Utah Gov. Cox dismisses medical institutions’ approval of trans procedures for kids, deeming them politicized.

Utah Governor Denounces Politicized Medical Institutions

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox has taken a stand against three American medical institutions and agencies, labeling them as “politicized.” When questioned about the state’s decision to halt children’s access to gender-affirming care, Cox expressed his concerns.

“All very political groups,” he stated. “I believe that they are politicized — those groups are politicized … on this issue. It’s impossible to get unbiased information out of the United States right now on this issue. I just don’t believe it.”

The institutions in question are the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cox believes that these organizations have become partisan by claiming that “gender-affirming care” is clinically appropriate for both adults and children who identify as transgender.

Earlier this year, Utah passed a bill that imposed an indefinite moratorium on doctors performing life-altering transgender procedures on children until more data on its effectiveness becomes available. This move aligns Utah with at least 18 other states that have also restricted children’s access to such medical actions.

In a news release upon signing the legislation, Cox emphasized the need for careful consideration and deliberation when it comes to the well-being of vulnerable youth.

“While we understand our words will be of little comfort to those who disagree with us, we sincerely hope that we can treat our transgender families with more love and respect as we work to better understand the science and consequences behind these procedures,” he said.

Cox revealed that the state has not yet determined an end date for the pause on gender-affirming care. He acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable information on this charged topic within the United States due to the divided opinions surrounding it.

Looking to European countries as an example, Cox mentioned that several nations have recently implemented restrictive measures on prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and transition surgeries for minors. He specifically mentioned Sweden, Finland, France, and the UK as countries that are also hitting the pause button.

Since his election two years ago, Cox has been navigating the gender culture war. Last year, he vetoed a bill that aimed to prevent male students who identify as the opposite sex from participating in female sports. Cox cited research indicating high suicide risk rates and emphasized the importance of acceptance and connection in reducing suicidality.

It’s worth noting that Cox faced criticism from Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro last year after a video surfaced showing the governor sharing his preferred pronouns with a high school student during a virtual town hall event.