Do schools and the government have a right to force parents to transition their trans-identified child socially & medically for the youth’s own protection?

It is society’s responsibility to protect minors from parental abuse. Trans-identified youth and LGB youth experience higher rates of parental abuse and rejection,[1] including circumstances where the youth leaves or is kicked out of the home.[2] These youths need and deserve love, support, and special services to address their needs.

Below are some of the many complexities around the current rise of trans identification in minors, and the medicalization of it, that make genuine child abuse around a minor’s gender dysphoria more challenging to identify:

minors are fast-tracked[3],[4] into invasive and experimental medical treatments with serious and permanent side effects[5],[6] parents are worried about out of love for their child, not rejection of their child.[7],[8]
prior research demonstrates most of the youth with a GID/GD diagnosis that met DSM criteria outgrow it through puberty[9]
the pioneering pediatric transition protocol itself is under scrutiny[10]
there is a lack of knowledge of long-term effects on the health of youth now medicalized during a critical growth period[11],[12]
transition creates dependency on the medical industry for surgeries and pharmaceutical drugs due to reproductive organ removal
the soaring numbers of trans-identified young people indicate a social contagion[13],[14]
some youths report becoming more popular after they come out as trans/nonbinary, which is dangerous for a lonely teen in need of support[15],[16]
the rebellious nature of teens and their proclivities for risk-taking[17] and transient identities[18]
the often-occurring comorbid mental health conditions,[19],[20] trauma[21] or homophobia[22],[23] not solved by transition
the ever-widening definitions of trans/nonbinary and the growing list of now medicalized, unstudied identities[24],[25]
the aggressive saviorism of “allies” in search of the new social justice cause
extremist gender activism that paints people who disagree with gender ideology or pediatric medicalization, including their parents, as “the enemy,” who “hate trans people” and “want them dead”[26],[27]
ideological institutional capture that has corrupted the validity of the information and advice they give to parents and the public[28],[29],[30]
dishonest and manipulative framing of suicide risk[31],[32],[33],[34] which is the main justification weaponized[35] to promote extreme medical interventions
the inability of minors to provide informed consent, given brain maturation is not complete until the age 25[36]
the growing number of young people with medical transition regret[37],[38]
transition can destroy fertility and sexual function[39], things that adult trans-identified people say are important to them[40],[41] but can be damaged by transition as a minor
brain and body development are arguably more important than cosmetic results[42],[43]
the argument the youths will need less invasive surgeries if they transition as minors is false[44],[45]
there are financial[46],[47], medical system[48], and social costs[49],[50],[51] to unprecedented numbers[52]of people engaging in dramatic, medicalized body modification at insurance and taxpayer expense[53]
adoption of “queer” identities is increasing likely due to the influence of hard left identity politics that scorn “privileged” groups and elevate the status of “oppressed” groups[54],[55]

[2] Seip, N. (2017, November 15). New Study Reveals the Scope of Youth Homelessness. True Colors United. https://truecolorsunited.org/2017/11/15/new-study-reveals-scope-youth-homelessness/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[3] Gender Health Query. (2019). New World Order: How Will The Environment That Trans Activists Created Affect Desistance Rates & Gender Nonconforming Young People In General? https://www.genderhq.org/new-trans-activism-desistance-rates-lgbt-youth [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[4] Clayton, A. (2020). The Gender Affirmative Treatment Model for Youth with Gender Dysphoria: A Medical Advance or Dangerous Medicine? Archives of Sexual Behavior (51), 691–698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02232-0

[5] Gender Health Query. (2019). Consequences & Permanent Side-Effects That Result From The Use Of Hormone Blockers. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery [accessed 20 Aug 2023].

