Archives o f Sexual Behavior, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1978
DEDICATION
Charles L. Ihlenfeld, M.D. Harry Benjamin Foundation for the Study of Gender Identity, Inc., New York, New York 10023
It seems fitting to me that this Fourth International Conference on Gender Identity be dedicated to Dr. Harry Benjamin, who single-handedly taught us all, directly or indirectly, that we should be here. His were the pioneering observations and efforts that called the attention of the medical community to the legitimacy of the transsexual's dilemma. It was he who listened while others scoffed. He showed compassion where others heaped abuse. He crowned his career by unlocking the door to an area of study that has the most profound implications for our understanding of human nature. From whence came this Harry B e n j a m i n ? F r o m Berlin where he was born 90 years ago, January 12, 1885. From the University of Tubingen, where he was graduated cum laude in medical studies in 1912. From the hand of Fate, which after a visit to the United States in 1913, by a matter of a single half hour, prevented the ship carrying him home from clearing English waters at the outbreak of World War I and thus returned him to us. From a study group in 1916, which under the direction of Dr. Joseph Fraenkel, explored the possible function and meaning of the ductless, or endocrine glands, a full i0 years before the Journal of the American Medical Association published its first article on the use of thyroid hormone. From Professor Eugen Steinach, who in Vienna in the 1920's observed the restorative effect of vaso-ligation on older men and laid the foundation for the later use of hormonal replacement therapy in the aging. From the City College of New York, where, as consulting endocrinologist in the 1930's, he helped arrange financial 243 0004-0002/78]0700-0243505.00/0 © 1978 Plenum Publishing Corporation
244
Ihlenfeld
support for Funk and Harrow who succeeded in the first isolation from human urine of a biologically active androgen. From gerontotherapy, a term which he gave to the medical lexicon to describe his work of reactivation in a geriatric practice. From Alfred Kinsey, who referred a transsexual person to him a quarter of a century ago because Kinsey felt that only Harry Benjamin could help with that person's problem. From the thousands of transsexual people who have been afforded dignity in their search for selffulfillment and peace in the succeeding years. And,finall~ from each and everyone of us whose lives, both personal and professional, have been enriched and broadened immeasurably by our understanding of his teaching and our appreciation of his humanity. Harry Benjamin has been a persistent pioneer. His first visit to the United States in 1913 was to continue work on a new treatment for tuberculosis. With Dr. Steinach in the early 1920's, he observed hormonal effects resulting from the cross-gender transplantation of gonads in the laboratory. He helped many older people to healthier and happier later years from the 193Ors on with his innovative use of hormones in the geriatric population. And, of course, he took on the entire medical establishment when he began to work positively with the transsexual patient. As pioneer, he was a bit of a maverick. Because he was willing to work with methods and medications which were new, he often found himself questioning medical traditions and traditional medicine. Working independently as a private practitioner, he none-the-less applied scientific judgment and personal integrity to all that he did. Harry Benjamin has been a teacher. In 1921 he delivered his first scientific lecture on an endocrine subject at the New York Academy of Medicine. The subject was the work of Dr. Steinach. The location, incidentally and interestingly, is now the site of the Princeton University Club of New York, where on the evening of January i0, 1975, a large group of his friends gathered to pay him tribute on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday celebration. In 1953 he gave the first scientific lecture on transsexualism before the Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy in New York City. In 1954 he was one of the charter members of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, an
Dedication
245
organization which now has a world-wide membership of persons concerned with sexologic knowledge. In 1963 he coauthored PROSTITUTION AND MORALITY. In 1966 he published the first serious book on transsexualism, THE TRANSSEXUAL PHENOMENON. This book brought many patients their first ray of hope and taught many professionals their first lessons about the subject of gender identity. Over the years, he has made many eontributions to the scientific literature. And today, at age 90, Harry Benjamin will share with us here some of what he has learned. I would like in closing to say a few words about at least some of what Harry Benjamin has meant to me because he has had a profound influence on my life. Harry has taught me perspective. He is living history. He has seen Bismarck and Buffalo Bill. He has talked with Freud. He has viewed Caruso's vocal cords. He was 53 years old when I was born. Whenever I feel harried and frustrated by the press of time, I pause, reflect on Harry, and relax. With luck, there will be time. Whenever I find myself taking the conveniences of modern life and modern medicine for granted, I think of Harry. He has told me about horses and carriages and kerosene lamps. He treated infectious diseases before penicillin. He practiced sexology before the development of psychoanalysis. But these are minor compared to what he has taught me by his example. I have learned that, in his words, "Our emotions are the very essence of life and they are indeed the source of all that make life worth living. But for science and logic, they are bad companions." (I) All of us working with transsexuals have learned that these patients need treatment that in its methods is totally alien to our own feelings and desires, but which in seeking fulfillment of human potential represents the highest good to which we can aspire. Thus, Harry Benjamin has taught me to listen to my patients with dispassionate compassion and then to utilize both myself and my resources in these patients' best interests. Finally, Harry has taught me to search within my own
246
Ihlenfeld
life for truth, just as I try to help others to do. And he has taught me to free that truth not only for myself, but also for others who may choose to take an example from me. Harry Benjamin is a great man. It is with pleasure, rare privilege, and great humility that I dedicate this Fourth International Conference on Gender Identity to him. REFERENCE Benjamin, Harry: An echo of and an addendum to 'For sake of morality ~. Medical Journal and Record, August 5, 1931.
