Thanks for the link. It's not 18, it's puberty (which ranges from 8 to 14) "The truth is that data from more than a dozen studies of more than 30,000 transgender and gender-diverse young people consistently show that access to gender-affirming care is associated with better mental health outcomes—and that lack of access to such care is associated with higher rates of suicidality, depression and self-harming behavior. Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association, have published policy statements and guidelines on how to provide age-appropriate gender-affirming care. All of those medical societies find such care to be evidence-based and medically necessary. AAP and Endocrine Society guidelines call for developmentally appropriate care, and that means no puberty blockers or hormones until young people are already undergoing puberty for their sex assigned at birth."
"undergoing puberty for their sex assigned at birth" is an interesting phrase. Simultaneously acknowledging and denying the reality of their sex. Whether they were "assigned" a sex or not at birth, they are going to be undergoing puberty.
So you disagree with giving medicine to a child for any illness whatsoever, because medicines have side effects? Come on, don't be ridiculous.
This article states... The truth is that data from more than a dozen studies of more than 30,000 transgender and gender-diverse young people consistently show that access to gender-affirming care is associated with better mental health outcomes—and that lack of access to such care is associated with higher rates of suicidality, depression and self-harming behavior. I would take trust those studies over someone who isn't a psychiatrist or doctor who hasn't done any study to justify their take on this subject. You know, people like MTG, DeSantis, and AOM, who use the word "woke" as an insult.
The research shows less depression/suicide for children that receive counseling and treatment for gender dysmorphia. Is it a result of gender issues being treated or something as simple as these children getting more attention? We cannot say for sure. Correlation and causation are not necessarily the same. However we do now have a pretty strong amount of information that shows that treating children and young adults that suffer from gender dysmorphia is a benefit. It is hard to say for sure. What I can say is that more children now associate as transgender or non-binary than in the past. Is this because it is a better known issue now so more children are able to identify with who they are earlier, or is it because there is such a positive message portrayed when it comes to gender fluidity? That is hard to know for sure. I have not seen in my sons school where there has been pressure to be non binary or part of the LGBTQ community. There is a general acceptance that some people fall on the spectrum of sexuality, but that is far as it goes. It is also kind of hard for children to reach a different perspective when they all know someone in their school that has gender dysmorphia. When a stigma is removed, we see more acceptance across the board. We have seen that with the issue of homosexuality. Even twenty years ago it was taboo in many situations for a school age child to admit to being a homosexual. So as a result a lot of children grew up believing that being gay was a choice or a result of sexual abuse or trauma. Now, the overwhelming majority of young people do not believe this is true because they have grown up around people that are openly gay and have classmates that are gay. Even young conservatives now do not believe in gay conversion therapy or that being gay is a mental disorder. Anthony Edwards isn't exactly a scholastic hero. Change doesn't permeate all levels of society all at once, even with younger people. It will filter down into other areas. The majority of Gen Z are supporters of LGBTQ+ rights and causes. There are always some that will support unpopular positions or causes. Hell, we have a man in Michigan that won a major party nomination that believes that women should not have the right to vote in the year 2022.
I don't understand what you meant by "acknowledging and denying the reality of their sex". Assigned means what they were born with (not what they were told or think). Puberty is different between biological males and females (age range, body change).
Assignment means what was written on the birth certificate, based on an assessment of the infant's anatomy. Wikipedia describes it as the "discernment" of the infant's biological sex. Replacing "biological sex" with "sex assigned at birth" has been popularized by those who deny that a person is in actuality strictly biologically male or biologically female -- they are instead "assigned" a male or female designation. It's just an odd distinction to make when talking about puberty. Puberty relates to a person's actual biological sex -- however one wants to describe that. How their sex was discerned by a doctor or nurse at birth is beside the point.
Puberty is often not as clean and clear as we want it to be. My friend who I mentioned earlier had male equipment but also had high levels of estrogen and some associated effects of that through puberty, including breast tissue growth and epiphyseal closure, which is where the growth plates close up and your stature stays short.
I brought this up earlier but as a coach I’ve been told to take PED’s very seriously and look for signs that your athletes might be taking them. There is a lot of evidence about the harm that PEDs can do to a developing body and I would consider that a far greater problem than trans youth taking hormones for gender reassignment.
By the way, nobody should be discriminated against, I think that hopefully goes without saying. People should not be mocked or punished for their choices and preferences and characteristics. My challenge is with regard to minors ending up with potentially irreversible decisions.
