Talk:Harry Benjamin

Overdue Expansion
I'm expanding (presently there's is only an intermediate save in place) this biography using all the references I can find on the Web, plus what seems reliable (ie collaborated) that I have been told in conversations and email exchanges with Benjamin's former patients. In fact his book, his papers, interviews, and publications by some of his collaborators provide quite a rich source with few conflicts.

I'm working on more about how he developed his practice originally, his collaborators and colleagues and correspondents, and more on early Sexology. And more flesh generally.

My motivation is that Benjamin certainly saved the life of a woman who is one of my best-loved friends, who was a transsexual child. Obviously that then faces me with a challenge in being NPOV. But since it is HB as the subject, NOT what others have later made of his thoughts or methods, the other POVs are, as far as I can see, since nobody seems to have had anything bad to say about him personally, the alternative ways of handling the conditions he dealt with. And I've included a fair bit on that already.

It would be nice to include that B&W picture of him at his desk in New York in the 1950s, which Humbolt Uni have on their site, but I'm not sure of the copyright. The picture of him with his mother would be OK copyright-wise, being like 1905, but him in cadet uniform as a youth is hardly representative.

I'm looking for more on his marriage and how and where they lived, and his New York practice (like addresses, and more on the range of patients), and what products or preparations he normally used (in addition to, or before Premarin). If anyone wants to send them to me/post them anonymously, that would be more than fine. --Bluegreen 5 July 2005 20:35 (UTC)


 * Further expansion. Removed mis-attributed references - there seems no evidence he had any connection with the "Fourth Way". Listed all available publications since there seems to have been a vacuum attracting the listed of other's instead! Still no picture, but I shall find other relevant illustrations. It deserves better than "Start" ratings. Bluegreen (talk) 14:08, 9 July 2012 (UTC)

Needs more on criticism, of which there is lots from the trans community. His work contributed to the invisibility of trans men by his complete dismissal of them; to the stereotypes of trans women and subsequent accusations from some feminists of reinforcing patriarchal gender roles by his definition of what "a transsexual" is, both directly and by coercing trans women to fit those stereotypes in order to be able to access treatment; to depression, low self-esteem, self-denial, etc on the part of trans women who look at those definitions and doubt themselves on the basis that the definition doesn't fit and/or who are demeaned, turned away, etc by "professionals" on that basis. Why does the article only contrast Benjamin's theories and methods with the worse regime that existed before, and make no mention of the limitations or criticisms? 94.11.34.204 (talk) 23:47, 15 November 2012 (UTC)

I have been researching Harry Benjamin, and have found some biographical material that may be helpful in the expansion of this page. Though the information is not all totally new, some of it expands on topics that are mentioned throughout the article. I have references for the information I'd like to provide as well. Given the subject matter, and the newness of my account, I wanted to tread lightly, before I just started editing things.Broken2bfixed (talk) 01:06, 21 October 2014 (UTC)

I have corrected a peculiar error in the 'early life' section, in which someone had Harry raised in an observant Jewish family. He was actually raised Lutheran. This and a couple of minor additions are referenced in The Sexual Century by Ethel Spector Person (1999), which has a short biography of HB.

Someone (Bluegreen) has asked for addresses of Harry's offices in Manhattan. He had a number of them, and some are described in the book above. After his assistant/internist left the practice to pursue a psychiatric residency in 1976, the practice itself moved to 1 East 72nd St for some months before a new physician moved it to a townhouse on West 22nd St. Note that Harry was not practicing at this time, although his office manager Virginia continued to run the clinic till late 1976.

For anyone seriously researching HB, I do suggest contacting his longtime internist (whose name you presumably know) who now lives out at the end of Long Island. Harry and Gretchen are both buried out there.MSVanVliet (talk) 09:47, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

Trichophilia
"Harry Benjamin was also a hair fetishist" - posted by 71.34.2.142. Any evidence to support this? - Pete C &#9997; 08:19, 18 August 2005 (UTC)


 * I deleted the hair fetishist claim because it has been unsourced for months. It should not be added back unless there is a reputable source.  -Fagles 17:51, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Dustin Pendley is going to get laid by a shemale this year. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.217.70.59 (talk) 01:43, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

doctorate in medicine
"...received his doctorate in medicine in 1912 in Tübingen for a dissertation on tuberculosis.". Did he in fact has a doctoral degree, i.e. Ph.D? Most web pages that mention him refer to him, if they use a title, as M.D. // habj (talk) 10:12, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Image
Magnus Hirschfeld Would the 1938 photo from Vienna be in public domain? // habj (talk) 10:39, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Benjamin's attitude
"Many critics consider ... angry that transsexuals were not greatful for his help." This whole chunk seems awfully biased and is not supported by any citations. Temblast (talk) 15:08, 3 September 2011 (UTC)


 * Agreed, and contrary to all evidence. Deleted. Bluegreen (talk) 02:23, 9 July 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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I have just modified 4 external links on Harry Benjamin. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071204181920/http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/COLLBEN.HTM to http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/COLLBEN.HTM
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071204181920/http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/COLLBEN.HTM to http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/COLLBEN.HTM

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