Things are not looking so well for those who want to trans children.
Over recent years, folks on the hard Left have repeatedly claimed that using “gender-affirming care” on children was a great idea. They insisted that prescribing puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and even surgery on children suffering from gender dysphoria would help them deal with their symptoms.
One of their favorite arguments was that a deluge of studies supports the notion that trans-identified children benefit from making irreversible changes to their bodies.
But now, even one of the most vocal proponents of “gender-affirming care” for children is reversing course.
The American Medical Association recently endorsed restrictions on “gender-affirming” surgeries on minors. Its leaders are now acknowledging that the evidence supporting “gender-affirming care” is uncertain at best and that these decisions should wait until after the child reaches adulthood.
This stance is a significant reversal of the AMA’s prior stance. It previously opposed state legislation restricting the treatments for minors, claiming “gender-affirming care” is necessary for children who are confused about their gender. The organization, along with so-called progressives, has supported pushing these children and their parents into accepting these treatments instead of undergoing talk therapy.
Here's the AMA's full statement:
— Haley Strack (@StrackHaley) February 4, 2026
"Today, our colleagues at ASPS concluded that the evidence supporting gender-related surgery in minors is insufficient and of low certainty. The American Medical Association respects the expertise and dedication of surgeons who care for patients… https://t.co/BUlupZbp32
Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence is raising red flags about the lack of evidence that “gender-affirming care” helps children. Indeed, several studies have shown they are likely to cause harm.
The fact that we need studies showing that encouraging children to identify as the opposite gender is harmful tells you where we are as a society, doesn’t it?
BMJ published the findings of a study in 2025 that concluded that the evidence progressives have used to support these treatments on minors is “very low.” This suggests researchers have little confidence that puberty blockers bring mental health benefits such as reduced depression.
Several other studies in countries like the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Norway, and others concluded that the studies the Left championed were too weak to justify puberty blockers and surgeries for minors. Now, they are shifting toward psychotherapy to help ease the effects of gender dysphoria in children.
Much of the change in this paradigm is driven by a rising wave of detransitioners who have told their stories. They detailed how they were rushed into “gender-affirming care” without undergoing a proper psychological evaluation. In many cases, doctors used fear tactics to intimidate parents into allowing their children to go through these treatments, telling them their children would commit suicide if they couldn’t access puberty blockers.
Many detransitioners are suing the doctors and clinics who pushed “gender-affirming care” on them. Lawsuits against medical providers over these treatments have jumped eightfold, according to an analysis from Save Women’s Sports and Transition Justice.
A New York jury on January 30 found psychologist Dr. Kenneth Einhorn and surgeon Dr. Simon Chin liable for malpractice after they approved and performed a double mastectomy on Fox Varian when she was only 16 years old.
The jury awarded her $2 million in damages for pain, suffering, and future medical expenses. The jury found that the doctors had bypassed steps when evaluating Varian and failed to properly examine her psychological history.