Trump will push back transgender rights and acceptance

Editor:

On Saturday morning I watched President-elect Trump inform us about his gender reassignment legislation.

In my opinion, Trump will send millions back into the closet. The debate surrounding gender reassignment surgery for minors, particularly in Republican-led states, highlights the tension between parental rights and the autonomy of young individuals.

Under current laws in many areas, children under the age of 18 cannot undergo gender reassignment surgery without the explicit permission of their parents or guardians. As a health professional, children can’t get aspirin without permission from a parent.  This requirement reflects a broader conservative perspective that emphasizes parental control over healthcare decisions for minors, especially when it involves significant medical interventions like surgery or hormone treatments.

Moreover, this regulation echoes a general principle observed in pediatric medicine: minors are typically unable to give informed consent for medical procedures, including the administration of medications. Just as parents have the authority to make decisions about vaccines or other medical treatments, they are similarly positioned to make choices regarding gender transition therapies.

This framework is often justified by the belief that children may not possess the emotional or cognitive maturity to fully understand the lifelong changes of such a decision. Proponents of these laws argue that they protect children from making irreversible choices before they are fully prepared to comprehend the long-term consequences. So, my fellow Republicans, what are you going to tell your children? Because now how you sexually identify is a crime.

So, how many teachers will be left after this starts going into effect? I’ll wait.

Sincerely yours,

Patricia Dunbar

Albion