The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) released a position statement about youth who experience conflict between their biological sex and their so-called “gender identity.” The new report, “Mental Health in Adolescents with Incongruence of Gender Identity and Biological Sex,” reviews more than 60 studies and states that social “transitioning,” puberty blockers, opposite-sex hormones and surgeries do not help youth struggling with sexual identity confusion.
ACPeds position statement is significant, given the full-court press by other medical groups to use medical interventions and “gender-affirming therapy” to “transition minors” to try to appear like the opposite sex.
Doctors Jane E. Anderson, Scott Field and Patricia Lee June are the principal authors of the report, which examines the high increase in young people identifying as “transgender”; the incidence of mental health issues within this group, including suicidal ideation; and the effects of “gender-affirming care” on youth.
These doctors noted the lack of long-term research on children and youth treated with “gender-affirming care,” and the way politics and ideology have “overtaken and overshadowed the evidence-base science.”
In light of their findings, Dr. Anderson stated in a press release announcing the statement:
We urge medical professionals and parents to affirm the truth about childhood gender dysphoria in the presence of harmful thoughts and address the underlying mental illness, adverse events, and family dysfunction.
Here are some key findings from “Mental Health in Adolescents with Incongruence of Gender Identity and Biological Sex” and from a “Position Summary Factsheet” based on the report:
- “There are no long term studies demonstrating benefits nor studies evaluating risks associated with the medical and surgical interventions provided to these adolescents.”
- “There is no long-term evidence that mental health concerns are decreased or alleviated after ‘gender affirming therapy.’”
- European countries, including Great Britain, Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden and Finland, “have rejected so-called ‘gender-affirming’ therapies in favor of psychological treatment of children with gender incongruence.”
- There has been an “exponential increase in the number of adolescents identifying as ‘transgender’ in the past decade.”
- Individuals cannot change their biological sex; “‘transgender’ and ‘transition’ are misleading and inaccurate terms.”
- “The so-called ‘transition’ is not a change of sex … but rather only a change in sexual appearance or presentation.”
- “As the proportion of adolescents who identify as heterosexual decreases, the incidence of mental health issues increases.”
- “Youth whose perceived gender identity does not align with their biological sex have high rates of mental health problems regardless of any affirmation of their gender identities.”
- “Adverse childhood experiences, including child abuse of various types, are experienced by over half of LGBTQ+ sexual minorities, with transgender youth reporting more abuse and neglect than other sexual minorities.”
- Those conflicted about their biological sex suffered high levels of “adverse childhood experiences” compared to the general population, including “exposure to domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol or drug use in the home, physical or emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, and parental divorce.”
The ACPeds is pointing out serious concerns about these social and medical interventions for youth with sexual identity confusion, especially as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services continues to advocate for “gender-affirming care.”
And it’s not just the federal government advocating for destructive experimental procedures. Transgender ideology is promoted in many spheres, including entertainment, social media, education and state governments.
But the position statement gives a strong rebuttal against this agenda, concluding:
Therefore, the ACPeds cannot condone the social affirmation, medical intervention, or surgical mutilation of children and adolescents identifying as transgender or gender nonconforming.
Rather, intensive psychotherapy for the individual and family to determine and hopefully treat the underlying etiology of their gender incongruence should be pursued.
In Dr. Michael Artigues, President of ACPeds, reiterated this in the report’s news release:
The studies reviewed in this paper demonstrate what many who practice medicine intuitively understand, that young patients experiencing gender dysphoria deserve help in accepting and loving themselves as they are, not interventions that destroy their healthy bodies and put them on track of medicalization for life.
We are grateful for ACPeds and other groups that actually look into the research, evaluate it and oppose these monstrous experimental treatments for youth.
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Focus on the Family: Transgender Resources
Governor Signs Order Making Minnesota a ‘Sanctuary State’ for ‘Gender Transitions’
The Journey Back to My True Identity
Mom Files Lawsuit Against School District for ‘Transitioning’ Daughter Without Her Consent
Transgenderism and Minors: What Does the Research Really Show?
‘Trust the Science’ About ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’ What Science?
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