Understanding the Transgender Phenomenon — From Mark Yarhouse, a leading Christian researcher on sexual identity: The research institute I direct, housed at Regent University in Virginia, published the first study of its kind on transgender Christians a few years ago. My experiences counseling children, adolescents, and adults have all compelled me to further study gender dysphoria. From this research and counseling background, I hope to offer the Christian community a distinctly Christian response to gender dysphoria.