Next I would like to comment on some of the anecdotal stories provided by several members. Even though I may disagree with other’s opinions, having a dialog is still important.
"I knew this gay person…I knew a bi girl…she was a tomboy but is married with 9 kids…I wished I was a boy when I was young…"
Firstly, with no disrespect, some of these stories sound very much like the “I have a black friend so I can’t be a racist” trope. While there may be some intersectionality or shared experiences between the lives of gay, lesbian and bisexual folks with those of the trans persuasion, to assume there is some 1:1 correlation or equivalence would be an inaccurate perception.
With that being said, the intent of these
I knew a or I was a… stories has not escaped me but the fact is, one thing is not like the other except perhaps in peripheral ways and while it great to show some degree of open-mindedness and lack of prejudice or bias, for some reason that same courtesy of openness isn’t extended to making any attempts to understand the lives and needs trans people and especially trans youth.
I get it. The fear that kids may grow out of it or it’s just a phase, they’re not emotionally mature enough to make life changing decisions and they may not feel the same way when they are older and have regrets is really of the highest concern and I certainly don’t have a problem with that or disagree but these worries should not prevent or exclude all properly diagnosed children from receiving the care to best address their individual situations.
It seems some people want to deny that kids can even have life crippling gender dysphoria while clinical observations and research indicate that indeed this phenomenon exists and is very real. Even the DSM-V lists an A and B diagnostic criteria for those under 12 as having early onset gender dysphoria (GD) and older adolescents considered to have late onset GD with different guidelines for each. Adults have their own separate criteria.
I will admit it is all pretty complicated and more research is needed but a March 2025 study tends to indicate one of the two youth groups may have more secondary problems or comorbidities and in my opinion, this study also indicates the need for different therapeutic protocols for each group.
That study can be found here, it is not behind a paywall:
Onset Age and Internalizing Problems in Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Is There an Association?
As to the I knew a or I was a tomboy story, one comment stuck out at me and that was “I wished I was a boy”. Innocent enough but that is one significant phrase in assessing GD in children: there is a key difference between I wish I was and I am.
Let me add a few things just to clarify a few things so some don’t think I’m some radical trans activist or gender ideologue waving a tri-color flag promoting we transition kids.
I do not think it is right or wise to suggest to young children that they can “change sex” or transition. This idea and desire has to 100% come from the kids themselves first and keep ya damn older kids off Tic Tok and social media or it will rot their minds with all this 256 gender and non-binary stuff. (Note: I am a very senior citizen so stay off my lawn)
Although there are always outliers, I also think the idea that parents are pushing this onto their kids is mostly a myth. Most parents are horrified at having a trans kid and struggle to come to terms with it. Those that don't usually lose their children.
Although I have advocated for trans youth for over a decade through my attempts to provide information and education on this topic so that people may have more informed opinions, I recognize my own degree of bias in these matters in spite of striving for objectivity. I understand my efforts are mostly futile and people with strong opinions aren’t likely to change but yet I persist because I think it is important to present both sides of the issue. You know, like Alternate Opinions
I find the dogma and approved narrative of modern trans activism mostly repugnant and counter-productive. Transgender people do not like me at all and I have been banned from every one of their online communities I have tried to investigate. I have been called an anti-trans hater and a TERF and that was when they were being polite.
I also try my best to be courteous and respectful but know I sometimes come across as less than so as I am passionate about this subject. For that I apologize and will continue to try and improve.