August 1, 2003

The Science Involved in a New Book About Transsexuals

To the Editor:

The Chronicle correctly reports that J. Michael Bailey's work on transsexuals is anecdotal and lacks data to back up his assertion that all transsexual women are either homosexual men or male sexual fetishists ("'Dr. Sex,'" June 20). Bailey's unscientific methodology and his resulting unsubstantiated characterizations pose a threat to transgendered individuals, particularly as his book may be used to influence public policy. ... Bailey studiously ignores contemporary