Claire Abernathy was put on testosterone at 14, had a double mastectomy before she was in high school, and was fighting to have her medical transition reversed by 17. Now 21, she is detransitioning and urging lawmakers to help protect minors in the future from medical transitions, to enforce consequences on the medical industry, and to navigate care for detransitioners.A growing number of detransitioners, or people who say they regret the medical steps they took to transition genders as adults or teenagers, are speaking out about their experiences amid a national debate over the wisdom of pediatric gender medicine. Some detransitioners have spoken out about their rushed treatment plans and mental health problems that did not resolve after taking hormones or undergoing surgeries. Lawmakers across the country are working to prevent such cases in the future, and more than two dozen states have passed laws banning gender transition drugs and surgeries for minors.“I strongly believe that there is action that can be taken,” Abernathy told the Washington Examiner. “We cannot allow this to be done to American children.”
Protecting children from permanent medical transition treatment
Currently, 23 states allow minors to receive gender transition surgeries, puberty blockers, or hormone therapy, according to the Human Rights Campaign. In Texas, where Abernathy received her treatment, lawmakers passed SB 14, banning medicalized transition for children. Abernathy told the Washington Examiner state bans only matter if they’re enforced.
