Thread by @SVPhillimore

This article shows some small but positive steps in the discussion over medical transition for children - but equally some disturbing comment

Young Australians are exploring gender more than ever before abc.net.au/news/2022-03-1…

It is positive that includes the history of a girl who realised that ‘becoming’ a boy would not automatically ‘fix’ anything. But terrifying that she has been told and believes you can just switch back and forth at will.

This child who likes wearing trousers and having short hair, wants surgery to confirm a ‘non binary’ identify. As child has female body, assume this means a double mastectomy. There is no coming back from that.

The doctor quoted in the article as usual, equates use of puberty blockers over many years with the short term use of puberty blockers to deal with precocious puberty. These two things are not the same. There is no evidence that long term use is ‘harmless’ - quite the reverse.

But I want to hold on to the positives. A year ago, I don’t think the girl who decided she would stay a girl, would have been allowed to tell her story. Once it is admitted that other things may be operating to make a child wish to reject their body -

- then irreversible interventions have to be seen in a different light. Australia considers cross sex hormones for children ‘therapeutic’ treatment. I hope they think again. A female on many years of testosterone cannot simply ‘switch back’.