The New York Times claimed that a prominent gender researcher claimed that a US Study went unpublished because of politics. This is despite the researcher publishing several studies off of the data.
I've coordinated care with Dr. Olson-Kennedy on shared patients, and have seen her present on her work numerous times. She's an absolute badass and one of the best allies our community has. It was so painful to see her amazing work shoe-horned into this terribly misleading framing.
it's absolutely not a coincidence that they are pulling this crap at the same time as the GOP runs anti-trans propaganda. It's a coordinated political effort to vilify us from the NFL to the NYT
This misleading article has had me red faced and steaming all day. Thank you Erin for shining a bright light on it and identifying the many many flaws and fuckery.
I wrote the New York times and requested them to change the article to more accurately reflect what's going on. Anyone can email them at. corrections@nytimes.com
I can recall when the NYT had a science section that came out once a week with reports from talented science writers, (Natalie Angier, we miss you), who knew how research works. It is -- and I am searching for words here -- an outrage -- that writers who know little of science and nothing of the complexities of human endocrinology mangle the work of respected scientists in this specialized field. As far as I can tell, the NYT takes a political stand and bends and twists the subject to fit their pre-determined opinion. Their receipe? A pound of red herrings, some yellow journalism for added color, a dash of conspiracy, and bring to roiling boil for 30 minutes, which is my guess of how long Azeen Ghorsydhi actually looked at the research. And voila! -- a NYT take on transgender issues. And yes, this concoction does smell, doesn't it? A bit of humor, but real harm is being done here and it has to stop. Thanks to Erin for her great reporting.
Okay, a TL/DR version of this latest NYT belly-flop into the waters of transgender science.
Dr. Joana Olson-Kennedy has published numerous studies regarding the health of transgender youth. Those studies have not produced the anti-trans results that Azeen Ghorayshi and the NYT wanted to see. Therefore, they darkly hint, Dr. Kennedy must be hiding something for political reasons.
Thank you. Dr. Olson-Kennedy saved my daughter’s life. This article is outrageous, and The New York Times is incredibly irresponsible in running stories like these, playing with people’s lives in the effort to appear “bipartisan.” This is not an issue with two sides: much like climate change, there is reality and there are people who deny reality. Period.
Great timely coverage of Ghorayshi’s latest TERFy piece.
In summary.
The research: puberty blockers don’t cause harm and the probably lead to limit future harm. Researchers are still working to finalize the findings.
Story: Puberty blockers do nothing and researchers are withholding data because the evidence doesn’t support their biases. Oh, yeah, and let’s not forget about bone density. ?!?!?!
Azeen Ghorsydhi is based on nothing but (anti-trans) bias. And the paper clearly supports the misinformation.
And of course they will not publish any fact checking. Serious researchers should stop talking to them at all, because they do nothing but misrepresent anything they're told.
The best possible reaction to a New York Times piece about trans issues: "well, at least this time they're 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 twisting the facts into pretzels, instead of just mainlining uncut bullshit like they usually do."
It is quite frustrating to see such intellectually sloppy slop in the NYT as claiming that being "exactly on point, clear and concise" is somehow evidence of "withholding research for political reasons."
I have published sixty-one refereed papers (as lead author of most of them) during my career (in chemistry of a variety of sorts ranging from biology to electronics), and not a single one of them was ever *anything* but "exactly on point, clear and concise." Dear Times editors: allow me to tell you something that should not be above your pay grade - that is what the profession of scientist demands. This is not news, folks.
Azeen Ghorayshi is apparently a hack (in which case one may ask, and I do ask, why a hack is ever published in the NYT), but the editors have to take responsibility for such junk journalism.
Thanks for the link. It seems to me that at the end of the day, in spite of the questions and doubts, Ghorayshi couldn't let go of the Reed story because she had obtained the Holy Grail of which all journalists have wet dreams: She had a WHISTLEBLOWER! And she was not going to let that chance pass.
Was really sorry to have missed your keynote at WPATH in Lisbon, Erin. Thank you for this timely clapback on the shameful anti-trans pieces in the NY Times. Also, your backup speaker in Lisbon, Zooey Zephyr, was extremely impressive. What a dynamic duo you two make!
I'm confused about the bone mass density studies. I wonder if they separated data from subjects who were taking only puberty blockers and subjects that were taking a hormonal supplement such as estrogen or testosterone.
I would expect that anyone taking both a puberty blocking medication, like Lupron and either estrogen or testosterone would not suffer a significant loss of bone mass density as both of these hormones promote the preservation and/or increase in bone mass density.
In any case, young people in general tend to have excellent bmd unless they're malnourished and a slight loss of bmd shouldn't cause kids to break their legs playing soccer.
If we're going to be concerned over adolescent bone mass density then we should be looking at hunger and malnutrition or poor diets as the gorilla in the room. Logically, if Republicans had any REAL concern over child nutrition they wouldn't hesitate to fund school lunch programs. As usual their "concern" is not genuine but a smokescreen for their agenda to eliminate trans medical care.
Oh the "brave whistleblowers" kicking at marginalized people for their gratification, please support Angry Gay Grandpa in his project (Not Losing You) or share the video to counter this:
I've coordinated care with Dr. Olson-Kennedy on shared patients, and have seen her present on her work numerous times. She's an absolute badass and one of the best allies our community has. It was so painful to see her amazing work shoe-horned into this terribly misleading framing.
I would hope that Dr Olson - Kennedy would write the New York times and express how they have misrepresented her work.
