Gender-Affirming

Does a bill passed by the Washington State Legislature allow the "government to take minor children away" from their parents if "they refuse to agree to gender transition surgery"? No, that's not true: The legislation has no provision for removing children from their parents if they don't agree to gender affirmation surgery. The statute deals specifically with children who have…

Does Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offer "gender-affirming" support, including surgical or hormonal procedures, directly to children as young as 3 years old? No, that's not true: The hospital's Gender and Sexuality Development Program offers "psychosocial and medical support for gender nonconforming, gender expansive and transgender children and youth up to age 21 and their families." However, in pre-pubescent children below…

Did a Minnesota trans activist advocate her right to "genitally mutilate" pre-pubescent children? No, that's not true: The activist, Amber Muhm, spoke in favor of House File (HF) 146, a bill that would prevent Minnesota from enforcing any out-of-state law or court order which removes a child from their parents' custody because those parents have agreed to gender-affirming health care…

Did the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps find U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona guilty of child endangerment? No, that's not true: A Pentagon duty officer told Lead Stories that this claim is false. Also, Lead Stories recently debunked the claim that Cardona was arrested by the U.S. military, and both claims were made on a website that publishes…

Are 4-year-old children prescribed puberty blockers as part of gender-affirming care? No, that's not true: The American Academy of Pediatrics told Lead Stories this claim is "not accurate." Puberty blockers are only prescribed once an individual has started or is beginning to start puberty. Four-year-olds do not normally go through puberty. The claim appeared in a tweet (archived here) on…

Were mental health professionals at the Wisconsin Pride festival in August of 2022 "just handing out" letters declaring patients' readiness for gender affirmation surgery? No, that's not true: letters were not handed out. A photograph of a booth at the Magic Pride Festival in Madison offering free "Letters of Readiness," service is real. But, the letters were not handed out…

Does Boston Children's Hospital offer gender-affirming hysterectomies to children? No, that's not true: A resource from the hospital's Center for Gender Surgery states that only patients who are 18 years old and older can receive gender-affirming genital surgeries and the hospital released a statement stating that it would not perform a hysterectomy for gender-affirming care on any patient younger than…

Did Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, say that gender-affirmation surgery should be available to kids in an interview? No, that's not true: While Levine did support gender-affirming treatment, such treatment is an umbrella term that does not necessarily mean surgery. The claim was implied in a Facebook post on July…