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Photo by Brent Calver/PostmediaOne of the world’s loudest and most successful cheerleaders for gender ideology has been forced into a tactical retreat in an ongoing U.S. court case.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorAnyone mildly familiar with the controversy over “gender affirming” care will be aware that proponents for this medical scandal have insisted that there is to be no debate on trans health care — and that debate is not only tantamount to heresy, but could end the lives or very existence of transgender identified persons. Critics are often met with the refrain, “the science is settled,” when they ask questions about the wisdom or safety of transitioning gender-confused minors.Well, that’s over now.The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), in an application to dismiss a lawsuit, has finally admitted that the debate over gender ideology is very real — and that their guidelines are not so sacred, after all.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the states of Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas, filed a lawsuit against WPATH in June. In a news release announcing the lawsuit, the FTC alleged that WPATH “has provided the means for medical providers to make false and unsubstantiated claims to parents in order to sell pediatric medical transition services.”“In 2022, WPATH omitted all mention of age limitations for breast amputation or penis removal from the ‘Standards of Care’ document providing the organization’s official recommendations for treating sex-trait-related dissatisfaction or distress in children,” continued the FTC’s statement. “As alleged in the complaint, WPATH did not base this decision on medical evidence.”WPATH has for years been treated as the global authority on transgender care, including in Canada. In fact, WPATH names Canada in its court filings as an example of a country that agrees with its “Standards of Care.” These care guidelines contain no lower age limits for surgical treatment and include an entire chapter on the “eunuch” gender identity.Over the years, WPATH attracted criticism that threw its expertise into question. In March 2024, for example, a non-profit group named Environmental Progress released the “WPATH Files,” which were a series of documents that exposed WPATH members’ uncertainty over informed consent and treatment risks for minors, and the incidence of untreated mental health conditions among patients seeking trans health care. In light of the findings within the WPATH Files, Environmental Progress made a similar argument to the FTC: that WPATH “does not meet the standards of evidence-based medicine, and members frequently discuss improvising treatments as they go along.” It also argued that “WPATH-affiliated doctors are knowingly violating bedrock principles of medical ethics and informed consent.”It wasn’t until the FTC lawsuit, however, that WPATH had to go on record and admit that it is not the one true arbiter of science.Sprinkled throughout WPATH’s motion to dismiss the FTC’s suit are references to its activities as “policy and opinion work,” and written “opinions about subjects on which there is ‘medical and scientific uncertainty.’” The submissions concede, at long last, the existence of “intense medical debate” about pediatric gender care. Put differently, WPATH is now admitting that the framing of critics as anti-trans bigots is false. There is a legitimate discussion to be had over science and evidence.In its application to dismiss, WPATH claims to defer to U.S. federalism, that is, each individual state’s authority to create health-care legislation. After admitting that “variation exists among views on transgender health-care for youth,” WPATH states that “such policy disagreements are federalism in action.” It goes on to argue that the FTC lawsuit is a violation of state legislative power.This is contradicted by several public statements WPATH has issued over the years, including in 2023, when WPATH said that it and its U.S. branch “vehemently oppose the broad and sweeping legislation being introduced and ratified in states across the country to ban access to gender-affirming health care to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people” and “condemn any legislative actions to restrict or prohibit access to gender-affirming health care.”Of course, the motion to dismiss makes no mention of the inconsistency between WPATH’s conflicting legal and public positions on the right of states to legislate transgender health care.Admittedly, WPATH appears to have a good chance of getting the lawsuit quashed based on its legal argument that the FTC is attempting to infringe upon the non-profit’s First Amendment right to free speech. Americans have excellent speech protections, and it will come as no surprise if WPATH wins on this basis alone (the organization makes several other, less persuasive, arguments as to why the FTC’s lawsuit should be dismissed).No matter, though. WPATH has been forced to back away from its “no debate” mantra, revealing the organization as a crumbling edifice of gender ideology.“WPATH is contributing to the public medical debate regarding transgender healthcare. If Plaintiffs disagree with WPATH, the ‘remedy to be applied is more speech,’ not enforced silence,” reads the motion to dismiss, quoting another court decision.It’s difficult to feel sympathy for WPATH, which, along with other gender activists, has dominated the culture war by silencing dissent for years. Now, the organization invokes the old plea of its ideological enemies: to be heard, and to be countered with opposing speech, rather than censorship. The temptation to gloat — at length — is strong.The FTC lawsuit shone a light on WPATH, and, no matter the legal outcome, WPATH was caught with its pants around its ankles. Every physician who follows its guidelines should immediately step back and reconsider the evidence. This is a major win for vulnerable youth who are at risk of being caught up in this medical scandal.National Post Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.