DEDICATION
Charles L. Ihlenfeld, M.D. Harry Benjamin Foundation for the Study of Gender Identity, Inc., New York, New York 10023
It seems fitting to me that this Fourth International Conference on Gender Identity be dedicated to Dr. Harry Benjamin, who single-handedly taught us all, directly or indirectly, that we should be here. His were the pioneering observations and efforts that called the attention of the medical community to the legitimacy of the transsexual's dilemma. It was he who listened while others scoffed. He showed compassion where others heaped abuse. He crowned his career by unlocking the door to an area of study that has the most profound implications for our understanding of human nature. From whence came this Harry B e n j a m i n ? F r o m Berlin where he was born 90 years ago, January 12, 1885. From the University of Tubingen, where he was graduated cum laude in medical studies in 1912. From the hand of Fate, which after a visit to the United States in 1913, by a matter of a single half hour, prevented the ship carrying him home from clearing English waters at the outbreak of World War I and thus returned him to us. From a study group in 1916, which under the direction of Dr. Joseph Fraenkel, explored the possible function and meaning of the ductless, or endocrine glands, a full i0 years before the Journal of the American Medical Association published its first article on the use of thyroid hormone. From Professor Eugen Steinach, who in Vienna in the 1920's observed the restorative effect of vaso-ligation on older men and laid the foundation for the later use of hormonal replacement therapy in the aging. From the City College of New York, where, as consulting endocrinologist in the 1930's, he helped arrange financial 243 0004-0002/78]0700-0243505.00/0 © 1978 Plenum Publishing Corporation
244
Ihlenfeld
support for Funk and Harrow who succeeded in the first isolation from human urine of a biologically active androgen. From gerontotherapy, a term which he gave to the medical lexicon to describe his work of reactivation in a geriatric practice. From Alfred Kinsey, who referred a transsexual person to him a quarter of a century ago because Kinsey felt that only Harry Benjamin could help with that person's problem. From the thousands of transsexual people who have been afforded dignity in their search for selffulfillment and peace in the succeeding years. And,finall~ from each and everyone of us whose lives, both personal and professional, have been enriched and broadened immeasurably by our understanding of his teaching and our appreciation of his humanity. Harry Benjamin has been a persistent pioneer. His first visit to the United States in 1913 was to continue work on a new treatment for tuberculosis. With Dr. Steinach in the early 1920's, he observed hormonal effects resulting from the cross-gender transplantation of gonads in the laboratory. He helped many older people to healthier and happier later years from the 193Ors on with his innovative use of hormones in the geriatric population. And, of course, he took on the entire medical establishment when he began to work positively with the transsexual patient. As pioneer, he was a bit of a maverick. Because he was willing to work with methods and medications which were new, he often found himself questioning medical traditions and traditional medicine. Working independently as a private practitioner, he none-the-less applied scientific judgment and personal integrity to all that he did. Harry Benjamin has been a teacher. In 1921 he delivered his first scientific lecture on an endocrine subject at the New York Academy of Medicine. The subject was the work of Dr. Steinach. The location, incidentally and interestingly, is now the site of the Princeton University Club of New York, where on the evening of January i0, 1975, a large group of his friends gathered to pay him tribute on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday celebration. In 1953 he gave the first scientific lecture on transsexualism before the Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy in New York City. In 1954 he was one of the charter members of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, an
Dedication
245
organization which now has a world-wide membership of persons concerned with sexologic knowledge. In 1963 he coauthored PROSTITUTION AND MORALITY. In 1966 he published the first serious book on transsexualism, THE TRANSSEXUAL PHENOMENON. This book brought many patients their first ray of hope and taught many professionals their first lessons about the subject of gender identity. Over the years, he has made many eontributions to the scientific literature. And today, at age 90, Harry Benjamin will share with us here some of what he has learned. I would like in closing to say a few words about at least some of what Harry Benjamin has meant to me because he has had a profound influence on my life. Harry has taught me perspective. He is living history. He has seen Bismarck and Buffalo Bill. He has talked with Freud. He has viewed Caruso's vocal cords. He was 53 years old when I was born. Whenever I feel harried and frustrated by the press of time, I pause, reflect on Harry, and relax. With luck, there will be time. Whenever I find myself taking the conveniences of modern life and modern medicine for granted, I think of Harry. He has told me about horses and carriages and kerosene lamps. He treated infectious diseases before penicillin. He practiced sexology before the development of psychoanalysis. But these are minor compared to what he has taught me by his example. I have learned that, in his words, "Our emotions are the very essence of life and they are indeed the source of all that make life worth living. But for science and logic, they are bad companions." (I) All of us working with transsexuals have learned that these patients need treatment that in its methods is totally alien to our own feelings and desires, but which in seeking fulfillment of human potential represents the highest good to which we can aspire. Thus, Harry Benjamin has taught me to listen to my patients with dispassionate compassion and then to utilize both myself and my resources in these patients' best interests. Finally, Harry has taught me to search within my own
246
Ihlenfeld
life for truth, just as I try to help others to do. And he has taught me to free that truth not only for myself, but also for others who may choose to take an example from me. Harry Benjamin is a great man. It is with pleasure, rare privilege, and great humility that I dedicate this Fourth International Conference on Gender Identity to him. REFERENCE Benjamin, Harry: An echo of and an addendum to 'For sake of morality ~. Medical Journal and Record, August 5, 1931.
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