As we approach the end of 2018, we know that there are tremendous opportunities for improvement in the field of transgender health. And following WPATH's successful Symposium in Buenos Aires, November 3-6, we know there is surely room for hope: Over 800 people attended and learned of new research, made new professional connections, and renewed old friendships, catching up on advancements in transgender care. We take heart that only a few years ago the interest in transgender health was far, far less than it is now. We think this is "Positive Evolution."
In this installment, we offer an array of hopeful and informative articles with only the last two in the list having content that warns of potential obstacles ahead. For the most part over the past few weeks, aside from election and Mueller investigation coverage in the US, three big stories have dominated the mainstream news with respect to transgender health: First is a widely-disseminated story about a divorced couple in Texas who are fighting over their child because the father "claims the mother is trying to make the boy into a girl." Second is the Trump administration's unusual effort to convince the US Supreme Court to overrule lower court decisions blocking the administration's attempts to keep transgender people out of the military. We have not included any of these articles today; they are all very easy to find using any search engine.
The third piece that is receiving considerable attention in conservative blogs, regional papers, and religiously-motivated national organization press materials is "I-told-you-so" reaction to a recent New York Times opinion piece written by a trans woman who is complaining about the poor options available to trans people. Our 6th story is NOT that essay, but a thoughtful piece from Rewire analyzing the problems the NYTimes essay is capable of creating for transgender health delivery--definitely worth reading, IMHO. There's a helpful link to the NYT op-ed embedded in the Rewire article. Other articles provided here are mostly professional and clinical in focus, and we hope you will find them informative.
As mentioned, the last three articles in today's distribution (in the "Negative Threats" section) contain "gotchas" that our members might want to be aware of: First is a Canadian political party resolution that indicates there is a conservative backlash preparing to be wielded in forthcoming legislative efforts, so watch out, Ontario! And the second is notice that a conservative religious group is seeking a US Supreme Court decision to "mandate anti-trans segregation in schools." The Court has NOT decided to hear this case, but we should keep our eyes open going forward. This article from ThinkProgress is a cogent presentation of the issues that are in play. Finally, an article sourced from Breitbart about autistic UK children being "groomed for copycat sex swaps" is stirring up controversy. Never a dull moment!
Jamison Green, PhD
WPATH Communications Director |
