On Thursday, observed by some as Transgender Day of Visibility, the Biden administration announced its support for children and adolescents seeking "gender-affirming care."
In doing so, the administration released several documents, including one titled "Gender Affirming Care and Young People."
The document, issued by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Population Affairs, insists that "early gender-affirming care" for non-binary or trans-identifying minors "is crucial to [their] overall health and well-being as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the healthcare system."
As The Christian Post reports, the OPA document also lists "top" and "bottom" surgeries as "gender-affirming care." Top surgeries include elective mastectomies and breasts enhancements, and bottom surgeries include the removal of genitals.
Such surgeries are "typically used in adulthood or case-by-case in adolescence," the document adds.
"Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare. It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people," the OPA states.
"Medical and psychosocial gender-affirming healthcare practices have been demonstrated to yield lower rates of adverse mental health outcomes, build self-esteem, and improve [the] overall quality of life for transgender and gender diverse youth."
Meanwhile, HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Child Traumatic Stress Network declared support for "gender-affirming care" through a document titled "Gender-Affirming Care Is Trauma-Informed Care."
According to the document, gender-affirming care is defined as the inclusion of "evidence-based interventions such as puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones." The document adds that "gender-affirming care is neither child maltreatment nor malpractice."
"There is no scientifically sound research showing negative impacts from providing gender-affirming care," the department said. "[Transgender, gender diverse, and intersex] youth can thrive when they are supported and affirmed in their identities and their identity development."
The document's release comes as Texas officials deemed the performance of sex-reassignment surgeries on children with gender dysphoria as "child abuse."
According to the Mayo Clinic's website, while using puberty-blocking drugs on youth "may" possibly reduce depression, its use alone "might not ease gender dysphoria." The clinic added that puberty-delaying medication "beyond one's peers can be stressful" and may cause children to have low self-esteem.
Related:
Texas Deems Sex Reassignment Surgeries on Minors a Form of 'Child Abuse'
Texas A.G. Declares: Transgender Treatments on Minors Is Child Abuse under State Law
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Bulat Silvia
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
