In April 2021 the legislature of the U.S. State of Arkansas introduced a bill that prohibited doctors from providing gender-transition treatments to people under 18 years old. The bill would make it a felony for doctors to administer puberty blockers, hormones and gender-reaffirming surgery to anyone under the age of 18. Opponents of the bill argue that it is an assault on transgender rights and that transition treatments are a private matter that should be decided between parents, their children and doctors. Supporters of the bill argue that children are too young to make the decision to receive gender transition treatment and only adults over the age of 18 should be allowed to do so.
Narrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Political party:
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No
@9J32V7J11mos11MO
Same as plastic surgery of any kind it is the person's choice and if it helps them with their happiness it doesn't matter to the public and if they regret it later too bad for them, should be able to do it younger to prevent puberty and without parents due to homophobia
@9G8XD4V1yr1Y
It is the worst thing in the world. I don't like it, I don't support it and I will never support it. Nobody should have any ideas about it because it makes our world worse.
@9TJ6X483mos3MO
Exactly I see your point, it creates more drama throughout the world and nobody should support such an idea.
@9G5FYPV1yr1Y
Last week over the internet there was a big issue with a woman (their choice) who tried transitioning into a man (their choice) and they regretted it immensely, unless you are above the age of eighteen people should not put any gender transitioning medication in their bodies unless it is needed for a medical issue. Because what if it was you? Or your child/spouse? Actions anywhere for anything have consequences.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No, children should not be allowed to make irreversible life decisions
@9LTNST28mos8MO
If you are not living this experience, then you shouldn't have an opinion. No person under the age of 18 undergoes any kind of irreversible change to their body, so it's literally a moot point. Let people live their lives as their true authentic selves. This is a decision best left up to the person and their families, not the government or politicians.
@9LTPJYJ8mos8MO
Destroying your body for the sake of a delusional identity is an irreversible change. You die younger, lose your ability to have children, and become permanently traumatised and live a life of regret and grief.
@9GD7JQH1yr1Y
Children should not be able or allowed to make irreversible decisions regarding their bodies before the age of 18. And adults should not be able to make those decisions for children. If at 18 years old they decide they want to transition that’s great, but I do not think we know enough about the health effects of not letting children go through puberty and letting their bodies develop fully before pumping them full of hormones and going through life changing surgery.
Essentially everything as said above, this question operates on an entirely false assumption that gender is binary at all.
@9FSCFF61yr1Y
the number of people with gender dysphoria has shot up immensly and I highly doubt its because were more accepting. Rapid onset gender dysphoria is obviously correct seeing how many people are trans now. the way that transgenders are celebrated and suppoted give some bias when people consider transitioning because its seen as something courageous, brave, and knowing ones self well even though its an illness. seeing teachers intoduce these topics to kids is a very real probelm too as kids will see this as an easy way to get attention and validation and with so much reinforcment the kids will start to completely believe and agree with how they identified even though they dont know what theyre talking about.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes
@9LTNST28mos8MO
Allowing a person to socially transition decreases the risk of suicide and suicidal ideation. Please see the PFLAG or The Trevor Project for actually statistics.
@9YKBK6M1mo1MO
While it may reduce the risk of suicide and intent, the idea of doing such a thing in the first place to a child is wrong. In general children are unable to get irreversible things done to their body with or without parental permission for a reason. This should be no different than that, and despite the potential for suicide, what happens if they're wrong? Its just as likely for them to relapse into suicidal ideation.
The precedence of a government being able to say who someone can or cannot identify as is a dangerous road when considering it can potentially be applied to the self-identification of certain political groups and protected classes.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No, and ban all gender transitioning treatments
@9LTNST28mos8MO
If it's not happening to you or someone you love, then you have no say. It doesn't affect you at all! Your life will go on as normal, so leave these people alone.
@9LTPJYJ8mos8MO
It does affect us if hundreds of thousands of white people living in Canada are being casterated at the sae time as immigrants are being pumped into our provinces and Tyrannical Trudeau is discriminating in the favor of minorities and immigrants. It is part of a process to create a One-Party State.
Gender is an entirely made up concept and to pass any law or bill on the basis that there exists 2 binary categories you must fall into with any amount of authority is irresponsible and does not, by any metric, follow the science. Transgender youth are at a far increased risk of suicide than heterosexual youth for the very reason that they are not accepted among anyone in the community, much less accepted by anyone in a position of power. These issues should at the very least by handled by people who actually understand the science behind it, people who know and study gender for a living, not cisgender men who grew up without even the idea of questioning what gender is.
