Politico Ignores Huge Risks Of Child ‘Transition’ To Push Kids Toward Castration Instead Of Real Care

Politico published what it called a “Special Report” over the weekend, chronicling the experiences of families with transgender-identifying youths who have moved because of state laws that place restrictions on wrong-sex treatments for underage children. As when reading all corporate media coverage, readers should ask: What narrative is this writer pushing? But in this one-sided, pro-trans, and anti-science article, Politico leaves no doubt.

Underpinning the story lies the premise that encouraging children to undergo complicated medical procedures to attempt to change their sex (impossible) provides unalloyed benefits to the youths in question. But just because Politico says something doesn’t necessarily make it so.

Glaring Omissions

I should preface my comments by stating that I do not have a medical background in endocrinology or otherwise. I won’t pretend to know the “right” way or “wrong” way to treat someone with gender dysphoria, although I hope that all God’s children get treated with dignity and respect.

But as someone who works in health policy, I have noticed several instances in recent months in which high-profile people have begun questioning the effects of puberty blockers and treatments that involve extensive hormone therapies and gratuitous surgeries that irreversibly damage people. Having come across these data points during my health policy work, I found the Politico piece striking for what it excluded.

While the section of Politico’s story discussing (or, more accurately, promoting) the medical merits of wrong-sex therapeutics began by referencing one recent expose in another national publication, it quickly minimized the concerns that story raised: “Even though the New York Times reported that some research suggests the treatment could seriously weaken bone health in youths, multiple mainstream medical organizations … have taken the position that gender-affirming care is a medical necessity.” By dismissing the Times article as solely related to “bone health,” Politico omitted discussion of other topics addressed in the story, including growing concerns in Europe regarding transgender interventions, and the lack of Food and Drug Administration approval for using puberty blockers on children.

In addition to the Times piece, Reuters in October published a nearly 8,000-word article on the growth of cross-sex procedures and the lack of research into these interventions’ long-term effects. Reuters noted that of the 39 parents it spoke with about their experiences seeking transgender procedures and drugs for their children, more than two-thirds (28) “said they felt pressured or rushed to pursue treatment.” Politico did not mention this in-depth investigation at all.

The story quoted three individuals — two doctors and the director of transgender justice at the ACLU — all of whom spoke favorably of the processes involved with transitioning children; one of the doctors claimed there was “undertreatment” of transgender youth. By contrast, the Times and Reuters stories quoted at least nine separate medical experts who showed some degree of skepticism toward puberty blockers or other types of cross-sex treatment. Politico did not quote these skeptics nor any other doctors questioning the procedures involved in transitioning children in its self-proclaimed “Special Report.”

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