Thread by @4th_WaveNow

If adult trans people cared about trans youth as much as they claim, they'd do everything in their power to warn them of the dangers of things like phalloplasty. They'd stop making desistance a dirty word. They'd CELEBRATE when a trans-ID'ed youth found peace in their own skin.

Stop screaming "transphobia!" &"cissexism!" when hazards of medical transition are discussed. If being trans is no longer a mental health disorder, mentally healthy trans youth should get a fighting chance at resolving dysphoria without being chained to drugs & drastic surgeries.

You won't find any other patient population who undergo high-risk (and poorly tested) medical interventions who go on to advocate for--of all people--minors to undergo these procedures, which permanently sterilize and expose patients to many risks.

Thankfully, there ARE adult trans people who aren't in favor of underage medical transition, and in fact, speak strongly against it.

Even if you don't believe anyone should medically transition, the efforts of these ethical adult trans people are important = harm reduction.

Trans adults who glorify SRS create a yearning in young people. They look up to you! Look into your heart & ask yourself why desistance wouldn't be a good outcome. So many trans people talk about their hard lives. Why wouldn't you want any young person to avoid that, if they can?

And it must said: Too many of the adult trans pushing hard for youth transition have lived into middle age, survived puberty with sexual function & fertility intact (some have biological children of their own). You may not intend this, but you look like hypocrites.

By "affirming" every child (even toddlers!) who think they're in the wrong body, you are setting them up for the rest of the transition "journey." Don't pretend you aren't. One thing leads to another. One more thing: Stop misusing adult suicide stats to terrorize parents.

Any adult knows kids/teens don't have a grasp of future consequences; how they might feel 10, 20, 30 years down the road. There's a good reason under-18s can't get tattoos. Stop pretending "trans youth" are so different from other kids when it comes to making permanent decisions.

@threadreaderapp please unroll.