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I have not researched this thoroughly, and I am also cis, so I'm only going to cover the major bullet points. If you tweet corrections and/or additional nuance, I will add them to the thread. (Transphobes will be blocked.)
Let's talk about puberty blockers.
Let's talk about puberty blockers.
If a prepubescent youth comes out as trans, or as being uncertain or confused about their gender, they can delay the onset of puberty with puberty blockers.
This is not the same thing as transitioning.
This is not the same thing as transitioning.
Puberty makes your body develop along hormonal lines in many ways, some of which cannot be undone and some of which are very costly to change. Puberty blockers delay this from happening.
Puberty blockers essentially buy time. Maybe the youth isn't ready to transition, or they aren't sure whether they're trans or not, or maybe they are but are ultimately fine with having the expected puberty.
There's a rainbow of possible results.
There's a rainbow of possible results.
During this period (or before, or after), a trans, gender nonconforming, or questioning youth may be depressed, or isolated, or bullied, or confused, and may seek out a group like @Mermaids_Gender, who provide counseling and support groups and logistical advice.
While some of these groups may have names of trans-sympathetic doctors and help you navigate the legalities of transition or delaying puberty, they can't give you HRT or puberty-blocking medicine.
In short: Puberty can't be undone, but it can be delayed, and, should it be decided that the youth wants to transition, their transition is much smoother if they go on HRT before puberty.
Which is to say that nothing Graham Linehan tweets on the issue is true.
Which is to say that nothing Graham Linehan tweets on the issue is true.
Linehan is constantly showing "concern" for how children cannot legally or morally consent to this kind of decision.
"Consent to" would imply the conversation about transitioning or delaying puberty was begun by the doctor or the parents, not the child.
"Consent to" would imply the conversation about transitioning or delaying puberty was begun by the doctor or the parents, not the child.
This is a transphobe narrative that says kids are coming out as queer and their parents are pressuring them to HRT to turn them into the other gender, thereby making them straight.
The idea that a sizable percentage of parents would rather raise a trans man than a lesbian is nonsensical if you've ever known a trans man.
Many of the trans men I know have told me the exact opposite story.
Many of the trans men I know have told me the exact opposite story.
The argument depends on the idea that homophobia is MORE prevalent than transphobia.
At a time in history when my country just legalized same-sex marriage and is trying to litigate trans people out of their right to use the bathroom.
At a time in history when my country just legalized same-sex marriage and is trying to litigate trans people out of their right to use the bathroom.
I don't particularly care whether Graham *knows* that he's misrepresenting the issue or if he's just repeating a bunch of nonsense folks from Mumsnet have been feeding him.
There is a point beyond which ignorance is both willful and malicious.
There is a point beyond which ignorance is both willful and malicious.
Nothing I've said here hasn't been yelled at him thousands of times by now. He is either choosing to lie or choosing not to listen.
So, to clarify:
Mermaids does not not give out puberty-blockers.
Puberty-blockers do not prevent a kid from living as cis if that's what they ultimately decide on.
Children are almost universally the instigators of these conversations, not parents, not doctors.
#ThanksGraham
Mermaids does not not give out puberty-blockers.
Puberty-blockers do not prevent a kid from living as cis if that's what they ultimately decide on.
Children are almost universally the instigators of these conversations, not parents, not doctors.
#ThanksGraham
One reason I feel it's important to say I haven't researched this thoroughly (aside from transparency about my privilege) is that ignorance is no excuse for Linehan.
You don't need to do a ton of research to know the shit he's repeating is lies.
You don't need to do a ton of research to know the shit he's repeating is lies.