If only the NYT's (New York Transphobes) gave a shit. Their twisting and hiding the truth is deliberate.
it's absolutely not a coincidence that they are pulling this crap at the same time as the GOP runs anti-trans propaganda. It's a coordinated political effort to vilify us from the NFL to the NYT
This misleading article has had me red faced and steaming all day. Thank you Erin for shining a bright light on it and identifying the many many flaws and fuckery.
I wrote the New York times and requested them to change the article to more accurately reflect what's going on. Anyone can email them at. corrections@nytimes.com
I can recall when the NYT had a science section that came out once a week with reports from talented science writers, (Natalie Angier, we miss you), who knew how research works. It is -- and I am searching for words here -- an outrage -- that writers who know little of science and nothing of the complexities of human endocrinology mangle the work of respected scientists in this specialized field. As far as I can tell, the NYT takes a political stand and bends and twists the subject to fit their pre-determined opinion. Their receipe? A pound of red herrings, some yellow journalism for added color, a dash of conspiracy, and bring to roiling boil for 30 minutes, which is my guess of how long Azeen Ghorsydhi actually looked at the research. And voila! -- a NYT take on transgender issues. And yes, this concoction does smell, doesn't it? A bit of humor, but real harm is being done here and it has to stop. Thanks to Erin for her great reporting.
Okay, a TL/DR version of this latest NYT belly-flop into the waters of transgender science.
Dr. Joana Olson-Kennedy has published numerous studies regarding the health of transgender youth. Those studies have not produced the anti-trans results that Azeen Ghorayshi and the NYT wanted to see. Therefore, they darkly hint, Dr. Kennedy must be hiding something for political reasons.
Have I got it straight?
Nailed it!
Thank you. Dr. Olson-Kennedy saved my daughter’s life. This article is outrageous, and The New York Times is incredibly irresponsible in running stories like these, playing with people’s lives in the effort to appear “bipartisan.” This is not an issue with two sides: much like climate change, there is reality and there are people who deny reality. Period.
Great timely coverage of Ghorayshi’s latest TERFy piece.
In summary.
The research: puberty blockers don’t cause harm and the probably lead to limit future harm. Researchers are still working to finalize the findings.
Story: Puberty blockers do nothing and researchers are withholding data because the evidence doesn’t support their biases. Oh, yeah, and let’s not forget about bone density. ?!?!?!
Azeen Ghorsydhi is based on nothing but (anti-trans) bias. And the paper clearly supports the misinformation.
And of course they will not publish any fact checking. Serious researchers should stop talking to them at all, because they do nothing but misrepresent anything they're told.
Just wanted to say thank you, Erin. I've been appreciating the work you do to keep us informed.
The best possible reaction to a New York Times piece about trans issues: "well, at least this time they're 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 twisting the facts into pretzels, instead of just mainlining uncut bullshit like they usually do."
It is quite frustrating to see such intellectually sloppy slop in the NYT as claiming that being "exactly on point, clear and concise" is somehow evidence of "withholding research for political reasons."
I have published sixty-one refereed papers (as lead author of most of them) during my career (in chemistry of a variety of sorts ranging from biology to electronics), and not a single one of them was ever *anything* but "exactly on point, clear and concise." Dear Times editors: allow me to tell you something that should not be above your pay grade - that is what the profession of scientist demands. This is not news, folks.
Azeen Ghorayshi is apparently a hack (in which case one may ask, and I do ask, why a hack is ever published in the NYT), but the editors have to take responsibility for such junk journalism.
Azeen has a history here doing this kind of garbage: https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/you-betrayed-us-azeen-parents-of-trans-youth-reeling-after-speaking-to-the-nyt
Thanks for the link. It seems to me that at the end of the day, in spite of the questions and doubts, Ghorayshi couldn't let go of the Reed story because she had obtained the Holy Grail of which all journalists have wet dreams: She had a WHISTLEBLOWER! And she was not going to let that chance pass.
Was really sorry to have missed your keynote at WPATH in Lisbon, Erin. Thank you for this timely clapback on the shameful anti-trans pieces in the NY Times. Also, your backup speaker in Lisbon, Zooey Zephyr, was extremely impressive. What a dynamic duo you two make!
I'm confused about the bone mass density studies. I wonder if they separated data from subjects who were taking only puberty blockers and subjects that were taking a hormonal supplement such as estrogen or testosterone.
I would expect that anyone taking both a puberty blocking medication, like Lupron and either estrogen or testosterone would not suffer a significant loss of bone mass density as both of these hormones promote the preservation and/or increase in bone mass density.
In any case, young people in general tend to have excellent bmd unless they're malnourished and a slight loss of bmd shouldn't cause kids to break their legs playing soccer.
If we're going to be concerned over adolescent bone mass density then we should be looking at hunger and malnutrition or poor diets as the gorilla in the room. Logically, if Republicans had any REAL concern over child nutrition they wouldn't hesitate to fund school lunch programs. As usual their "concern" is not genuine but a smokescreen for their agenda to eliminate trans medical care.
Thank you for your tireless reporting on the bullshit that passes as journalism about our very real lives and healthcare.
Oh the "brave whistleblowers" kicking at marginalized people for their gratification, please support Angry Gay Grandpa in his project (Not Losing You) or share the video to counter this:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/z3tp3t-queer-grandpa-makes-a-commercial-for-lgbtq-teens?attribution_id=sl:b0131070-622e-4eee-be66-1368a1e89095&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=website_widget
The video to share:
https://youtu.be/B0P0Uj6h_SY?si=fJ2ddtcINPIVfj3X