I just want to pause to express my gratitude and admiration for what Erin and S have managed to do. Decades ago, I used to do much more limited coverage of trans issues for some obscure publications. Our numbers were miniscule back then. It was hard for us to rally very effective actions.
Since then, our numbers have been steadily growing, as more of us have stepped out of the closet. However, before Erin came along, coverage of trans issues was spotty at best. I paid a lot of attention to the news, and I would sometimes come across obscure articles from unlikely sources that should have gotten much more attention than they did. Indeed, most trans people weren't even aware of some developments with potentially terrifying implications for them.
Then came Erin and S. Together, they have managed to scoop up most of the important news that impacts us and to let us know about it. Moreover, they have established such a broad influence and readership that we have amassed some real power for once. I'm still gobsmacked that EITM was able to sound the alarm and precipitate such a wide response - with 100,000 emails eventually going out! I mean, that's jaw-dropping.
Not only do we have more power now, through greater knowledge, but I think many of us might say we have more peace of mind. At least I would say that. I no longer have to worry that I might be missing some important item of news that could mess up my life. I can honestly say that I think EITM has my back. I sleep better at night, just feeling as though I know what's going on - good or bad.
Anyway, I just want to say "thanks." I'm impressed with what you have put together, and I am also impressed with what WE can sometimes accomplish with the good information you give us.
THANK YOU, S. Baum, for this excellent reporting. If anyone is going to convince the cynics and transphobes that gender identity is not just a simple binary, it will be these young people and their parents and doctors.
I applaud the clinicians that haded out Pride Flags and redirected others away from the Workshop being held at the PAS conference in Boston that was promoting misinformation that’d not represent evidence based information
In areas like transgender healthcare, there’s often a sharp divide between political documents or commissioned reports and the guidance produced by major medical organizations.
Clinicians typically rely on bodies like the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which publish guidelines based on peer-reviewed research and clinical consensus.
Those guidelines emphasize individualized care, informed consent, and weighing benefits and risks using current evidence.
At the same time, reports commissioned by political figures—including those associated with Donald Trump—are often scrutinized for methodology, source selection, and whether they reflect the broader scientific consensus.
When clinicians push back by distributing literature, they’re usually trying to highlight where claims may diverge from established research or omit context.
Once again I applaud those that took steps to provide accurate information, and hope that type of workshops that do not provide evidence based peer -reviewed not be allowed
It can be hard to sympathize with ignorant people, yeah. But if we give up on educating them, we give up on healing the divisions altogether. We have to believe that people would be better if they knew better, to be so.
Nothing we say will change their minds, I think. It's only time passing that will change their ideas.
Personally I don't believe that "people would be better if they knew better." I have reasons to not believe that based on what I have personally experienced in my own family.
Well done. It's one thing to read about trans lives online but to actually meet and talk to trans people who have benefited from gender affirming care is quite another thing altogether. We NEED to get in their faces so they see who we are and that we are NOT some scary minority.
Disgusting that the PAS organizers allowed the panel to proceed... shameful that they were too cowardly even to comment... 𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 reaction from the public at large, though. Sounds like the bigots all but got tarred and feathered- love to see it!
I'm not surprised that there were *some* attending pediatricians who came prepared to give pushback to the bigots. But it sounds like there were quite a lot of them, and while I hoped there might be, I sure didn't expect this. Dr Koyama in particular seems to be very fierce, and very willing to do what it takes to shut the pseudoscience down. (Also, fairly likely to be reading this, so: thank you, Dr Koyama!)
Perhaps the reason I'm surprised is because I come from the sciences - or perhaps because I come from a different era. Decades ago, when I was attending academic conferences, it wouldn't have been a good look for a scientist to engage in political/protest actions at a conference before his or her colleagues. We didn't even counterprotest antivivisectionists. Besides that, we were pretty damned busy at these conferences. So, when I read about the pediatricians taking action on our behalf, my immediate thought was that these were learned professionals who went out on a limb and took professional risks in our defense. But perhaps it's just different strokes for different folks - in different times.
These people are nothing more than ‘wellness experts’ who don’t have practice experience, let alone medical expertise with transgender people. Beware of people trying to ‘fix’ what’s broken. They want attention and they don’t care who they hurt.
I am disappointed by the lack of activity from MIT students. It seems the hacking culture hasn't really recovered from COVID. Back in my day, there'd at least be a giant trans flag mysteriously dropping from the ceiling in the middle of the panel. Or something more creative than what I can come up with in 5 minutes.
I just want to pause to express my gratitude and admiration for what Erin and S have managed to do. Decades ago, I used to do much more limited coverage of trans issues for some obscure publications. Our numbers were miniscule back then. It was hard for us to rally very effective actions.
Since then, our numbers have been steadily growing, as more of us have stepped out of the closet. However, before Erin came along, coverage of trans issues was spotty at best. I paid a lot of attention to the news, and I would sometimes come across obscure articles from unlikely sources that should have gotten much more attention than they did. Indeed, most trans people weren't even aware of some developments with potentially terrifying implications for them.
