I believe medical interventions for transitioning should be based on the person’s age of consent. Here’s the thing, y oung children are constantly sorting and processing their internal feelings and the message s that society presents about sex and gender roles. It’s typical for preschool aged (and older) children to declare they are the opposite gender and then drop the subject entirely ; plenty of children play dress up and enjoy all types of ‘ gendered’ toys without making gender or sex declarations about their feelings or activities.

Rather than realizing this is a natural part of child development, some parents overreact to this stage and irrationally punish the child for perceived errant behaviors, while other parents go overboard in supporting the child’s ‘tra ns identity, ’ which might naturally wax and wane as the child grows older. Admittedly tang enti ally, with e verything now magnified through the lenses of social media, doors have opened for a small percentage of attention seekers, grifters and Mun chausen- by- Proxy type parents to make use of their children for their own purposes.

W e do know brain development is not complete until the early 20s. Children do not have executive function and the ability to clearly see the future repercussions of current actions. We currently don’t have abundant results of the long-term side effects of puberty blockers sussed out; just like other hormonal medications they may end up delivering people a huge dose of cancer or any of the myriad of side effects rattled off at the end of a phar maceutical commercial. Making unproven medical interventions to oppose the natural growth processes on behalf of young children who have not completed developing their brains is, in my opinion, experimenting on vulnerable humans.

My brother was born with a severe cleft lip and pala te. He had a certain am ount of reconstructive surgery as a baby and young child so that he could eat and speak, but then he had to go through puberty and reach the majority of his growth before he had the final reconstructive surgeries. Children are getting elective plastic surgeries at progressively younger ages and I think in a way, some people feel like transitioning children is akin to a rhinoplasty for a kid who is teased in school about having a big nose.

Society-wide, s chools, churches and clubs need to foster an accepting, non- bullying culture that makes all children feel as comfortable as possible, whatever clothes and accessories they want to wear, whatever toys and games they want to play, whatever subjects they want to study . If outside forc es were not so oppressive, children would not internalize negative feelings about themselves and the per ception of being trans.

Young/teen c hildren who express body dysphoria and/or mental health issues like depression or suicidal ideation should be treated with supportive psychological/psychiatric therapy that focuses on self-acceptance, managing social situations and helps the person plan for the future with a clear understanding of their own feelings. Then when they are old enough to evaluate the information, the decision to transition medically can be ethically made with informed consent .