In fact it does - the idea that transgenderism is a result of "social contagion" aka "grooming" is b.s. https://fenwayhealth.org/new-study-...of-transgender-and-gender-diverse-identities/
“Must promote the child’s overall health and well being” according to who? Who gets to determine what is good or bad for my child’s health?
I would guess the determination of what promotes a child's overall health and wellbeing is made by the parents and their lawyers, using expert testimony. The Court typically makes judgments based on expert testimonies. So I would assume the experts consulted are professionals in medical fields like doctors and psychiatrists who can provide assessments of the child's health.
Here’s a scientific fact: The DSM-5 estimates that about 0.005% to 0.014% of people assigned male at birth (5-14 per 100k) and 0.002% to 0.003% of people assigned female at birth (2-3 per 100k) are diagnosable with gender dysphoria. Less than 0.01% of males and 0.003% of females actually suffer from gender dysphoria, which transitioning would be helpful with. The vast majority of people transitioning are suffering from social contagion or some other mental disorder.
And what happens when these medical experts are financially incentivized by a billion dollar and growing industry to push one way rather than the other? Transitioning a kid over their lifetime is a $1m profit. Versus just telling them they are gay which is free. It’s weird that this topic is being portrayed as left vs right wing, when reality it’s actually just incredibly homophobic. Imagine, instead of telling kids they are beautiful and accepting them no matter who they are - we tell them they are born in the wrong body and will need a life time of hormone blockers and surgery to be “right”. Again, referring to my previous post, less than 0.003% of the population suffers from gender dysphoria which the above description would actually be appropriate for. Sexuality is a spectrum. There are boys who are little more feminine, there are tomboys who grow out of it and become girly girls, there are gay men and women. Why can’t we just accept all these people instead of saying if you don’t fit neatly into a black and white box - medical castration is the only answer. That seems incredibly…not inclusive.
Actually it's not a scientific fact and the DSM clearly states that these kinds of estimates are based on how frequently they encounter the condition, not based on any science. Obviously a lot of people who are gender dysmorphic stay in the closet, and more are coming out now that tolerance is increasing.
There is a high threshold for gender dysphoria diagnosis, a disorder causing physical/mental anguish, not just I played soccer today and have short hair so I feel like a boy. If someone actually meets the criteria of gender dysphoria then I don’t have a problem with it. The problem is the industry is being pushed by financial incentives to blur the lines.
Financial incentives are a concern in healthcare, not limited to transgender care. However, the financial incentives appear to be much smaller in transgender care compared to other fields. As you pointed out, gender dysphoria is extremely rare (though one should exercise caution regarding reported statistics; WPATH delves into some studies of this in children, but in general, it's rare). Treatment for it accounts for just 0.00003% of surgeries for minors over a 3-year period, according to insurance data. These low numbers suggest minimal financial motivation. I wholeheartedly agree that we should treat all children with great acceptance, regardless of who they are. Regrettably, as a society, we still have a long way to go in accepting those who are different. Gender dysphoria involves feeling a profound mismatch between one’s biological body and gender identity. This is NOT something others tell them; it's something they intrinsically feel. Great harm can result when children are told they are wrong for being who they are. Treatments range from social support (such as using preferred names/pronouns) to medical interventions like hormones and surgery to align the body with gender identity. A lack of acceptance, such as banning preferred names/pronouns, contributes to the high prevalence of mental health issues in this group. "Chemical castration" suppresses sex hormones and is certainly NOT the only option. While it is an accepted medical term, I tend to avoid it due to negative connotations. If someone chooses this treatment, I would echo your point that they deserve full acceptance and compassion for who they are. Sexuality does appear to exist on a spectrum. Gender identity is related but distinct. It can also be fluid in childhood. WPATH guidelines recognize this and caution against rushing into treatments for youth. I think many who are concerned would benefit from reviewing them, as they emphasize careful evaluation before interventions. I support government oversight to ensure that minors receive a proper assessment before undergoing any treatment. (However, I strongly oppose a blanket ban as it completely rejects who they are and can be very harmful). WPATH generally does not recommend hormones before puberty or surgery before adulthood but leaves room for individualized assessment.
From what I know, getting treatment for gender dysphoria is a long process. My friend's child had to go through two years of therapy before they were sure she was transgender. They don't put people on hormone therapy or puberty blockers lightly.
