Key Takeaways:
- A new government study shows that medical transitions for adults with gender dysphoria often fail to improve their lives.
- Despite these findings, the same failed treatments are now being pushed onto children.
- The study reveals high rates of suicide, unemployment, and unhappiness among those who undergo gender surgeries.
- The push for these surgeries began with unproven ideas and catchy media stories.
- The results raise serious questions about the safety and benefits of these treatments for anyone, especially children.
The Science of Gender
Most people know that being male or female is not just about how someone feels. It’s deeply rooted in our DNA. Every cell in the body has markers that show whether we’re male or female. This is science that’s hard to ignore. Yet, during his presidential campaign, Joe Biden strongly supported the idea that men can become women and vice versa. He even called these transitions “health care” and pushed this agenda while in office.
But here’s the problem: a recent government report confirms that these medical interventions, like surgeries and hormone treatments, haven’t made life better for most adults who undergo them. Despite this, the same treatments are now being promoted for children.
The Report’s Findings
In May 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report called “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” The report looked at how well these medical treatments actually work. What did it find? In short, they don’t work as promised.
The report stated that even after surgery, many people’s lives didn’t improve. A transgender psychologist noted that “improvement in their actual life situation is not always observed.” Some people said they felt better, but the report highlighted that these feelings don’t always match real-life results.
When asked if medical transitions at least helped with gender dysphoria, the answer was surprising: “Interestingly, there was no relationship between reported happiness and stage of transition.” This means that whether someone had just started their transition or had completed surgery, their happiness levels didn’t really change.
This lack of improvement is why the report called the basis for these treatments “weak” and the results “failed” when it comes to minors.
The Movement’s History
So, where did this idea of transitioning come from? It’s been around for a long time. Harry Benjamin, known as the “father of transgender medicine,” started this movement in the mid-20th century. He promised that changing people’s bodies could help them feel more like the gender they identified with. But even Benjamin faced criticism. The Journal of the American Medical Association once called his work “quackery,” a term for fake or unscientific practices.
One of the first known cases of gender surgery was that of Einar Wegener, who became Lili Elbe in the 1930s. Wegener died after a series of surgeries, living a life filled with suffering. This sets a pattern: the idea of changing genders has always been fraught with problems.
In 1952, a former soldier in the U.S. traveled to Denmark for gender surgery. The media sensationalized the story, calling it “EX-GI BECOMES BLONDE BEAUTY.” The soldier was greeted by 300 reporters upon return and even got paid $20,000 for interviews. This media hype helped kickstart the idea that changing genders could be a solution for some people’s struggles.
The Dutch Study
In the Netherlands, a survey of 229 patients who underwent gender surgeries revealed shocking results. While some reported feeling happier, the real-life outcomes were much darker. For example:
- One in seven men who transitioned to women had attempted suicide after their treatment.
- One in 36 women who transitioned to men had done the same.
- Three out of all the patients studied had actually died by suicide in the 10 years before the study.
- Many were unemployed: 60% of male-to-female transitioners and 37% of female-to-male transitioners had no jobs.
- Most didn’t have romantic partners: 59% of male-to-female transitioners and 33% of female-to-male transitioners were single.
The study concluded that while some people felt happier, their actual lives didn’t improve. In fact, pursuing gender changes often led to new problems. These findings align with other studies showing high rates of suicide and mental health issues in the transgender community.
The Gender Industry’s Response
Despite these failed results, the gender transition industry has created a model for treating children. The model is as follows:
- Start puberty blockers at age 12.
- Prescribe cross-sex hormones at 16.
- Perform surgery at 18.
This approach ignores the fact that even adults who went through these treatments didn’t see their lives improve. Now, children are being targeted with the same methods, even though the evidence shows they don’t work.
The Bigger Picture
The push for gender transitions has become a lucrative business. Doctors, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies make a lot of money from these treatments. But the real cost is being paid by the people who undergo them, many of whom end up with the same or even worse problems than before.
The report’s findings should make everyone pause. If adults aren’t benefiting from these treatments, why are we pushing them onto children? The answer likely has more to do with politics and profit than with helping people.
The Future of Gender Medicine
The study’s conclusion is clear: transitioning doesn’t guarantee happiness. In fact, it can create new problems. Yet, the gender transition industry continues to grow, ignoring the science and the evidence.
For parents, policymakers, and anyone who cares about children’s well-being, this report should be a wake-up call. We need to think carefully about how we’re treating gender dysphoria, especially in minors. The current approach is failing – and it’s time to look for better solutions.
