Due to the lack of conclusive evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to help children overcome gender dysphoria as well as their documented risks of harm and irreversible consequences, the state of Texas should prohibit medical professionals from providing them to children. Efforts to protect children from these procedures should be narrowly tailored to avoid punitive approaches involving Child Protective Services that would subject children to additional harm at the hands of the state.
Key points
- The performance of sex reassignment procedures and treatments on children, whether through surgery or prescription medications, is harmful to children and should be prohibited by the state of Texas.
- There is a lack of conclusive evidence that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones help children overcome gender dysphoria or improve their psychological well-being.
- Emerging research documenting risks to the health of children and irreversible side effects associated with these practices has led several European nations to reverse course on providing them to children.
- State action to protect children from experimental and potentially harmful sex reassignment procedures and treatments should be narrowly tailored to focus on prohibiting medical professionals from engaging in these practices.
- Policymakers should acknowledge the pain and confusion children with gender dysphoria and their families experience and avoid punitive approaches toward families that could result in separation or foster care entry.