The Facts While We Wait for SCOTUS Decision on Skrmetti Case

Sometime before the end of June, SCOTUS will make a decision impacting access to gender-affirming care by minors in this country. In the case of US vs Skrmetti, the Supreme Court is weighing the constitutionality of denying gender-affirming care to minors to treat gender dysphoria when the same care is given to cisgender minors to treat precocious puberty.

For me, the pending decision in this case casts a shadow over this year’s Pride. With that in mind and at the suggestion of someone whose opinion I trust, I wrote this to inform you about the myths you've likely heard that are easily countered by the facts about gender-affirming care.

First, a definition:

Gender-affirming care (GAC) is medical and behavioral health care sensitive to an individual’s gender identity. For minors, this includes standard, every day pediatric health care that affirms a child's gender identity. It can also include the prescription and use of puberty blockers, hormones, and in very rare cases, surgery. Additionally, GAC applies to behavioral health care that supports an individual’s transition journey. In the case of minors, it ensures that clinical therapy supports a child’s right to live their most authentic and confident life by honoring their gender identity.

MYTHS

• Gender-affirming care is the product of a leftist gender ideology campaign.

• GAC is not supported by science or based on research.

• GAC is experimental and unregulated.

• GAC for minors is up for debate because there is no predominant or consistent medical recommendation in the US or the world.

• There are no demonstrated benefits to GAC, but there are documented risks and high instances of regret.

• The majority of gender-diverse minors receive medical intervention.

• Minors are being prescribed puberty blockers and/or hormones without parental consent or parental knowledge.

FACTS

• GAC has been practiced in the US since 1966, starting with the nation's first gender identity clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

• GAC is based on treatment models used to address precocious puberty. In fact, cisgender children are prescribed the same medications (puberty blockers and hormones) to treat precocious puberty.

• Four major medical associations in the US: the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as well as the World Professional Association of Transgender Health all support GAC as both medically necessary and life-saving for gender-diverse youth.

• Multiple studies have demonstrated that GAC effectively reduces the risk of suicide for gender-diverse youth.

• The instances of regret related to GAC are less than 1%, which is lower than the regret for knee surgery.

• Less than 1% of gender-diverse minors go on puberty blockers or take hormones.

• Parental consent is required to proceed with any medical intervention associated with GAC. Additionally, letters of diagnosis and medical necessity from physicians and behavioral health specialists are also often required.

  
  

My Framework & How I'm Parenting with Pride

It is hard to guess on what side SCOTUS will fall in the Skrmetti case. Regardless of its outcome, I intend to continue to provide gender-affirming care to the young people on my caseload, as well as to be an advocate for the trans community more broadly. I know for sure that my nonbinary kid, their brother, and their amazing communities of peers will keep inspiring me to do everything in my power to protect each and every one of them.

If you or someone you know is in need of gender-affirming care or would like more information about GAC or other issues impacting gender-diverse youth and their families, please reach out by contacting me.

CONTACT ME