by those interviewed and who were seeking answers, although through the radical means of surgery can be found in Vadic Wisdom that says:

Everyone is hankering for happiness because by nature we are happy: änandamayo ’bhyäsät. As spirit souls we are naturally happy, blissful. But we are suffering because we have been covered by five gross material elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—and three subtle material elements—mind, intelligence, and false ego. Materialists, identifying themselves with these coverings, seek satisfaction through these gross and subtle elements of the body. In other words, they simply seek sense gratification, the happiness of the body. In the material world everyone is working hard only for this happiness. Some people try to be happy by gratifying the physical senses, and some try to be happy by gratifying the mind in such pursuits as art, poetry, and philosophy. But neither gross nor subtle sense gratification can give us real happiness, because real happiness belongs to the soul. And we actually see that although people are endeavoring throughout the whole world for bodily comforts, for sense gratification, they’re not happy. They cannot be happy, because the basic principle of happiness is missing.
DWT 1: What is Dharma?

Our happiness does not come from what Gender we are, what gender we feel we should be. Nor on what we feel would lesson the restrictions put on us be society, but simply the realization we are spirit souls, then we can truly find happiness.