Let people be who they want to be. In a literal sense it isn’t anyone’s business but that individual’s.
@9H23R6Z1yr1Y
Why ban it when it doesn't affect you and it helps so many other people? Many people end up more happy because of Gender Transitioning
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, but only for non-surgical treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy
@9G2J47B1yr1Y
no, due to the fact that puberty blockers also affect your body's hormones. kids are very easily persuaded and they should not be able to make those decisions for themselves and the parents sould not have a say aswell
@9G4G4TDConservative1yr1Y
Puberty blockers and hormone therapy messes with a child's development and is not reversible. That's literally what is used to castrate sex offenders (ex:lupron).
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, but only if they are at least 16 years old
@9FSCFF61yr1Y
16 year olds dont know anything about themselves and their confusion is highly elevated by their hormones. they do not have the capacity to make good life altering decicions and shouldnt be allowed to. why would a kid know so certainly about themselves and about the topic of gender that they think they know whats really best. not only that but transgenderism is not being looked at the proper way, gender dysphoria is a mental illness and needs to be treated as such. making these changes to your hormones and anatomy could be a good option for some, but I think that many would better from psycho… Read more
@9FKSZH81yr1Y
if you are under the age of 18, you should not be able to receive gender transition treatment because of how young they are. It can ruin your brain and physical growth and o lot of times people regret it
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, but with parental permission
@9G8DVM4 1yr1Y
children under 13 should not even have talks about the lgbtqa+ community in school because it's a confusing topic if you tackle it at a young age. if young children get encouraged to commit to a gender transition at an early age, they might not like it once they transition. the whole transgender topic is just confusing to me but children should not be told by teachers about lgbtqa+ because it can hurt how they think as well. let children pick their own path before you bring idea's about the Lgbtqa+ community.
@9GBYY4P1yr1Y
I heavily agree, ROGD (Rapid onset gender dysphoria) is a serious thing and providing kids with the resources to go behind their parents backs to transition is dangerous to our future
Gender dysphoria is a recognized medical condition. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports affirming care, including puberty blockers, for transgender youths. These treatments are reversible and can provide significant mental health benefits by reducing distress. What if parental disagreement or lack of understanding is causing harm to the child's mental health?
@cora1mo1MO
"Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria" has no basis in fact.
@VengefulYakGreen1yr1Y
Yhe LGBTQ+ community from a young age. By doing this, we can create a more inclusive and accepting society. For instance, it might help children who are questioning their gender identity to understand they are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with them. It could also foster empathy in peers who don't identify as LGBTQ+, reducing bullying and discrimination. What are your thoughts about the potential benefits of this type of education, and how do you suggest we balance this with your concerns about confusion?
@9G9NTNT1yr1Y
Yes I definitely agree with that. It's too much information for kids so just let them be kids until they find out about it around their teen years like how I grew up learning about it.
For some kids, gender identity isn't a "wait and see" situation. They know who they are from a very young age, and having to navigate puberty in a body that doesn't align with their identity can be extremely distressing. That's why treatments like puberty blockers exist, to give these kids time to explore their identity without the pressure of irreversible physical changes. What do you think about this? Is there a middle ground that respects both the need for kids to be kids and their self-identified gender identity?
@9ZHBQHX2wks2W
In a review of 27 studies involving almost 8,000 teens and adults who had transgender surgeries, mostly in Europe, the U.S and Canada,
1%
on average expressed regret.
ONLY 1%. IT INCLUDES ADULTS.
Source: How often do transgender people regret transitioning? | CTV News
@9G5FYPV1yr1Y
Once again, if the child at the end of the transition regrets their choice, or isn't pleased with how they appear, that is the parents/childs' fault. No government or medical office should be sued for the patients choice. Which is why the patient should be an adult to make their own legalized choice.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
What is the best way to balance an individual’s right to express their identity with the need to protect them from possibly making irreversible choices too early?
Surgeries that are irreversible shouldn't ask the parents for consent, instead, they should put an age requirement of 18+. Otherwise, for treatments that are reversible should have a lower age cap.
@9XJDXXW2mos2MO
I cannot make an informed opinion. I have no idea if it is safe long term. So my go to policy, is when you are able to get a tattoo, you can get transition surgery. Before that I think you are to young and dumb.
