02/03/2024
[Note: Minor edits made for improved clarity/accuracy and to add References.]
As a registered psychologist with a special interest in pediatric gender identity and an active member of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (a worldwide cross-disciplinary association), I stay abreast of the research and provide therapy and consultation to transgender children/youth and their families. I would like to share some of my thoughts on the recent news in our province.
Smith’s new gender policies largely conflict with current research.
Everyone should be aware that, contrary to what Smith has implied publicly, puberty blockers do not cause sex-characteristic-related changes to the body, permanently or otherwise. They temporarily stop puberty from continuing, providing the child potentially with years in which to develop further emotionally, cognitively, and socially, enabling them and their parents to make a more informed decision when the child is older. At any time, they can decide to stop taking the blocker and puberty will then continue to proceed using the hormones the body generates naturally. Or, usually at around age 16, they can decide to take hormone therapy to effect pubertal changes more aligned with their gender identity if their trans/nonbinary identity has persisted.
Denying puberty blockers until age 16 renders the blockers pretty much useless, as most children will have already experienced the bulk of pubertal changes by that age.
This does not mean that puberty blocking is not a complex decision to be taken lightly, or that any child questioning their identity should take them. There are absolutely many significant factors that need to be considered. But to take away the right from children AND the rights of their parents/guardians to access this option goes against human rights. These are decisions to be made individually by families and their team of medical and mental health specialists, not by politicians.
The risks of loss of access to treatments and to safe supports in schools are huge. According to a 2021 American report1, 35% of trans/nonbinary youth have experienced homelessness or housing instability. 14% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth report that they were kicked out or abandoned or they ran away out of fear of parental abuse. A recent Canadian study2 reports that 40% of trans youth have attempted su***de, and we know that providing an affirmative environment reduces this risk.
Having to opt in for sexual and gender education sends a message to children there is something wrong with diverse identities. With fewer children educated, fewer will be understanding and supportive of those who are gender diverse, and more children and youth will be “stuffing” their own diverse experiences and paying a price with their mental health. This will increase isolation and bullying and decrease self-acceptance.
I strongly recommend a retraction of the new policies.
References:
1 DeChants, J.P., Green, A.E., Price, M.N, & Davis, C.K. (2021). Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth. West Hollywood, CA: The Trevor Project.
2 Kingsbury, M., Hammond, N.G., Johnstone, F., Colman, I., (2022). Suicidality among sexual minority and transgender adolescents: a nationally representative population-based study of youth in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 194(22), E767-E774. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.212054
