Dr. Susan Bradley, founder of Toronto's gender identity clinic for children, has decades of clinical experience with gender dysphoric and autistic youth. She knows whereof she speaks. Listen to her interview on "Wrongspeak" here.
Interview with Dr. Bradley touches on #ROGD , Lisa Littman's study, the huge increase in girls presenting to gender clinics, the link between ASD and/or same-sex attraction w/gender dysphoria, & much more.The feeling of "not fitting in" is a key factor for these vulnerable teens.
Susan Bradley has a deep understanding of (in particular) girls who have issues w/social communication and/or "repetitive/obsessive interests," and how this contributes to gender dysphoria. "The dilemma is that we didn't appreciate this was an issue until about 15 years ago."
It's the high-functioning ASD teens (who until very recently were misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all) who are at risk. So refreshing to listen to a sane clinician who aims to protect youth from drastic medical intervention, vs the affirm-affirm-affirm cowboy/girl clinicians!
Bradley confirms that a majority of gender-dysphoric adolescent girls are likely lesbian & don't need medical intervention. She (and her former student Ken Zucker) worked to protect these teens from unnecessary, irreversible medicalization--to the opprobrium of trans activists.
Bradley on social media: "There are trans support groups that don't understand ppl are leaping into it too quickly...don't understand the vulnerability [of these teens]...we would want them to also talk to ppl who are gay or lesbian [& realized they don't need to transition]"
Bradley discusses importance of a first sexual experience in resolving gender dysphoria in adolescents. "By foreclosing on the identity too soon, we do them a disservice." She cites example of 15-yr-old boy who thought he was trans, but accepted he was gay after falling in love.
Bradley: "If you have a culture where trans has a high profile and is more respectable, wouldn't you rather be trans than an ordinary homosexual?" She goes on to acknowledge that many LG kids don't feel "normal" & see trans as a way out.
Bradley says many modern clinics don't offer adequate psychological support & assessment for youth, & parents are frustrated. (Our followers are well aware of this problem, but Dr. Bradley makes it clear how things have changed radically & not for the better in recent years.)
Soh asks Bradley: Where will these girls be in 10 years? Bradley expresses concern, and notes "we don't have the data" on detransitioners. All we have are anecdotes. "The numbers are growing and that's what's worrying."
Bradley: "The first part of the Hippocratic oath is Do No Harm....this is an area where there is no evidence-based treatment [for the rapid-onset girls]. We may have a population where there is a much higher level of desistance than earlier studies."
