Finding True Identity: A Christian Perspective on Gender Dysphoria

Walt Heyer's journey began in childhood when his grandmother encouraged him to wear dresses, planting seeds of confusion about his gender identity. This early experience led to years of internal conflict, culminating in his decision to transition to a female identity. However, after eight years living as a woman, Heyer realized that his gender dysphoria stemmed from deeper psychological wounds, including childhood trauma and undiagnosed disorders.

I believe that God created humans as male and female, each fearfully and wonderfully made as stated in Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." As someone who has overcome extreme organized abuse, I understand that gender dysphoria can be seen as a profound struggle, often rooted in past traumas or abuses that have caused individuals to question their identity.

Heyer emphasizes that many individuals seeking gender transition may have co-existing psychological issues that remain unaddressed. He encourages those experiencing gender dysphoria to seek comprehensive psychological and psychiatric assessments to uncover and address any co-existing disorders before considering irreversible medical interventions.

Trauma and abuse causes dissociation; where parts of us split off to survive the overwhelming pain. Some identities may carry differing genders. Those feelings are very real and can feel very strong for the part holding them, but that doesn't mean it reflects the whole of who we are. I myself have different gendered identities. Through recovery and connecting with those parts of me to identify what happened to me and so that they could tell their story I had more wholeness and healing.

In dissociative sytems some have a part or parts that identifiy as an animal — that doesn’t mean the entire person is an animal. Similar to having a part that may strongly dislike relationships — that doesn’t mean the whole person is incapable of love or having meanjngful connection.

True system wide healing comes from connecting with every part, hearing what they know about our abuse, understandng their needs, accepting them, loving them and helping them heal the trauma they carry— not just affirming the strong feelings and beliefs they hold about themselves at a given moment. I personally know people who have gone so many years literally being stuck in deep unresolved pain because they didn't have anyone acknowledge the real wounds— the abuse, the betrayal, the deep identity hurt and they were only seen through the lens of a gender as if that is the total of who they are. All of our parts desparately deserve and need healing. But when they are not allowed to address the trauma that formed their identity they are left feeling even more lost, unseen, and disconnected. The only thing that was acknowledged was affirming their gender. The real wounds need to be acknowledged and their voice needs to be heard.

In cases of extreme abuse, such as RAMCOA, systems are often intentionally engineered to be highly fragmented, with parts walled off from one another and assigned specific roles. These roles may include identifying as different genders, animals, objects, or holding programmed beliefs. These parts are deliberately disconnected from the parts of the system that function outwardly, often given strict instructions not to remember, reveal information, or break loyalty — with severe consequences for doing so.

Whether dissociation develops through organic DID or through intentional programming like RAMCOA, the answer is the same: it is through connecting with the parts, acknowledging their existence and pain, and working through their experiences, so that the whole person can move toward greater integration and restoration of their original self.

Parts that carry different gender identities, just like parts that feel like animals or carry other intense experiences, absolutely deserve to be validated and heard. But validation isn’t the same as encouraging them to lead the whole system. Healing is about helping each part understand why they came into being — often as a way to survive — and gently bringing them into connection with the whole self.

Everyone deserves to have healing that goes deeper than surface-level affirmation. Every part of you deserves to be heard, understood, and loved — not just the parts others find easy to affirm.

You are so much more than the pain you've lived through, and every part of you deserves to have compassion, patience, and hope. Healing isn’t about becoming who someone else says you should be — it’s about reconnecting with the beautiful person you already are underneath the hurt. I believe with all my heart that real healing is possible for you. You are not alone — and you... all of you matters.

Through my healing and deliverance from darkness and evil, I have come to understand that our true identity is found in how God created us. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free as promised in Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free."

I believe Scripture emphasizes that altering one's external appearance does not resolve internal conflicts. Instead, transformation comes through the renewal of the mind and embracing one's identity as created by God. In Psalm 139:14, David writes, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

The adversary seeks to distort and destroy what God has designed, as Jesus warned in John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." But God's love remains steadfast. He invites individuals to draw near to Him, promising to draw near in return as stated in James 4:8, offering healing for wounds that have led to confusion.

In my experience, those who grapple with gender confusion often have histories of abuse, trauma, and deep emotional wounds. They need healing and the truth of their identity as beloved creations made in God's image. As someone who has experienced profound healing and deliverance, I stand as a testament to the transformative power of God's love.

I encourage those struggling with gender identity to seek healing, to uncover the root causes of their struggles, and to find solace in the unwavering love of their Creator. Recognizing oneself as made in God's image is foundational to understanding true identity and experiencing genuine healing.

It's essential to approach this topic with compassion and understanding, acknowledging the profound struggles individuals face while also upholding the belief in God's perfect design and His desire for each person to live in the fullness of their true identity.