Support transgender kids, do not cause more harm

Shame on Sen. Richardson and Rep. Hilovsky for sponsoring a bill that would prohibit gender transition procedures for minors in Delaware. Why would our elected officials choose to restrict access to affirming, safe and evidence-based care for transgender children? Further, why would they think that they, as elected officials, have any right to decide what kind of healthcare a family can access for their child?  

Has either Richardson or Hilovsky consulted with trans people or their families in deciding to restrict their healthcare? I doubt it. On the other hand, I have worked with transgender healthcare professionals and those providing healthcare to transgender people, and I am appalled at the fact that these officials are causing real harm by even introducing this legislation. Trans children and their families face enough stigma without having to read in the paper that their local politicians are working to restrict their access to healthcare.

Gender-affirming care can be provided in a range of ways, sometimes including mental health, medical, surgical and social care. Gender-affirming surgeries are rarely performed on minors. Are puberty-blockers (non-surgical care) the concern of these officials? If so, they are hardly experimental as suggested. Puberty blockers have been used safely and effectively in cis-gender children since they were first approved by the FDA in 1993. 

Richardson and Hilovsky also note regret as a reason for limiting access to care. Again, if they worked with trans people and the medical professionals providing gender healthcare, they would have learned that detransitioning and regrets are exceedingly rare. This is because trans people are real, they exist, and the decision to transition isn’t something done on a whim.  

What we should be focused on instead is truly protecting trans youth. Not from themselves or their own decisions, but from stigma and harm. Trans youth have a significantly higher rate of suicidality than their cis peers. In fact, the Trevor Project reports that anti-transgender laws (like the one sponsored by Richardson and Hilovsky) have caused up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth. 

Every person has a right to healthcare, and I hope that this continues to be the case in Delaware. I implore readers to find ways that they can support and protect trans children as members of our Legislature work against them.