To accompany “Gender-affirming care improves the mental health of transgender youth”

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

1. Look up the definitions for “gender identity” and “sex.” Are the two terms interchangeable? Why or why not?
2. How important is it to feel comfortable in one’s own identity?

During Reading:

1. How many U.S. high schoolers identify as transgender?
2. Some people want to restrict gender-affirming health care for minors. What are their reasons? Major medical associations are against restrictions on gender-affirming care. What are their reasons?
3. What does gender-affirming health care look like for kids who have not yet started puberty? What are the potential benefits of this care?
4. What do we know about how gender evolves with age? What do we not know?
5. What are puberty blockers? What are the potential benefits of these medications? What are the potential risks?
6. What is masculinizing hormone therapy? What is feminizing hormone therapy?
7. What are the potential benefits of hormone therapy? What are the potential risks?
8. Who is eligible for gender-affirming surgery?
9. What does current research show about how often people regret gender-affirming health care?
10. What is detransitioning? What are the most common reasons to detransition?

After Reading:

1. Imagine that your local lawmakers passed a law restricting access to gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. How might that law affect transgender kids in your community?