Republicans attack health care for transgender children

Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash

I am very concerned about the fact that in many states where Republicans oversee the government, they are passing laws making it illegal for parents to seek appropriate medical care for their children with gender dysphoria. This is defined as acute and chronic distress as a result of living in a body that does not reflect one’s experienced gender identity. These laws also make it illegal for physicians to provide such care.

The Republicans are doing this despite the fact that multiple studies have demonstrated that children and adolescents with gender dysphoria have a very high rate of depression and suicidal ideation, and that appropriate medical treatment can often alleviate these distressing and dangerous symptoms.

Many well-established medical and psychological organizations support helping children and families with this disorder.

Republican laws attacking health care for children and adolescents with gender identity problems are dangerous assaults on parents’ rights to seek appropriate medical treatment for their children and medical professionals’ rights to provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.

Medical decisions about a child or adolescent’s struggles with gender dysphoria are personal family matters that should be left to parents and medical professionals, who know what they are talking about. They should not be decided by Republican politicians.

All adults know how going through adolescence can be difficult. For children with gender identity problems, it can be life threatening, as suicide is many times a product of not offering them medical help. Let's not make it more difficult for these vulnerable young people.

I would suggest that for future elections, vote for Democrats who have demonstrated that they are more likely to vote to help with these problems. The current crop of Republicans focuses on praying for these children as a universal solution to everything, and then doing nothing or making things worse.

Kenneth J. Orlich

St. Joseph