June 10th 2024.
The American College of Pediatricians has recently made a strong statement, urging medical professionals to stop promoting transgender operations for adolescents. They are concerned about the current protocols being used for children and adolescents who express discomfort with their biological sex, and are calling on mainstream American medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics to abandon their efforts to support "gender-affirming care" for transgender youths. Other groups, such as "Doctors Protecting Children," are also joining in on this call to action, according to Fox News.
In their declaration, the ACP emphasizes that they have serious concerns about the physical and mental health effects of current protocols being promoted for children and adolescents who are struggling with their gender identity. They believe that medical decisions should not be based solely on an individual's thoughts and feelings, including their self-professed "gender identity." They firmly stand by the idea that sex is a biological characteristic and should be treated as such. In fact, they argue that the current practices for treating gender dysphoria in the United States may actually be doing more harm than good.
On the other side of the argument, organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics hold the belief that gender is a social construct rather than an inborn biological reality. They also advocate for the "validation and affirmation" of a person's internal self-identity, claiming that this is in their best interest. The APA even claims that gender-affirming care has been linked to improved mental health and overall well-being for gender-diverse children and adolescents, as well as a decrease in harmful behaviors like substance use and self-prescribed hormone use.
However, this viewpoint is not shared by everyone. Some European countries, including the United Kingdom, Norway, France, and Sweden, are pushing back against claims like these and limiting the use of puberty blockers and sex reassignment surgery for children and adolescents. Last year, the U.K. even announced that they would only allow the use of hormone treatments for clinical trials, according to reports.
To support their argument, Doctors Protecting Children references several studies, including the controversial Cass Review, which documents practices and care for children with gender identity disorders in the U.K. They also argue that allowing children to socially transition before puberty does not lead to better mental health outcomes.
Dr. Jill Simons, a pediatrician and executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, calls on American medical institutions to "follow the science and the lead of our European professional colleagues" and stop promoting protocols that may harm children. She specifically mentions the promotion of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for children and adolescents who experience distress over their biological sex. So far, over a dozen Republican-led states, like Texas, have put laws in place to limit or ban the use of puberty blockers on minors.
In related news, retired NBA player Dwyane Wade was recently honored for his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and launched a new initiative called "Translatable" to support trans youth. And in another interview, TS Madison shared her commitment to supporting both the Black and trans communities with Tamron Hall. It's encouraging to see public figures using their platforms to bring awareness and support to important issues facing our society.
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