In a recent episode of 7NEWS Spotlight, the producers dissect the surge in child and adolescent gender transitions in Australia. The story unveils a series of poignant personal journeys of transition and de-transition. Individuals like Courtney, Chloe, and Mel recount their turbulent voyages through gender dysphoria, influenced significantly by online communities and hasty medical interventions.
The gender-affirmation model — a system that readily accepts children’s self-identified genders — is scrutinized.
In the eye of a gathering storm surrounding the treatment of young individuals grappling with gender dysphoria, Dr. Jillian Spencer and Dr. Dylan Wilson emerge as vociferous critics of the prevailing affirmation model. Dr. Spencer, once a part of the Queensland Children’s Hospital, faced suspension for questioning the rapid categorization of children as transgender without delving into potential underlying issues. She warns against the irreversible repercussions of hastily prescribed hormone treatments. Dr. Wilson amplifies these concerns, criticizing what he perceives as a medical scandal. He advocates for a more comprehensive approach to understanding the distress experienced by these young individuals, dismissing claims that transition treatments invariably reduce suicide risks. Both medical professionals underscore a pressing need for a paradigm shift in the treatment of gender dysphoria, urging a more cautious, well-rounded approach to prevent potential future regrets and health complications.
The episode takes 54 minutes, but it’s worth your time.
Let me address a political issue in California that touches on parental rights, gender identity, and the democratic process.
California’s Stance on Gender Identity
Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, California has been at the forefront of policies that endorse transgender identity. Critics like myself argue that these policies infringe upon parental rights, compromise fairness in women’s sports, and harm the long-term health of children.
Direct Democracy in Action: Ballot Initiatives
In response to these policies, a coalition named “Protect Kids California” has taken a direct approach to challenge them. They’ve filed three ballot initiatives for the November 2024 ballot. These initiatives aim to:
Ensure schools notify parents if their children identify as transgender.
Prevent biological males from participating in women’s sports and accessing women’s spaces.
Prohibit medical professionals from administering experimental drugs or surgeries to minors to affirm a gender identity different from their biological sex.
‘The Advocates’ Perspective
Jonathan Zachreson, a spokesperson for Protect Kids California, emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in children’s lives. He argues that the current legislative approach does not adequately represent the people’s wishes.
Polls suggest that a significant majority of Californians support parental notification in schools and restrictions on medical interventions for minors.
We have legislators and institutions taking advantage of vulnerable children and busy parents.
Jonathan Zachreson
The Legal Landscape
Recent laws and bills in California have further ignited this debate. For instance:
In 2022, Newsom signed SB 107, declaring California a “trans refuge state.” This law allows California courts to reassign custody of children seeking gender-affirming care from other states.
The California Senate is considering AB 957, which could label parents as abusive if they don’t affirm their child’s preferred gender identity.
The state’s education code allows students to access facilities and programs consistent with their gender identity.
Protect Children from Reproductive Harm Act: This initiative aims to protect children from experimental medical interventions related to gender transition. It cites concerns about the FDA’s stance and practices in other countries.
School Transparency and Partnership Act: This initiative emphasizes the importance of parental rights, arguing that parents should be informed about significant changes related to their child’s gender identity at school.
Protect Girls’ Sports and Spaces Act: This initiative seeks to ensure fairness in women’s sports and maintain the privacy and safety of students in sex-segregated spaces.
The Road Ahead
While these ballot initiatives offer a direct way for Californians to voice their opinions, they face challenges. They need over half a million certified signatures to even appear on the ballot. Additionally, the state’s Democratic attorney general, Rob Bonta, who will draft the title and summary for these initiatives, might oppose them.
This issue underscores the complexities of balancing individual rights, parental rights, and societal norms. Remember, the essence of democracy lies in informed discussions and the active participation of its citizens.
I encourage you all to think critically about these issues, engage in respectful discussions, and always stay informed.
California Senator Scott Wiener, a member of the LGBTQ Caucus, weighs in on Parent’s Rights.
Colin Wright responds.
If my child has a condition that makes it likely they will be put on a medical pathway that includes life-long sterility and body-altering hormones and surgeries, I have a right to know. https://t.co/kaXRQFfxIj
The reality-TV star’s story is a terrible indictment of so-called gender-affirming care.
At the age of five, Jaron socially transitioned to become a ‘girl’ and was renamed Jazz Jennings. Aged 14, he started fronting his own hugely successful reality-TV series, I Am Jazz. Now in its eighth season, the series has charted the lives of Jazz, his family and friends as well as the long and complex medical procedures of his gender reassignment, from puberty blockers to eventual castration and the creation of a ‘neovagina’.
If we are to believe the trans lobby, for whom Jazz is now a prominent advocate, he is walking proof of the importance of early ‘affirmation’ of transgender identity in children. But like so much of the propaganda churned out by the trans movement, the true story of Jazz is much darker than we have been led to believe. Now 21 years old, Jazz has become a tragic figure. Obese, depressed and often suffering from anxiety attacks, he has struggled to form anything remotely like an intimate relationship.
