To the editor:
As a liberal Democrat, I believe it is important to promote laws and policies that further evidence-based medicine, that allow people to live freely, and that protect gay teens and proto-gay children from stigmatization. In keeping with these values, Democrats should support bans on “gender affirming care” for minors.
“Gender affirming care” is a euphemism for surgical and chemical sex trait modification. To date, there is no credible scientific evidence that correlates these procedures with improved psychological outcomes or suicide prevention.
There is, however, mounting evidence that they cause lifelong medical harm and have a high regret rate. The Democratic party has touted itself as “The Party of Science,” yet they obstinately ignore the science when it comes to “gender affirming care.”
“Gender identity” is defined as a person’s inner sense of their gender. It is merely a set of beliefs, not rooted in anything scientific. “Gender” is a social construct that categorizes traits as either male or female based on stereotypes. Gender has been used to oppress women and limit their opportunities, and it has been used in the shaming and bullying of boys who are viewed as “effeminate.”
Children do not have a sense of their “gender identity” unless it is suggested to them by adults. Some children may develop a sense of “gender dysphoria”: self-hatred stemming from beliefs about gender not matching the biological reality of their sexed bodies.
Gender dysphoria can come about for more distressing reasons, such as sexual assault or internalized homophobia. The best way to care for these kids is not to chemically block their puberty, not to give them synthetic cross-sex hormones, and not to castrate them or remove their breasts. To do so is a denial of their right to grow into adulthood with healthy, intact minds and bodies.
Children and teens lack the ability to give informed consent to any of these procedures. Furthermore, many gender non-conforming kids grow up to be gay or lesbian adults. Any attempt to chemically or surgically alter these kids is akin to a campaign of eugenics and erasure of the homosexual population, which Democrats should never participate in.
Parents: please celebrate the uniqueness of your children and remind them that there are a million ways to be a girl and a million ways to be a boy and that any attempt to change the sex of your body will only leave you disillusioned. New Hampshire recently introduced two new bills to ban sex trait modification on minors: HB 377 and HB 712. It is time for Massachusetts to follow suit.
Evelyn Ullman, MA State Coordinator, Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender
Lynnfield
