America’s Pediatricians Reiterate Support for Gender-Affirming Care

The American Academy of Pediatrics on Thursday expressed its support again for gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. That is despite the fact that Republican legislators have been growing their hostility toward gender-affirming medical treatments and continue to spread misinformation about such care.

In an unanimous vote, the group’s board of directors, representing 67,000 pediatricians, recommitted itself to its position in support of this essential medical care. As part of the board’s decision, pediatricians will also receive supplementary documentation, such as clinical and technical data, and the board intends to accomplish an external examination of research on pediatric care, the Associated Press reports.

“The additional recommendations also reflect the fact that the board is concerned about restrictions to accessing evidence-based health care for young people who need it,” the academy’s CEO, Mark Del Monte, said in a statement released by the group, describing state-imposed restrictions as “unprecedented government intrusion.”

“We, therefore, need to provide the best and most transparent process possible,” he explained.

Currently, 21 states have passed statutes restricting or banning transgender-related medical treatment for minors, and most are facing litigation. In Alabama and Indiana, federal judges have temporarily blocked state bans, and another judge ruled that Arkansas’s ban was unconstitutional.

The state filed an appeal with the court in response to this judge’s decision.

Some of the opponents of gender-affirming care argue that it is not possible for children to make complex medical decisions for themselves because they are too young to do so.

In the majority of cases, these treatments are considered safe by all major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, if they are appropriately administered.

The AAP and AMA make it clear that they support the right of children to seek medical attention, but they do not provide any age-specific guidelines.

In June, the American Medical Association committed to opposing any criminal and legal penalties against patients seeking gender-affirming care, family members or guardians who support them in seeking medical care, and health care facilities and clinicians providing it.