[6] Shrier, A. (2021, October 4). Top Trans Doctors Blow the Whistle on ‘Sloppy’ Care. The Free Press. https://www.thefp.com/p/top-trans-doctors-blow-the-whistle [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[7] Williams, G. (2019, February 27). A grand conspiracy to tell the truth: An interview with 4thWaveNow founder & her daughter Chiara of the Pique Resilience Project. 4thwavenow. https://4thwavenow.com/2019/02/27/a-grand-conspiracy-to-tell-the-truth-an-interview-with-4thwavenow-founder-her-daughter-chiara-of-the-pique-resilience-project/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[8] Davis, L.S. (2020, Febaury 11). A Desister’s Tale. Quillette. https://quillette.com/2022/02/11/a-desisters-tale/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[9] Cantor, J. (2016, January 11). Do trans- kids stay trans- when they grow up? Sexology Today! http://www.sexologytoday.org/2016/01/do-trans-kids-stay-trans-when-they-grow_99.html [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[10] SEGM. (2023, January 11). The Dutch Studies and The Myth of Reliable Research in Pediatric Gender Medicine. https://segm.org/Dutch-studies-critically-flawed [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[11] Twohey, M., Jewett, C. (2022, November 14). They Paused Puberty, but Is There a Cost? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/health/puberty-blockers-transgender.html [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[12] Brolin, P. (2019, May 2). BLF ställer sig bakom SMERs skrivelse angående könsdysfori. The Swedish Paediatric Society. https://www.barnlakarforeningen.se/2019/05/02/blf-staller-sig-bakom-smers-skrivelse-angaende-konsdysfori/
English translation https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SMER-National-Council-for-Medical-Ethics-directive-March-2019.pdf [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[13] Brown. A. (2022, June 7). About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/06/07/about-5-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-say-their-gender-is-different-from-their-sex-assigned-at-birth/?utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=22-06-07%20SDT%20Transgender%20and%20NB%20GEN%20DISTR&org=982&lvl=100&ite=10058&lea=2116917&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a0D3j0000116wpmEAA[[accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[14] SEGM. (n.d.). Child and Adolescents Referrals for Gender Dysphoria. https://segm.org/images/280.UK_full.svg [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[15] Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13(8). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202330

[16] S.R. (2018, January). I hated her guts at the time: A trans-desister and her mom tell their story. 4thwavenow. https://4thwavenow.com/2018/01/18/i-hated-her-guts-at-the-time-a-trans-desister-and-her-mom-tell-their-story/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[17] Gersema, E. (2015, April 17). Teen rebellion marks subconscious separation from parents. USC News. https://news.usc.edu/79970/teen-rebellion-marks-subconscious-separation-from-parents/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[18] University of Minnesota Extension. (n.d.) Teen identity: Figuring out who you are. https://extension.umn.edu/teen-development/teen-identity-figuring-out-who-you-are [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[19] Kaltiala-Heino, R., Sumia, M., Työläjärvi, M., et al. (2015). Two years of gender identity service for minors: overrepresentation of natal girls with severe problems in adolescent development. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-015-0042-y

[20] Whiteman, H. (2018, April 16). Mental health risk higher for transgender youth. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321483#Findings-should-raise-awareness [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[21] Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13(8). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202330

[22] DeLay, D., Lynn Martin, C., Cook, R. E., & Hanish, L. D. (2017). The Influence of Peers During Adolescence: Does Homophobic Name Calling by Peers Change Gender Identity? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(3), 636-649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0749-6

[23] Bannerman, L. (2019, April 8). It feels like conversion therapy for gay children, say clinicians. The London Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/it-feels-like-conversion-therapy-for-gay-children-say-clinicians-pvsckdvq2 [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[24] Gender Health Query. (2019). Cultural Ripple Effects, Psychological Consequences, & Rights Conflicts Arising From Gender Ideology & Increases Of Trans-Identified Young People. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-identity-politics-rights-conflicts-lgbt [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[25] Brown. A. (2022, June 7). About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth. Pew Research Center. supra

[26] Gender Health Query. (2019). Problems With A Politicized Climate Of Harassment & Censorship. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-activism-identity-politics-harassment-censorship [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[27] The Miranda Yardley Index on Censorship. (2019). Miranda Yardley. https://mirandayardley.com/en/the-miranda-yardley-index-on-censorship/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[28] Sibarium, A. (2022, December 7). The hijacking of pediatric medicine. The Free Press. https://www.thefp.com/p/the-hijacking-of-pediatric-medicine [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[29] Manhattan Institute. (2023, March 3). The Distortions in Jack Turban’s Psychology Today Article on ‘Gender Affirming Care.’ https://manhattan.institute/article/the-distortions-in-jack-turbans-psychology-today-article-on-gender-affirming-care [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[30] Singal, J. (2022, April 6). Researchers Found Puberty Blockers And Hormones Didn’t Improve Trans Kids’ Mental Health At Their Clinic. Then They Published A Study Claiming The Opposite. (Updated). Singal-Minded. https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/researchers-found-puberty-blockers [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[31] Bailey, M., Blanchard, R. (2017, September 8). Suicide or transition: The only options for gender dysphoric kids? 4thwavenow. https://4thwavenow.com/2017/09/08/suicide-or-transition-the-only-options-for-gender-dysphoric-kids/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[32] Clayton, A., Malone, W. J., Clarke, P., Mason, J., et al. (2021). Commentary: The Signal and the Noise—questioning the benefits of puberty blockers for youth with gender dysphoria—a commentary on Rew et al. (2021). Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 27(3), 259–262. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12533 [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[33] SEGM. (n.d.) Suicide by adolescents referred to the world’s largest pediatric gender clinic. https://www.segm.org/trans_youth_suicide_study [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[34] Singal, J. (2022, April 6). Researchers Found Puberty Blockers And Hormones Didn’t Improve Trans Kids’ Mental Health At Their Clinic. Then They Published A Study Claiming The Opposite. (Updated). Singal-Minded. supra