@9XBX4XL2mos2MO
Provide adequate gender therapy and informed consent.
@9X4XJVH2mos2MO
i believe people under 20 should not be allowed to decide what they are and who they like.
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, as long as treatment is not subsidized by the government
@9G5FYPV1yr1Y
People under the age of 18 should not transition with gender incase of regrets and mistaken identity.
@8S4YQ5C4yrs4Y
yes, after they are connected to proper supports and resources
@8SF7HN34yrs4Y
No, the body and brain need to finish developing before hormone treatment can start in order to prevent the increased risk of mental health problems increasing.
@8S4TGRS4yrs4Y
No, children need time to decided whether or not they truely believe themself to be the opposite gender of their original sex
@8S5LPK44yrs4Y
Yes, but I think it should be case by case because every body is different and it depends on the health of the patient.
@9G67KN61yr1Y
Yes, with parental permission, at least thought about it for a year or 2 and non-surgical treatments
@9JQ8T5J11mos11MO
Yes, but only allow 16-17 year olds to receive it with consent from either a parent/guardian or a judge, & require a psychological examination to ensure they fully understand the choice, but also allow for those under 16 but over 12 to access non-surgical options with parental/guardian or judicial consent.
@9JQ8T5J11mos11MO
Yes, but allow 16-17 year olds to receive it with consent for either a parent/guardian or a judge, & require a psychological examination to ensure they fully understand the choice, but also allow for those under 16 but over 12 to access non-surgical options with parental/guardian or judicial consent.
@9FVD8291yr1Y
Children’s under 18 years of age should not get gender transition treatments until they turn 18 or 19!
@9FM9QN91yr1Y
No, give them more time to be their real selves and wait until legal age.
they should be allowed to talk to medical professionals if they want to transition when they turn 18, otherwise you shouldn’t transition until you’re 18+
@8S5FBKP4yrs4Y
@9JXFF3P10mos10MO
No, people under 18 do not have a fully developed brain and should not be making irreversible life decisions since they're not fully developed mentally.
@9FGK5221yr1Y
Yes, they are life saving procedures
before 18, no, after 18, go right ahead
@8TJ222S3yrs3Y
yes, everyone should be given the right to feel comfortable in their own skin, no matter the age.
@9WQ6TP32mos2MO
i dont think that it is right if you were born a girl than you are a girl and you cant change it god gave you your gender also under the age of 18 you are still figring it out at least have parental consent
Yes, but they should undergo psychological evaluations to make sure they are making the right choice for themselves
@9QW7TQZ5mos5MO
Yes, anyone should receive any medical treatment on demand, after consultation with a medical practitioner.
@8T9BCG94yrs4Y
No, and ban all gender transitioning treatments No, children should not be allowed to make irreversible life decisions
@8S4Y39H4yrs4Y
Social transition and hormone blockers, but not surgery
@9WBKKNM2mos2MO
Absolutely not. Children are just that, children. Their brains are not developed and they should not to be given the freedoms to act as though they are and as though they have the ability to understand and internalize the long-term impact of their choices.
I thought I was gay when I was 16. All I can say I thank heavens that phase wasn't typically accompanied by chemical and surgical intervention.
@cora1mo1MO
Yes, with some prerequisites
I believe that if the parents and child both agree, the child is 13 or older, and the treatment isn't surgical and/or is reversible (puberty blockers, hormone therapy, etc) then it should be allowed.
@9XND5BK 2mos2MO
Yes, but more importantly we need to change to a culture of acceptance and respect so that people don’t feel a need to transition medically.
@9XGQGHX2mos2MO
ABSOLUTELY THE **** NOT.
@9WYDMSD2mos2MO
Yes, 14-15 should be the minimum age with informed consent, we should try to get parents involved as having family support is ideal but many families are abusive. this is how it should be for hormones and puberty blockers, surgery should be advised to not be done until the body has stopped developing and when that person has been on hormones and stuff for some period of time. the age for surgery should be at least 18 with some access to someone 17 if its deemed necessary by several levels of authority and the person is shown to fully understand their choice if it is deemed necessary to prevent suicide.
@9WHRDPN2mos2MO
Yes, definitely for non-surgical treatments, and if there is a risk to the underage person's life, surgery has to be legally possible
@9WBRK8D2mos2MO
No, with the exception of intersex(xxxy, xxy,xyy,etc) individuals who are making the choice to enhance gender
@9W93D5K2mos2MO
Yes, Non-surgical treatments should be able to be authorized at the age of 12. Minors should be eligible for surgical treatments either when 2 years of transitioning occurred or when the minor reaches 16.
