State advisory on transgender youth just cruel politics | Commentary
The Florida Department of Health on Wednesday advised physicians that social gender transition, hormone therapy, and gender reassignment surgery should not be treatment options for transgender youth.
The communication, reacting to a fact sheet by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with science.
The information and guidance put forth in the Florida memo is dangerous and has the potential to cause harm to trans youth. It directly contradicts best practices and evidence-based care identified by medical and psychological organizations, in addition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with regards to gender transition. It ignores internationally established standards of care.
While not surprising, it is disappointing and quite frankly, terrifying. Misinformation from certain elected officials is nothing new at this point but this is a direct attempt to take away the rights of LGBTQIA youth, while fostering discrimination and fear-mongering against minorities.
The fact that false information is being given by a public health organization is highly disturbing and dangerous. Suicide rates among transgender youth are alarmingly high.
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To lower risk of suicide and shame, families, schools and all of society need to create a safe, accepting and affirming environment for all identities. Guidance from a health organization that misrepresents science and aims to take away their rights and access to medical care puts transgender youth at greater risk of depression, anxiety, difficulty with relationships, shame and suicide.
Florida needs to do better. We ALL need to do better. At the very least, we should be given accurate information based in science, not opinions based in fear, intolerance and lack of understanding.
This communication from Tallahassee is frightening and dangerous. We cannot allow attacks on our most vulnerable populations for political gain.
Dr. Melissa Fogel is a licensed psychologist at the Whole Health Psychological Center in West Palm Beach.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida medical advisory is anti-trans politics, not science
