Utah should reverse its ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Proponents of the ban, which was signed into law on Jan. 28, say that medical interventions for transgender youth are dangerous and radical and that the research is not clear.
However, those in favor of gender-affirming care, like Utah State Sen. Daniel Thatcher (R), know that “every credible medical organization on the planet says that that is the safest, best and most appropriate care to save those lives” (Yurcaba, 2023). The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all support gender-affirming care. The NIH published research which concluded that working with a team of mental health professionals, doctors and surgeons who provide puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones, and later gender-affirming surgery, provides youth experiencing gender dysphoria “the opportunity to develop into well-functioning young adults” (de Vries et al, 2014). Countless research before and after this particular study confirms these findings.
In their most recent national survey, The Trevor Project found that, of Utah’s transgender and nonbinary youth, 56% considered suicide and 22% attempted suicide within the past year. 43% of LGBTQ+ youth in Utah said the recent politics has negatively affected their well-being (2022). Gender-affirming care saves lives. Gender-affirming care adds to quality of life for transgender and nonbinary youth. Gender-affirming care should be left to those who are closest to the experience: the youth, their parents and their medical health team. If you want to help trans kids, please contact your lawmakers and tell them to reverse this inhumane law. And to Utah lawmakers, please soften your hearts and help save these amazing kids.
Haley Lewis, Murray