The recent paper released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, amplified by figures like Dr. Oz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others whose medical credibility on transgender health deserves serious scrutiny, is being weaponized for political ends rather than grounded in responsible medical consensus.
Its embrace by Donald Trump makes the motivation unmistakable: yet another attempt to marginalize a small and vulnerable community for political gain.
Let’s be clear about what is happening. This is not science leading policy — it is politics attempting to override established medical expertise and lived reality.
Major medical organizations across the United States and around the world continue to recognize gender-affirming care as legitimate, evidence-based healthcare.
Selectively elevating dissenting voices while ignoring the broader body of research is not debate; it is distortion.
And let us be equally clear about something else: the transgender community is not disappearing.
We are not a talking point, and we are not a convenient target.
We are neighbors, families, workers, veterans, and citizens.
Attempts to erase or silence us will fail because our existence is not subject to political approval.
This community will stand up.
We will speak out. We will organize, advocate, and participate fully in the democratic process.
We will use our voices, our visibility, and our votes to demand dignity, truth, and equal protection under the law.
We are still here.
We are not going away. And we will remain relevant — not because permission was granted, but because our humanity is undeniable.
You raise crucial inaccuracies, contradictions and omissions in the ASPS's pronouncement.
I too was struck by their ASPS's decision to use age 19 as the cut off. Why not 18? Because the pronouncement has once intended audience, Donald Trump.
Has anyone pointed out to these morons at ASPS that almost every procedure that they do, form botox to body sculpting, is a form of gender affirming care? At least, now anti trans conservatives can't argue that we trans folk are all victims of a transgender medical Industrial complex.
As well they should! Unless the actual guidelines as to what is acceptable care are formally and on the basis of evidence changed -- and there is no basis for that -- this only exposes members to spurious lawsuits over nothing!
I hope for them the next year sees a compete change of ASPS leadership.
This, plus if trans people must wait until age 19 for gender affirming care, plastic surgeons will make more money correcting unwanted pubertal changes. Seems they know what side their bread is buttered on.
Glad to see you note the arbitrary nature of designating 19 as the age after which surgeries can take place. Does this age limit appear anywhere prior to the executive order?
In the various right-wing think-tanks as they brainstormed ways to shift from banning youth care to banning all gender-affirming care, period. They slide their toes over the line by making it 19 instead of 18; then it'll be 21 or 25, then curtains.
Yes. I agree this is what they are doing. But I am very curious if this structure appeared in other places before the executive order. Is it in Project 2025? Was it used earlier in any state legislative efforts?
I wrote a letter to Dr. Scot Glasberg via his appointments in the memo field. How disgusting that a prestigious medical doctor cannot stand up to this administration and protect their patients. Also the taking away of parental rights is absolutely DISGUSTING.
This is what institutional capture looks like, in progress. If the medical associations aren't saying what you want them to, put your people in charge of the medical associations- buy them or replace them; it's all the same- and have the new leadership adopt your position, facts and evidenced be damned. Even if you can't silence the following dissent, you'll at least have muddied the waters so that an uninformed layman won't know who to believe. Then it's just a matter of repeating the lie, louder and more often, until it's all anyone can hear.
"an urgent, time-limited process initiated by a federal agency seeking clarification of medical society positions on this topic,” produced over the last month or so."
This is the smoking gun right here, ASPS leadership willingly capitulated to the anti-science Kennedy HHS.
Now do an article on the AMA and what was behind their horrendous statement agreeing with the ASPS!
The recent paper released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, amplified by figures like Dr. Oz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others whose medical credibility on transgender health deserves serious scrutiny, is being weaponized for political ends rather than grounded in responsible medical consensus.
Its embrace by Donald Trump makes the motivation unmistakable: yet another attempt to marginalize a small and vulnerable community for political gain.
Let’s be clear about what is happening. This is not science leading policy — it is politics attempting to override established medical expertise and lived reality.
Major medical organizations across the United States and around the world continue to recognize gender-affirming care as legitimate, evidence-based healthcare.
Selectively elevating dissenting voices while ignoring the broader body of research is not debate; it is distortion.
And let us be equally clear about something else: the transgender community is not disappearing.
We are not a talking point, and we are not a convenient target.
We are neighbors, families, workers, veterans, and citizens.
Attempts to erase or silence us will fail because our existence is not subject to political approval.
This community will stand up.
We will speak out. We will organize, advocate, and participate fully in the democratic process.
We will use our voices, our visibility, and our votes to demand dignity, truth, and equal protection under the law.
We are still here.
We are not going away. And we will remain relevant — not because permission was granted, but because our humanity is undeniable.
Terrific reporting, S. Baum.
You raise crucial inaccuracies, contradictions and omissions in the ASPS's pronouncement.
I too was struck by their ASPS's decision to use age 19 as the cut off. Why not 18? Because the pronouncement has once intended audience, Donald Trump.
Has anyone pointed out to these morons at ASPS that almost every procedure that they do, form botox to body sculpting, is a form of gender affirming care? At least, now anti trans conservatives can't argue that we trans folk are all victims of a transgender medical Industrial complex.
"almost every procedure that they do is a form of gender affirming care"
Excellent point and as the beneficiary of surgery for gynecomastia I can second it.
I'm sick of being treated like a disease that needs to be cured.
As well they should! Unless the actual guidelines as to what is acceptable care are formally and on the basis of evidence changed -- and there is no basis for that -- this only exposes members to spurious lawsuits over nothing!
I hope for them the next year sees a compete change of ASPS leadership.
This, plus if trans people must wait until age 19 for gender affirming care, plastic surgeons will make more money correcting unwanted pubertal changes. Seems they know what side their bread is buttered on.
Glad to see you note the arbitrary nature of designating 19 as the age after which surgeries can take place. Does this age limit appear anywhere prior to the executive order?
In the various right-wing think-tanks as they brainstormed ways to shift from banning youth care to banning all gender-affirming care, period. They slide their toes over the line by making it 19 instead of 18; then it'll be 21 or 25, then curtains.
Yes. I agree this is what they are doing. But I am very curious if this structure appeared in other places before the executive order. Is it in Project 2025? Was it used earlier in any state legislative efforts?
I wrote a letter to Dr. Scot Glasberg via his appointments in the memo field. How disgusting that a prestigious medical doctor cannot stand up to this administration and protect their patients. Also the taking away of parental rights is absolutely DISGUSTING.
This is what institutional capture looks like, in progress. If the medical associations aren't saying what you want them to, put your people in charge of the medical associations- buy them or replace them; it's all the same- and have the new leadership adopt your position, facts and evidenced be damned. Even if you can't silence the following dissent, you'll at least have muddied the waters so that an uninformed layman won't know who to believe. Then it's just a matter of repeating the lie, louder and more often, until it's all anyone can hear.
"an urgent, time-limited process initiated by a federal agency seeking clarification of medical society positions on this topic,” produced over the last month or so."
This is the smoking gun right here, ASPS leadership willingly capitulated to the anti-science Kennedy HHS.