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Emails Reveal How a Hospital Bowed to Political Pressure to Stop Treating Trans Teens
(www.propublica.org)
this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
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Medicalization of trans children, even those who are entering puberty or beyond, is a bad idea. There needs to be more research on the safety of puberty blockers and cross sex endogenous hormones for long term medical outcomes including cancer and heart disease risks. Once you are an adult, sure, do whatever you want to your body; but there is a different ethical consideration for minors.
Imagine everything about you is exactly the same, but you were born with the wrong body parts and as a result your had to spend your entire childhood pretending to be the opposite sex. It's not just some adult choice you make like going to college, it's you.
Your points are valid, but there are moral implications to both sides and it's disgusting how ignorant and close-minded idiot politicians and billionaires like Musk are about it while actual medical professionals are trying their best to navigate these complex situations. No science will ever change their minds, this is an extension of an ongoing campaign against all trans people, equating them with "groomers" and dudes trying to sneak into girl locker rooms or win sports games. More distractions from the real enemies of human decency and free societies.
If I were a child now, I would potentially be pushed to be trans or NB. I was a tomboy child with a solid interest in math and science. I had a fraught childhood with a medical surgery pushed on me (it could have waited). If I were presented with this idea, maybe I would have thought it fits me, especially because at least certain segments of the trans theory/argument seems to hinge on enforcing gender roles. Turns out, I'm just a woman in STEM.
No that's not how that works. People aren't "pushed" into becoming trans, let alone into a medical transition. Trans people, especially trans youths, usually have to fight tooth and nail to have their identities taken seriously, and even harder to access healthcare.
This is just such tired nonsense. I have never met a community more supportive of people breaking gender norms than transgender and non-binary people.
Any promotion of the concept of gender and gender roles in schools is a bad idea in my opinion. The "genderbread person" that pops up is one instance, and it's discussion of gender includes gender roles: those are societal expectations of actions and characteristics.
Regarding gender roles, how do you respond to the current zeitgeist that asks if gender nonconforming women in literature and film are in fact trans? For example, Jo March in Little Women, and Mulan.
Gender is a concept that exists. That kids will interact with throughout their lives. They deserve to be equipped with the information that helps them makes sense of that.
It doesn't include gender roles in any version that I have seen.
The closest I've seen it get to gender roles is "gender expression", which it touches on to explicitly separate the concept of gendered expression, from gender identity and biological sex.
In other words, it does the exact opposite of the thing you fear that it does. Its entire purpose is to state that the things you described about yourself earlier, such as being a tomboy, are separate from gender identity and biological sex. That being a tomboy, or having interests that are stereotypically gendered, DO NOT make you that gender.
Those can be interesting conversations even if the answer at the end is "they're still cisgender". Cisgender people have been writing gender into stories for a long time, and a lot of those stories do end up have themes very relatable for trans people. Relooking at media through a queer lens is not harmful.
Do you also feel it is wrong to talk about homosexuality in school in any form? You support "don't say gay" laws? How about discussion of racism? Or mental health issues?
You assume so much. Homosexuality is real. I do not support "don't say gay" laws. Sexuality and gender do not equate.
Yes, racism is real and should be discussed. Mental health should be discussed. In fact I have historically been a big advocate for discussing it among the interns and early career staff at my workplace.
Despite the narrative that all people who question the current trans identity theory are conservative idiots, there are people who are actual scientists, feminists, and others who care about society that don't agree with all of it. Shouting them down is only going to create an oppressive echo chamber.
I didn't assume you were a right wing nut which is why I asked about these other topics.
Gender dysphoria is no less real. People experience it. I'm sorry to hear you disbelieve them. It's the same kind of energy as a white person telling a black person they're imagining racism. Or a person telling a depressed person they should just cheer up or that depression doesn't exist.
Not talking about gender dysphoria doesn't make it go away, though. Trans people existed before it was a common topic (like when I was growing up in the 70s). Just like gay people existed before it was talked about much.
Talking about a gender dysphoria does not somehow alter a kid's sense of self even if they are a kid. You may argue "so many kids are coming out as trans".
Prevalent bigotry, hatred, and even offhand dismissal (like you're doing) tends to pressure people deny their identities (eventually they will have to face it, like my college friend, who came out as trans decades later) or tends to pressure them into staying in the closet. But when society becomes more accepting you find more people comfortable with being open about who they are.
We saw this happen with homosexuality between the 70s and now. We see the same thing with gender identity/expression. We find more kids are comfortable coming out as gay. Likewise more kids feel safe coming forward with gender dysphoria. Despite people trying to tell them they're not actually experiencing what they're experiencing. (You're not depressed just a little sad; cheer up!)
And by the way, delaying puberty isn't done willy nilly, it's reserved for the most extreme cases of gender dysphoria and where entering puberty causes substantial additional distress following established guidelines.
If you don't want to shout down scientists then tell me why it is ok for politicians to shut down actual medical treatment governed by medical ethics and protocols?
If scientific consensus comes up with better treatments, let's use them. If they find issues with current treatments, act accordingly.
But keep politicians out of it and leave it to physicians and medical research and parents.
I wholeheartedly agree with what you said there! (even if it might not be what you meant)
We should treat children (and people at large) as neutrally as possible and wait for them to decide for themselves.
Like no expressed expectations, just some tools to understand who they are :)
Gender and gender roles have always been there, what's promoted is understanding of these concepts and self determination.
What's the issue with that?
It's pretty neutral and just defines some terms (sex, gender identity, gender expression, romantic and sexual attraction) and not much more imho.
To me this feels as a non-issue. Trans folks don't have much in terms of representation. It's a natural pattern to try to identify with figures that look the most like you. A tomboy girl and a transmasc boy can at the same time identify themselves with e.g. Mulan without impeding on each other's interpretation, can't they?