Protecting Our Children!

That is the battle cry of the Republicans when they pass anti-trans legislation. But what do the bans do to the children? It is always "The Children!"

Well the Association of American Medical Colleges writes about the children! It is a couple of years old but it is more so today!

States are banning gender-affirming care for minors. What does that mean for patients and providers?

More than 20 U.S. states have banned or severely limited treatment to align a young person’s body with their gender identity. That leaves some doctors caught between breaking the law and providing what they say can be lifesaving medical care.

By Stacy Weiner,

Feb. 20, 2024

From the time she was 3 years old, Jessi* wanted to play with fairy costumes and pretend her blanket was long, flowy hair. Though assigned male at birth, it was clear to her mother, Beth Wall*, that Jessi felt like a girl. Almost 14 now, Jessi “has never wavered in who she is,” says Wall.

Around puberty, Jessi became increasingly distressed over masculinizing changes and ultimately received medication to halt them. “The day she got puberty blockers was the first time she slept through the night in years,” Wall remembers.

Now Jessi and her family have been plunged into fear as their state — which they declined to name to protect their privacy — has barred minors from receiving treatments that help align their body with their gender identity.

[...]

State laws mostly take aim at gender-affirming medical treatments. Such care for young people often begins at puberty with medications — the effects of which are reversible — that halt changes like a deepening voice. After these puberty blockers, patients may receive hormones — some effects of which are not reversible — that induce traits aligned with the patient’s gender identity. GAC surgery among youth is rare, experts say.

Many of those who oppose GAC for minors argue that these individuals are not yet mature enough to make such major decisions. A 2021 study found that 11% of participants who pursued gender affirmation later detransitioned back to their birth-assigned gender due to an external factor (such as parental pressure) and 2% detransitioned due to an internal factor (such as uncertainty around their gender). Opponents also point to some European countries that once were at the forefront of GAC but now are tightening eligibility for it.

Following evidence-based guidelines can help ensure that medical care aligns appropriately with patients’ needs, doctors say.

When did facts ever matter to the Republicans?

Providers who offer GAC point to evidence that gender dysphoria can be dangerous. In fact, 9 out of 10 adults who wanted puberty blockers when they were younger but didn’t receive them reported contemplating suicide. And transgender youth who received puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones were 73% less likely to consider suicide than those who did not.

Wall saw dramatic changes in Jessi after she began GAC. “For two years, she was experiencing tremendous anxiety. My super-bubbly, happy kid had disappeared,” says Wall. “After transitioning, that child was back."

Hey! That doesn't matter to the Republicans, this rallies their bigoted base!

The University of Washington writes in 2022 that,

New research published in JAMA Network Open shows that gender-affirming hormones and puberty blockers have a beneficial impact on depression and suicide risk in transgender and nonbinary youth. 

The study followed 104 transgender and nonbinary youth, ages 13 to 20, over the span of twelve months as they received care at the Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic. Those who received gender-affirming hormones or puberty blockers had 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

“Our study adds to a robust evidence base that access to gender-affirming care is critical for ensuring the well-being of transgender and nonbinary young people,” said Diana Tordoff, a PhD candidate with the University of Washington Department of Epidemiology.

Previous research indicates that transgender and nonbinary youth experience disproportionate rates of poor mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and attempts due to societal stigma, discrimination, and family rejection. Although the new study suggests that puberty blockers or hormones can alleviate risks of depression and suicidality in this population, a correlation was not found between gender-affirming medication and anxiety.

La, la, la, la... I can't hear you! La, la... They only want to hear the bad stuff like from the conservative American College of Pediatricians that only has around a thousand members and ignore medical advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) with over 65,000 members!

They are also trying to limit telemedicine by moving to block out-of-state providers from practicing telehealth within their borders if the care being provided is gender-affirming. This targets the "shield laws" enacted by states like California and Massachusetts.

It not only affects us but also the medical profession, scaring doctors away for our field of medicine. Many of the hospitals that treated us are backing off in fear of losing federal funding which is a major part of their income.