[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

[franceskoz (Frances)]

Thank you so much for doing all this work, emotionally and research/writing wise . I wish we could share your thorough answer with more people because even many not-transphobic people would still learn from this

[Sally (Sally G)]

Fair point. IDK who is our official representative for UUA communications—anything from the association apparently goes into a black hole at Central Unitarian Church (my CUC; it always takes a moment when I see the acronym of the Canadian group). It has taken me years to find my way into places where I can find news.

[SashaBriarGast]

Feel free to share any of these! I don’t mind and I want more knowledge spread!

[Hosea-Hulla-Ballou (Rob Spirko)]

Thank you so much for all this work and information. This is an amazing set of resources.

[dickburkhart]

Most of us who don’t have direct interactions with the affected youth must rely on the best science. Right now the best science is coming out of Europe. The science promoted by WPATH has become highly suspect in the world medical community.

[LeilaniDavenberry]

Thank you so much continuing to share reliable globally recognized science. I will continue to prioritize the lives of people including children who are transgender, nonbinary and intersex are in danger because of transphobia.

I’m not sure what to say or do about folks who continue wrap themselves in misinformation and ignorance (when you have shared so much science and evidence) except continue to center transgender, nonbinary and intersex voices in this space yours among them.

I hope wish to send energetic loving and protective vibes to transgender, nonbinary and intersex UUs in this discussion and in the world, and those like myself who want you all and transgender, nonbinary and intersex children to live and thrive.

[Stephanie (Stephanie Thomas)]

Even if everything you’ve said were correct, it does not go anywhere, It’s fear-mongering. People who don’t have direct interactions with trans youth should rely on those youth, their parents and their medical caregivers to make decisions knowing all of the aspects of the situation. I think as UUs we are supportive of self-determination.

This is particularly true given that (a) a small proportion of trans youth use puberty blockers and HRT, and (b) the science you cite says that the long term effect on youth is unknown. Not negative, just unknown. I think it’s reasonable to assume that the children receiving medical treatment are the ones in the most distress and the ones whose lives are being saved by treatment. Many others are socially transitioning. And the greatest danger to all trans people, youth or adult, medically transitioning or socially transitioning, is from anti-trans-ness and the hate crimes that mindset motivates.

[EvanMahony]

“The best science” about trans health is emphatically not “coming out of Europe” if what you are referring to is the Cass review. Again, it has been thoroughly debunked by many health care professionals, bioethicists, trans activists, and others, and is specifically an anti-trans, pro-conversion-therapy political project rather than a genuine good faith attempt to create beneficial standards of care for trans youth.

This setting is not conducive to debunking it again, but thankfully, Dr Ruth Pearce has compiled (and frequently updates) a list of statements critical of the Cass Review from professional organizations, academics, health care providers, trans activists, human rights groups and others: What’s wrong with the Cass Review? A round-up of commentary and evidence – Dr Ruth Pearce

[SashaBriarGast]

Hi Dick, I’d love to point you to the resources and short articles I have written and researched heavily, that I responded to you directly about. Your reply makes me wonder if you read the link debunking the Cass Report that I included, because that link explains it in great detail. Reading reputable summaries of a great amount of research is designed to help bring us closer to our responsible search for truth and meaning.

The first post I tagged you in has the information about the Cass Report, and how many medical associations support trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people and our healthcare. Each blue link directly takes you to the organization’s letter of support. Here is the direct link so you don’t have to scroll up. [AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values - #26 by SashaBriarGast

In addition, the WPATH guidelines have an extensive references section and has been heavily edited by researchers and doctors in the actual field that they study. The WPATH book available online is a metanalysis of all available research, including junk studies.

These are the authors of WPATH version 8, NOT including the research cited.

