Cracks are developing in the mainstream media’s full-throated endorsement of transgender ideology, with the New York Times recently publishing a column challenging the effectiveness of gender-affirming care for children. The column, by Pamela Paul, highlights the findings of the UK’s Cass Review, an independent assessment of gender treatment for children that revealed little evidence supporting the efficacy of such care in resolving or alleviating gender dysphoria. Despite its controversial stance, the column has gained traction, signaling a potential shift in the discussion around transgender ideology.
The Cass Review has not only sparked debates in the UK, but has also led to the government issuing an emergency ban on puberty blockers for minors. Moreover, these findings have stimulated change in other European nations, with medical societies and government officials in Germany, France, Scotland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium all considering a move away from the gender-affirming model.
But in the United States and Canada, there has been comparative silence in response to the review. As highlighted in the column, numerous federal agencies and medical associations, from the Department of Health and Human Services to the American Medical Association, either ignore or downplay the review’s findings.
The column also draws attention to the contrast between the United States, where the Biden administration continues to back gender-affirming care, and the United Kingdom, where the Labour government indicates it may permanently ban puberty blockers.