I have been in the throws of this issue with one of my children. There is much truth to what Dr. Zucker says. And remember the trans advocates even use Dr. Zucker's and Dr. Blanchard's data when in suites them. Don't be fooled by the trans lobby or people like darliedraws. There is no consensus within the medical, psychological or genetic community regarding this subjest. Many of these fields have been infected by the trans lobby, (this is why Dr. Zucker got pushed out). The Dr. who is in charge of the new DSM manual, did not want the definition of Gender Identity Disorder changed, nor did the Dr. that had homosexuality delisted as a mental disorder. There is no consensus or true empirical data as darliedraws suggests. The only MRI studies on the brain are very limited and not controlled, and were on trans people, not double blind with cis gender and non conforming kids to compare. And there was no way to know if the brain structure was from birth or was developed by over activation of those parts of the brain during life. There is no real data, (ref. nature.org) to back up the self identifying model, that allows children to say what their gender is and seek affirmation and hormones etc from gender clinics. Many of these clinics feel no psychological evaluation is even necessary. It is very scary. It is all theory, and allowing a child, with limited brain development to steer the ship on such a lifelong, potentially dangerous issue is child abuse. The only, true approach, that is non-conversion is a wait and see approach until puberty is complete. Telling a kid they are their natal body could be conversation and telling a kid they are the opposite could be conversion. It may be painful but we need to protect our kids. Bear in mind that the suicide rate for trans people is higher than Jews living under Nazi occupation, and the rate of comorbid issues of depression, anxiety, autistic spectrum disorders, bi-polar, especially those undiagnosed are extremely alarming. Puberty blockers are for overactive puberty not to suppress normal puberty. Studies, true studies, show that much grey and white matter is gained during puberty. ie the brain is not fully developed until 24. If you halt puberty we do not know the effect on the brain yet. Further, these drugs and cross sex hormones can render a child sterile. Hormones for life and perhaps multiple surgeries should not be the first course of action. If an adult wants to make this decision it is one thing. I suggest everyone, educate yourselves on this issue. Look at other sites, like, 4thwave now, third way trans, youthtranscriticalprofessionals.org, and just search apposing views. Unfortunately for all of us science is being removed from much of the social sciences. And this issues has become infected and has been turned into a political issue with our kids being the experiment.
Dr. Frank
8 stars because much is good but we really do not know.
