Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Transgender Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stood firm in its support for gender-affirming medical care for transgender children in the face of an escalating wave of bans and restrictions proposed by Republican lawmakers across the United States.

The AAP, representing 67,000 dedicated pediatricians, unanimously voted to reaffirm its 2018 position on the importance of these treatments. In addition, the board of directors made key decisions to bolster support for pediatricians. This includes offering supplementary resources such as clinical and technical reports, as well as commissioning an external review to comprehensively examine the research pertaining to transgender youth healthcare.

Expressing the academy's concerns about the limitations imposed on evidence-based healthcare access for young individuals, Mark Del Monte, CEO of the AAP, stated, "The additional recommendations also reflect the fact that the board is concerned about restrictions to accessing evidence-based health care for young people who need it." He further denoted these state-enforced restrictions as an "unprecedented government intrusion," affirming the need for an optimal, transparent process.

With approximately 21 states having passed laws that impede or prohibit gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, legal battles have ensued in most of these regions. Notably, a federal judge recently ruled that Arkansas' ban violated the Constitution. Similarly, temporary injunctions have been granted against bans in Alabama and Indiana.

In the aforementioned ruling against Arkansas' ban, the judge cited the position of leading medical groups. Arkansas has since appealed this decision.

Opponents of such treatments argue that children are not mature enough to make decisions about their own futures.

However, it is important to note that every major medical group, including the AAP and the American Medical Association (AMA), has steadfastly opposed these bans. They maintain that with proper administration, gender-affirming treatments are safe. Although the AAP and AMA support the right of children to receive this medical care, they do not provide age-specific guidelines.

The commitment of the AAP to advocating for gender-affirming medical care remains resolute, championing the well-being of transgender children and striving to ensure their access to appropriate healthcare services.