Then came Erin and S. Together, they have managed to scoop up most of the important news that impacts us and to let us know about it. Moreover, they have established such a broad influence and readership that we have amassed some real power for once. I'm still gobsmacked that EITM was able to sound the alarm and precipitate such a wide response - with 100,000 emails eventually going out! I mean, that's jaw-dropping.
Not only do we have more power now, through greater knowledge, but I think many of us might say we have more peace of mind. At least I would say that. I no longer have to worry that I might be missing some important item of news that could mess up my life. I can honestly say that I think EITM has my back. I sleep better at night, just feeling as though I know what's going on - good or bad.
Anyway, I just want to say "thanks." I'm impressed with what you have put together, and I am also impressed with what WE can sometimes accomplish with the good information you give us.
Thank you so much for this
And thank you, Sarah, for so perfectly articulating precisely why I immediately signed up for a paid subscription once I found Erin In The Morning.
She (and now S. Baum right alongside her) is literally saving lives and making the world a better place.
Thank you Baum.
I am very, very happy to hear the pushback went somewhere besides a circular file.
~for the dissidents~ Dissidence is a probable typo?
THANK YOU, S. Baum, for this excellent reporting. If anyone is going to convince the cynics and transphobes that gender identity is not just a simple binary, it will be these young people and their parents and doctors.
This is great to hear. Our medical providers need to be more active ib fighting for our lives.
I applaud the clinicians that haded out Pride Flags and redirected others away from the Workshop being held at the PAS conference in Boston that was promoting misinformation that’d not represent evidence based information
In areas like transgender healthcare, there’s often a sharp divide between political documents or commissioned reports and the guidance produced by major medical organizations.
Clinicians typically rely on bodies like the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which publish guidelines based on peer-reviewed research and clinical consensus.
Those guidelines emphasize individualized care, informed consent, and weighing benefits and risks using current evidence.
At the same time, reports commissioned by political figures—including those associated with Donald Trump—are often scrutinized for methodology, source selection, and whether they reflect the broader scientific consensus.
When clinicians push back by distributing literature, they’re usually trying to highlight where claims may diverge from established research or omit context.
Once again I applaud those that took steps to provide accurate information, and hope that type of workshops that do not provide evidence based peer -reviewed not be allowed
When the HELL did we start allowing politicians to dictate how We The People receive medical care? What ever happened to bodily autonomy?
went out the window when trump got elected
Great reporting. Thank you!
Anti-trans people are so lost.
They need to be more lost.
It can be hard to sympathize with ignorant people, yeah. But if we give up on educating them, we give up on healing the divisions altogether. We have to believe that people would be better if they knew better, to be so.
Nothing we say will change their minds, I think. It's only time passing that will change their ideas.
Personally I don't believe that "people would be better if they knew better." I have reasons to not believe that based on what I have personally experienced in my own family.
Is there an organized group of older folks who can testify as to the benefits gender affirming care has given to them for 20, 30, 40 years?
Well done. It's one thing to read about trans lives online but to actually meet and talk to trans people who have benefited from gender affirming care is quite another thing altogether. We NEED to get in their faces so they see who we are and that we are NOT some scary minority.
Way to be seen and heard, protesters!! Great reporting, thank you!
Disgusting that the PAS organizers allowed the panel to proceed... shameful that they were too cowardly even to comment... 𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 reaction from the public at large, though. Sounds like the bigots all but got tarred and feathered- love to see it!
Thank you Erin!!! And all!
I can’t tell you how great it is to hear of so many brave people with morals.
Damn, this is great news! I would not have expected to have activist buy-in from pediatricians in attendance.
Thanks for the great article and the big smile on my face before I head to bed.
I'm not surprised that there were *some* attending pediatricians who came prepared to give pushback to the bigots. But it sounds like there were quite a lot of them, and while I hoped there might be, I sure didn't expect this. Dr Koyama in particular seems to be very fierce, and very willing to do what it takes to shut the pseudoscience down. (Also, fairly likely to be reading this, so: thank you, Dr Koyama!)
Perhaps the reason I'm surprised is because I come from the sciences - or perhaps because I come from a different era. Decades ago, when I was attending academic conferences, it wouldn't have been a good look for a scientist to engage in political/protest actions at a conference before his or her colleagues. We didn't even counterprotest antivivisectionists. Besides that, we were pretty damned busy at these conferences. So, when I read about the pediatricians taking action on our behalf, my immediate thought was that these were learned professionals who went out on a limb and took professional risks in our defense. But perhaps it's just different strokes for different folks - in different times.
These people are nothing more than ‘wellness experts’ who don’t have practice experience, let alone medical expertise with transgender people. Beware of people trying to ‘fix’ what’s broken. They want attention and they don’t care who they hurt.
Trump and expert should not exist in the same document
I am disappointed by the lack of activity from MIT students. It seems the hacking culture hasn't really recovered from COVID. Back in my day, there'd at least be a giant trans flag mysteriously dropping from the ceiling in the middle of the panel. Or something more creative than what I can come up with in 5 minutes.