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender
and Gender Diverse People, Version 8
E. Coleman, A. E. Radix, W. P. Bouman, G. R. Brown, A. L. C. de Vries, M. B.
Deutsch, R. Ettner, L. Fraser, M. Goodman, J. Green, A. B. Hancock, T. W.
Johnson, D. H. Karasic, G. A. Knudson, S. F. Leibowitz, H. F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg,
S. J. Monstrey, J. Motmans, L. Nahata, T. O. Nieder, S. L. Reisner, C. Richards,
L. S. Schechter, V. Tangpricha, A. C. Tishelman, M. A. A. Van Trotsenburg, S.
Winter, K. Ducheny, N. J. Adams, T. M. Adrián, L. R. Allen, D. Azul, H. Bagga,
K. Başar, D. S. Bathory, J. J. Belinky, D. R. Berg, J. U. Berli, R. O. BluebondLangner, M.-B. Bouman, M. L. Bowers, P. J. Brassard, J. Byrne, L. Capitán, C.
J. Cargill, J. M. Carswell, S. C. Chang, G. Chelvakumar, T. Corneil, K. B. Dalke,
G. De Cuypere, E. de Vries, M. Den Heijer, A. H. Devor, C. Dhejne, A. D’Marco,
E. K. Edmiston, L. Edwards-Leeper, R. Ehrbar, D. Ehrensaft, J. Eisfeld, E. Elaut,
L. Erickson-Schroth, J. L. Feldman, A. D. Fisher, M. M. Garcia, L. Gijs, S. E.
Green, B. P. Hall, T. L. D. Hardy, M. S. Irwig, L. A. Jacobs, A. C. Janssen, K.
Johnson, D. T. Klink, B. P. C. Kreukels, L. E. Kuper, E. J. Kvach, M. A. Malouf, R.
Massey, T. Mazur, C. McLachlan, S. D. Morrison, S. W. Mosser, P. M. Neira, U.
Nygren, J. M. Oates, J. Obedin-Maliver, G. Pagkalos, J. Patton, N. Phanuphak,
K. Rachlin, T. Reed, G. N. Rider, J. Ristori, S. Robbins-Cherry, S. A. Roberts, K.
A. Rodriguez-Wallberg, S. M. Rosenthal, K. Sabir, J. D. Safer, A. I. Scheim, L. J.
Seal, T. J. Sehoole, K. Spencer, C. St. Amand, T. D. Steensma, J. F. Strang, G. B.
Taylor, K. Tilleman, G. G. T’Sjoen, L. N. Vala, N. M. Van Mello, J. F. Veale, J. A.
Vencill, B. Vincent, L. M. Wesp, M. A. West & J. Arcelus

[SashaBriarGast]

And again, I’m a biologist/ecologist who happens to be trans. I read scientific literature as part of my career, and I have a MS degree (and half of a PhD) so I have had extensive training in grad school about how to read and understand science across many fields. Being trans does not bias me towards science that supports my claims, but rather, I know how to look for good methodology vs. poor methodology or biased articles written by researchers with conflicts of interest or in non-reputable journals.

[bernisel (bernise a lynch)]

As a 77 non-binary, lesbian UU I cherish the thoughts that have gone into this discussion. I’m attending GA and intend to attend the discussion on this Business Resolution later this week. In the interim I’m going to read the resolution with all you’ve said in mind and hope I come out the other side with a bettere understanding of just what this change will mean. Thanks all for your research and diligence…

[Uutimatkins (Tim Atkins)]

I appreciate your honesty that you don’t feel it important to consider the actual affected communities when you think you know better, and that you can define “best science” to mean studies that agree with your already predetermined beliefs instead of the thousand of links debunking it. That seems to be a theme over the years.

I am curious to know your qualifications to determine what is the best science, and what verifiable facts you have rather than using innuendo like “highly suspect in the world medical community” while ignoring allllll the professional organizations who support health care for trans kids.

Let’s go with proof over rhetoric. What’s the scientific consensus? (Hint: Its not a single widely debunked study out of Europe.)

[dickburkhart]

Many consider the Cass Report and related European studies to have discredited the practices of WPATH and the “science” it promotes. The WPATH files (released by a whistleblower) reinforce this assessment. Many of us consider this a scandal that is fueling the cultural wars and may very well help re-elect Trump.

I am a Ph.D. (applied math) and science generalist, rather than specialist in anyone field. I’m also very critical of mainstream economics and neoliberal globalization, in addition to scandals in medical science.

[Uutimatkins (Tim Atkins)]

Ah yes. The infamous “many” and “many of us.” Well reasoned!

So, you don’t have a scientific background in this field. How are you able to pick and choose what scientific studies qualify as “best science”? There sure are a whole of links in this thread you haven’t clicked on that don’t support what you’re saying. Bet they’re still blue on your end. And I thought we were supposed to use reason.

And that you’re calling the kids in my youth group getting the health care they need a “scandal.” I mean, wowza, you really aren’t hiding are ya. Thank you for elaborating on these points, so folks here can see where opposition to this business resolution is really rooted in.

[CaroBarschow]

UU World Article Spring 2024
Pink Haven Coalition Helps Transgender People Relocate and Access Gender-Affirming Care by Fin Leary

In some states it is already a crime to provide gender-affirming care to minors and young adults, and, as of this writing, organizers are bracing for an even more brutal 2024 legislative session, compounding what they describe as the nightmarish daily reality for trans people in the United States.

