Medical Experts Warn of the Disastrous Outcome From State Republican Bill Regarding Transgender Youth

Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 -- 2:01 PM

(Natalie Eilbert, Green Bay Press-Gazette) As the mental health of trans and gender diverse youth continues to alarm specialists across Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that medical experts warn will have disastrous outcomes for adolescents and families across the state.

According to Natalie Eilbert with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the bill, "Help Not Harm," would bar health care providers from conducting or making referrals for certain medical practices for youth under 18 "if done for the purpose of changing the minor's body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor's biological sex," according to a summary from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.

On Oct. 4, it generated heated public testimonies at the state Capitol. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is expected to veto the Republican bill if it passes committee and reaches the floor, but the bill's introduction, perhaps ironically, does harm in and of itself, said Stephanie Budge, an associate professor in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Research shows there's a psychological impact of these anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Even before we consider if it passes, there's so much harm, because it's dehumanizing," Budge said. Gender-affirming care encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral and medical interventions, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Contrary to many popular assumptions, gender-affirming care is not defined solely by medical interventions like surgery. Medical experts across the state and nation have resoundingly supported gender-affirming care for young people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, representing about 67,000 pediatricians, reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming care in August, maintaining that a comprehensive affirmative care model results in fewer mental health concerns for young people.

It also noted the harm of "reparative" approaches, which serve to prevent children and adolescents from identifying as transgender or exhibiting gender-diverse expressions, and have publicly denounced bills like "Help Not Harm."

Additionally, the Wisconsin Medical Society identified transgender individuals as being among the highest risk groups for suicide in the state. According to its policy compendium, the society opposes legislative restrictions on gender-affirming care and supports increased access to gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse youth.

Research overwhelmingly supports gender-affirming care for young people experiencing gender dysphoria, said Budge. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines gender dysphoria as a clinical symptom characterized by "a sense of alienation to some or all of the physical characteristics or social roles of one’s assigned gender."

It's also recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the guide used by mental health professionals in the United States.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.