Should minors be banned from accessing puberty blockers and other gender-affirming treatments?

👍 Yes (55%) – "As minors their brains are not fully developed enough to understand the consequences of their choices. While I understand it is distressing for some, there are ways to "affirm" gender without causing potentially irreversible damage until they are old enough to understand the consequences of their choices and they have had counseling to ensure this is a choice they want to make and not one that is being suggested to them by adults. Many children who have gone through these procedures prior to adulthood regret their decisions."

• "In general minors are not prepared to make life altering finite decisions regarding their gender identity. Normal hormone development plays a large role in that. I have seen minors peers pressure them onto identifying one way or another. I have seen parents do the same thing. Children should be allowed to develop naturally and make decisions as adults."

"Puberty and adolescence is a difficult and confusing time for most people. Let's not make it harder by providing life-altering treatments when we don't have a good grasp of the long term effects. It's also important to note that many adolescents with gender dysphoria simply "grow out of it" if given time and other support. Let's make sure those non-pharmacological treatments are our first line rather than jumping straight to life-altering chemical treatments."

• "Minors do not have the maturity to know for sure, nor to fully understand the lifetime complications that will result. We don't allow minors to make other legal decisions until they reach legal adulthood, this is even more imperative in making sure there is truly informed consent before doing irreversible damage to their bodies and their ability to have children."

"Yes, a child is not prepared for the repercussions of such a permanent decision. I’ve seen studies from some of the countries that have already banned it outlining how detrimental to children these procedures are as many change their minds. I’m all for adults doing whatever they’d like with their bodies, but children are not ready to make these decisions."

• "For decades, we have accepted that the frontal lobe is not fully formed until well after puberty. We use this scientific fact to justify the actions and feelings of adolescents. It is contrary to now ignore this research and believe that children can make life altering, irreversible decisions."

👎 No (28%) – "Gender-affirming care has been proven to be safe and effective numerous times, and the benefits transgender children experience from it far outweigh those who regret the treatment. The potential to regret a treatment exists in all fields, and to try and justify a ban on gender-affirming care with that would be to avoid the systemic transphobia in policymaking. The decision to use gender-affirming care belongs to the parents, children, and doctors that are directly affected by their decisions and policy bans."

• "Medical care should be decided upon by the person, their doctor, and a legal guardian if the person in question is a minor. Everyone else gets to butt out, especially the government. This is an example of government overreach, plain and simple. I don't know why politicians think they get to legislate limiting medical care."

"It seems to me that, in general, the people who want to keep it accessible it are those who might actually want to use it. Meanwhile, many who oppose the use of the drug would not be prescribed them, and are frankly just scared of LGBTQ+ issues and identities, under the guise of some form of "traditional family values." This literally only ever effects those who want it, and that alone involves an intense mental and physical review process first to be sure it's provided in the child's interest. It bothers me how many people are willing to risk the lives and mental health of those they don't know, just because they don't understand why this small number of people feel misaligned with their sex and/or gender and want to do something about it while they can."

🤷‍♀️ Unsure/other (17%) – "This is such a complicated issue that I think belongs in the hands of parents to determine with their child. I do think that the distribution of peer reviewed medical research on this is needed and that it should be widely distributed and discussed among doctors and clients so that the parents/child understand the full risks involved (if there are viable medical concerns). I also wish that society were more accepting on gender differences so that children do not feel they need to go to medical transitions so early to get the acceptance they desire."

• "I am very progressive and ordinarily would automatically check in favor of giving the kids what they need when they need it. However in this case, where the people in question are too young to be absolutely sure of what they will want when, say, 10 years older, I find myself a little less sure."