Because of these laws, trans people in the United States could meet the definition of Internally Displaced People, or IDPs, by the United Nations. Hundreds of thousands of trans people and their families have already fled their homes to safer states with more than a million considering doing so, according to a recent Data for Progress survey.

Keep reading at UU World –

Pink Haven Coalition Helps Transgender People Relocate and Access...

[SashaBriarGast]

Hey Dick, can I ask why you have not responded to any of the comments I have left you (and directly replied to you on) for the last 14 days of this discussion? Is there a reason that you are ignoring what I’ve written as a biologist AND as someone in the affected community? You keep speaking of the Cass report and yet information has already been provided to you about how the report is incredibly biased, dangerous, and based on junk science. I have presented 5 of my own short metanalysis articles that I’ve researched from numerous published journal papers, medical whitepapers, and case studies about trans youth healthcare and what that actually looks like in practice.

You say you are a science generalist, and yet you have not responded to me, an actual biologist. It is critically important to speak from a learned space if you want to discuss transgender healthcare while also understanding the context that we live in that make access to live saving care difficult. Trans youth healthcare is safe. Trans youth health care dramatically reduces suicide rates. Trans youth healthcare saves lives.

What is your agenda, then?

Here are the direct links to all of the articles I wrote, so you don’t have to use the scroll button.

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

Hi Dick, I’m a transgender person who is also a biologist and I do advocacy work for my community. No reputable medical agency supports your claims, the social contagion theory, or the “dangers” of puberty suppression. Studies have been published, yes, but you have to look at the author’s biases, accreditation, and the journal’s status. The UK in particular has been pushing vehemently transphobic laws and guidelines, as there is a large push to say that trans women aren’t real women. (Many of t…

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

Top (chest) Surgery on Teenagers The best and most comprehensive document on all aspects of transgender and non-binary physical and mental health is the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)'s Standards of Care. They collect data from peer-reviewed studies, white papers (individual organizations that put out recommendations), and medical case studies. The current version is #8 and can be found online here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644 …

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

Teenager HRT The WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) is the worldwide authority on all things regarding transgender/non-binary/metagender people, with hundreds of citations of well-researched studies. Specifically applicable to you would be Chapter 6 on adolescents, and Chapter 12 on hormone replacement therapy. The WPATH doesn’t recommend puberty blockers for youth older than 15 (although you can be on them for longer), but does recommend starting HRT at age 14 (at t…

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

I have a few more pieces that I’ve written, just for some more additional education! Puberty Blockers and Brain Development Puberty blockers have been safely used with cis children to treat precocious puberty (the medical term for early puberty) or to treat puberty that is happening too fast for decades. Puberty blockers have been prescribed since the early 1980’s off label to treat precocious puberty in children, and was approved by the FDA for that specific use in 1993 (as well as to treat o…

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

I have one more relevant article I’ve written to share, about the actual danger that can be involved with youth denied HRT or anywhere where this a barrier to access. This topic is still related to the matter at hand. Dangers of Non-Medically Prescribed (DIY) Hormones and Why Prescribed HRT Is Critical WPATH guidelines state that HRT can be prescribed at ages 14+ in youth who are able to make informed consent. In the US, a parent or guardian is always required to consent to a doctor prescribin…

[AMENDED] UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values

And again, I’m a biologist/ecologist who happens to be trans. I read scientific literature as part of my career, and I have a MS degree (and half of a PhD) so I have had extensive training in grad school about how to read and understand science across many fields. Being trans does not bias me towards science that supports my claims, but rather, I know how to look for good methodology vs. poor methodology or biased articles written by researchers with conflicts of interest…

[dickburkhart]

Here is one summary of European research:

“Since 2019, major reviews of the benefits and harms of gender medicalization for children have been conducted in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and the U.K. Every one of these has determined that the evidence relied upon for pediatric “gender affirmation medicine” is of very low quality. They state that it is inappropriate to claim that transition improves mental health and reduces suicides.”

Thus, I am very skeptical of the research cited by WPATH. This is apparently due to its ideological agenda, as demonstrated by the WPATH files, released by a whistleblower.

[SashaBriarGast]

Cite your sources please. I don’t see any science there.

[RobertG (Robert Gifford)]

I will have to vote against this as worded, even though I want to support it and LGBTQ people. It conflates gender and sex which seems to be a recurring challenge from the very group who should be best able to note the difference. Gender is not assigned at birth, sex is.