House lawmakers clashed Thursday over gender transition medical treatments for children, which are on the rise despite criticism that the procedures are damaging, irreversible and performed on confused adolescents.
For Democrats, a hearing on transgender medical procedures was nothing more than right-wing ideology invading “safe and effective” transgender care and jeopardizing the rights of parents to make health care decisions for their minor children that are backed by major medical associations.
Republicans said they are considering legislation to preserve parental authority and prevent permanent harm to mentally unprepared children who undergo often-irreversible sex transition procedures.
“We’re trying to strike the right balance,” said Rep. Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican and chair of the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and limited government. “And we do believe Congress has a role here.”
Chloe Cole, diagnosed with gender dysphoria at 12, testified before the committee. She was treated by Kaiser Permanente “gender specialists” in the San Francisco Bay Area from ages 13 to 17 and underwent a double mastectomy at age 16. Ms. Cole reverted to identifying as female a year later and is now an outspoken advocate against gender transition procedures for children.
“I used to believe that I was born in the wrong body and the adults in my life whom I trusted affirmed my belief and caused me lifelong, irreversible harm,” said Ms. Cole, who turned 19 on Thursday. “I speak to you today as a victim of one of the biggest medical scandals in the history of the United States of America. I speak to you in the hope that you will have the courage to bring this scandal to an end and ensure that other vulnerable teenagers, children and young adults don’t go through what I went through.”
The Republican-led House is considering federal legislation as conservative-leaning states move to ban sex change procedures on those younger than 18.
So far, 21 states have enacted measures that limit or prohibit gender transition medical procedures on minors. Court injunctions have blocked the laws in five states.
The Republican hearing sought to address various issues concerning gender transition treatment, including parental rights and the participation of biological males in women’s sports.
Democrats said Republicans were scheming to eliminate parental rights they have long championed with a “hateful” hearing that mischaracterized transgender medical care and sought to block parents from helping their children obtain such treatment.
“Gender-affirming care is safe and effective,” said Rep. Mary Scanlon, Pennsylvania Democrat. “It’s just not up for debate. The partisans who characterize gender-affirming care as radical gender ideology are just repeating right-wing talking points to delegitimize critical health care.”
Democrats said approved gender medical care for children is strictly nonsurgical, despite the testimony of Ms. Cole and an opening video showing a doctor describing sex change operations that he performs on children.
Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, was a witness for Democrats. He said experiences such as those Ms. Cole described are rare and that the only approved treatment for children seeking medical help for gender issues is social support and medication, not surgery.
“The very same medications being prescribed for transgender youth have been prescribed for other young people for other conditions for more than 40 years,” said Mr. Minter, who is transgender. “There is a substantial body of research that shows these treatments work. They improve mental health outcomes, quality of life, social relationships, family relationships, and they dramatically reduce suicidality.”
State bans on gender medical treatment for children, Mr. Minter said, “pose a serious threat to the health and safety of transgender young people across the country.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association endorse gender transition medical treatment for children.
The Health and Human Services Department says puberty blockers are fine for children. Hormone therapy in early adolescence, department officials said, is partially reversible.
The department said “gender-affirming surgeries [are] typically used in adulthood or case-by-case in adolescence.”
Ms. Cole said puberty blockers and hormone therapy have permanently altered her body and voice. Ms. Cole was prescribed Lupron to lower estrogen levels. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for gender transition treatment and warns that it could lead to cognitive problems and bone loss.
Ms. Cole and her parents had to sign consent forms that included a list of risks. Only some of the risks described the permanent problems she lives with today.
Her parents signed off on the treatment, she said, because doctors warned her that she would die unless they transitioned her into a male.
“No matter how much information they would have given me as a child, I just would not have been able to consent to this,” Ms. Cole said. “And my parents were required to sign off on these. But it was under duress. I don’t think it was really consent. It was coercion.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.