@9TXBP2YIndependent3mos3MO
Yes, only non surgical, unless medically required. Surgical options should require parental involvement and consent under 16.
@9RQNPMR5mos5MO
Only after 25 when the age of sacrifice is passed. Before that people need the freedom to try on different identities without stigma and change their minds. Not to sacrifice themselves on the hill of one thing or another. By 25 you are more likely to be sure of who you are.
@9RCRJ4F5mos5MO
This isn’t a “yes or no” question. Youth, parents, and medical professionals need to all collaborate on these decisions.
@9QSRMWF6mos6MO
I believe puberty blockers are fine, they are made to simply pause puberty and it can be resumed at any time. Though when it comes to therapy, it should be psychological instead of hormonal.
@9FQ2ZJY1yr1Y
Yes, It should be case by case and with professional guidance. Government needs to leave this issue alone and support researchers, pediatricians and mental health professionals do their work independently and free of political influence. There are way too many feelings tied to both sides of this debate and that shouldn't be what informs these critical decisions.
@9FQ2ZJY1yr1Y
It should be case by case and with professional guidance. Government needs to leave this issue alone and support researchers, pediatricians and mental health professionals do their work independently and free of political influence. There are way too many feelings tied to both sides of this debate and that shouldn't be what informs these critical decisions.
@Laine-R.-Veitch6mos6MO
I feel children make up things, and while I’m not saying a trans-gender child is possible. In fact, I support trans kids in the sense of cross-dressing and pronouns. However, permanently mutilating, even HRT or puberty blockers can do damage that makes the sex organ no longer function, give people infections every month, and make them regret their choices. Because of this, I believe they should not be given cosmetic surgery until they are the age of consent.
@9HYT9DJ12mos12MO
these are kids who don't even know what they actually want to eat for lunch. so no dont let them lop off body parts
@9HCP7QV1yr1Y
No. Children cannot consent to such “treatments”. And government should not be misusing tax dollars to fund the mutilation of children.
no, you should be 25 years old for you to be able to make these decisions.
@9F5KMPV1yr1Y
With the guidance of health care professionals and therapists they should allowed to. Every case is different. Some trans kids are at high risk of suicide without medical affirmation and others can wait. This is not a yes/ no situation. The experience of trans kids vary greatly.
@9F3YN581yr1Y
These are such big life changing decisions for someone to make, the human brain isn’t fully mature until their mid 20s. People should be allowed to live as they wish but any life altering operation like a sex change should be considered once the individual is fully matured.
I believe they should be at least 16 years old and no surgical treatments until they’re 18 years old.
@8ZRQ7W73yrs3Y
Yes, and increase 2SLGBTQ+ health funding
@8TZ4L8S3yrs3Y
No, If the child cannot vote or drink, why would we allow them to change their biological composition.
@8S69HSH4yrs4Y
Yes, with parent or guardian signature
@8S5GL9F4yrs4Y
The age should be closer to 14-16
Yes, reduce the minimum age to 16.
@8S58M6K4yrs4Y
Whatever makes them happy
@9MH8X9L7mos7MO
Yes, but also includes atleast 16+(Grade 10 and up). And Surgery routes allowed at 18+
I feel that any qualified minors do have the right to be able to go through transitioning, but limited to just Hormonal Therapy, Puberty Blocking, Birth Control, ETC. Another thing, I feel like oneself sould also be able to go through minor surgeries, examples such as breast reduction/inhancement, or just figure shaping in general to a certain extent, and surgeries should be more strict in who gets it to avoid any mistakes or regret that may or may not form.
@9FJSRV91yr1Y
Yes, including surgical treatments, given that proper psychological evaluation deems that it would reduce risk of harm to the individual. This would also require a far more robust and better funded mental health system to ensure there are no exuberant waiting lists
Yes, and the minor must pass any regularly required assessments for hormones, surgery, or other treatments. Hormone blockers should be more widely accessible to questioning youth. This was written by a trans & non-binary person 💕
@9TVNGZD3mos3MO
Wtf is wrong with people these days if you say yes to any of this **** you are severely sick in the head
@9584MQ72yrs2Y
Yes, but only if they are at least 14 years old
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.