US lawmakers monitoring England’s restrictions on gender transitions for minors

Legislators in some US states are using a recent decision in England to restrict gender transitions for young people as support for their own related proposals. This is not the first time that US lawmakers have looked to Europe for policy ideas on transgender healthcare for minors. While health organizations in the US and Europe endorse gender-affirming care for transgender youth and adults, some US legislators are citing non-US research or policies to justify their restrictive legislation. Critics see these restrictions as a political attempt to erase transgender individuals under the guise of concern for children.

In England, the National Health Service has implemented rules limiting medical gender transitions for individuals under 16, including restrictions on puberty blockers. While the NHS decision received support from the Conservative government, it is not a blanket restriction as some private clinics still provide puberty blockers for a cost. US lawmakers, such as Republican state Senators in Kansas and Georgia, have pointed to England’s policy as they push bans on gender-affirming care for minors in their respective states. However, major US medical groups endorse puberty blockers for adolescents meeting certain criteria and criticize the politicization of healthcare decisions.

Critics of the restrictions, including organizations like WPATH and the European Association for Transgender Health, have raised concerns about the targeting of transgender youth with policies like those in England. They argue that decisions about healthcare should be based on clinical evidence rather than politics, and warn of potential harm to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming care for transgender children, including hormone treatments when appropriate, emphasizing the importance of proper medical care for this population.

Transgender activists, like 27-year-old Iridescent Riffel from Kansas, view the English policy as too conservative and harmful to transgender youth. Puberty blockers can help prevent the development of physical features incongruent with one’s gender identity, making social transitioning easier for transgender youth. Riffel emphasizes the challenges faced by transgender individuals in society, including judgments and safety concerns. She believes that bans on gender-affirming care are not about healthcare but rather an attempt to erase transgender individuals from public life. The debate over gender-affirming care continues to be a contentious issue in the US and other countries, with differing opinions on the best approach to supporting transgender youth.