[35] Gender Health Query. (2019). Media promoting the transition or suicide narrative. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-suicide-statistics-kill-themselves-manipulate-parents/#anchor-page15-section-d [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[36] Gender Health Query. (2019). Are Children & Teens Old Enough To Give Consent For Medical Gender Transition? https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-consent-transition-gender-dysphoria [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[37] r/detrans. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/detrans/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[38] Gender Health Query. (2019). Regret Rates And Long-Term Mental Health. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-regret-rates-long-term-mental-health [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[39] Gender Health Query. (2019). Consequences & Permanent Side-Effects That Result From The Use Of Hormone Blockers. supra

[40] Gender Health Query. (2019). Consequences and Permanent Side Effects the Result from the Use of Hormone Blockers. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery/#anchor-page2-section-b-there [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[41] Factora, J. (2021, October 13). Japan forces trans people to be sterilized to change their gender. This man is suing. Them. https://www.them.us/story/japan-forces-sterilizations-trans-people-to-change-their-gender-man-sues [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[42] Gender Health Query. (2019). Pros and cons of early medical treatment. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery/#anchor-page2-section-f-not [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[43] Hruz, P., Mayer, L., & McHugh, P. (2017). Growing pains: problems with puberty suppression in treating gender dysphoria. The New Atlantis, 52, 3-36. https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/growing-pains [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[44] Gender Health Query. (2019). Need for a more complex surgery. https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery/#anchor-page2-section-a-need [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[45] Nied, J. (2020, January 22). Jazz Jennings’s doctors revealed her gender confirmation complications were “Severe.” Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a30631270/jazz-jennings-surgery-complications/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[46] Aide, C. (2022). How much does transgender surgery cost. Cost Aide. https://costaide.com/transgender-surgery-cost/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[47] Taylor, C., Reuters. (2015, October, 29). Transgender surgery can cost more than $100,000. Money. https://money.com/transgender-surgery-costs/

[48] Gree, M. (2021, March 11). COVID-19 causes delays in surgeries for transgender people. ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. https://abc11.com/transgender-health-delayed-surgeries-elective/10407993/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[49] Eighth Circuit upholds injunction on rule requiring gender transition surgeries. (2022, December 10). Jonathan Turley. https://jonathanturley.org/2022/12/10/eighth-circuit-upholds-injunction-on-rule-requiring-gender-transition-surgeries/ [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[50] The Economist. (2018, July 5). Trans rights should not come at the cost of women’s fragile gains. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/05/trans-rights-should-not-come-at-the-cost-of-womens-fragile-gains [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[51] San Francisco launches new guaranteed income program for trans community. (2022, November 16). SF.gov. https://sf.gov/news/san-francisco-launches-new-guaranteed-income-program-trans-community [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[52] Brown. A. (2022, June 7). About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth. Pew Research Center. supra

[53] Moyer, J. W. (2021, August 26). Transgender inmate sues Va. prison for chest surgery to treat gender dysphoria. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/transgender-inmate-breast-removal-lawsuit/2021/08/26/dd6e080c-066f-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html

[54] Kaufman, E. (2022, May 29). Born This Way? The Rise of LGBT as a Social and Political Identity. Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. https://www.cspicenter.com/p/born-this-way-the-rise-of-lgbt-as-a-social-and-political-identity [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

[55] Kam, D. (2022, September 7). State Medicaid transgender decision challenged. Yahoo News. https://news.yahoo.com/state-medicaid-transgender-decision-challenged-230712021.html [accessed 20 Aug 2023]

Do schools and the government have a right to force parents to transition their trans-identified child socially & medically for the youth’s own protection?

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