By UTA School of Social Work
As part of a diverse and vibrant community of learning at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, we wholeheartedly support the First Amendment right to free speech and see free speech as fundamental to ongoing and thoughtful discourse on important social issues.
However, free speech is sometimes used to spread non-scientific and factually incorrect information. As such, we are offering a statement in response to the scheduled speaking event of Jeff Younger at UTA.
Younger has framed himself as an “expert” on gender affirming care for youth, despite having no academic or clinical training in this area. He is not licensed to practice medicine or provide mental health care in any jurisdiction.
Younger’s repeated attempts to spread misinformation concerning what he perceives to be the “dangers” of gender affirming care without regard to the substantial benefits it can provide for vulnerable transgender youth, which are clearly stated in the empirical literature, continues to politicize the discourse around gender affirming care and healthcare in general.
Gender affirming care saves lives. Attempts to characterize it as “child abuse” must be stopped, along with Younger’s attempts to pathologize LGBTQ+ people.
As stated by the American Medical Association (2021), “Gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based care that improves the physical and mental health of transgender and gender-diverse people.”
Younger’s efforts to mislead the public are in stark opposition to the values we hold as Social Workers, including the right to self-determination - which includes the right to make one’s own healthcare related decisions without interference from the state.
In Solidarity,
Micki Washburn, PhD, LMSW, MA, LPC-S
Assistant Professor, UTA School of Social Work
Brittanie Atteberry Ash, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor, UTA School of Social Work
De’An Roper, PhD, LCSW-S
Assistant Professor of Practice, UTA School of Social Work
Sophia Fantus, PhD
Assistant Professor, UTA School of Social Work
Amanda Aykanian, PhD
Assistant Professor, UTA School of Social Work
Scott D. Ryan, MSW, MBA, PhD
Dean & Professor, UTA School of Social Work
Resources:
If you would like more information on evidence-based practice in regard to gender affirming care, please consult the following peer reviewed scientific resources:
American Medical Association (2021). (AMA) reinforces opposition to restrictions to transgender medical care.
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20210616/ama-strengthens-stance-on-transgender-care-restrictions
Arnoldussen, M, van der Miesen, A,Elzinga, W, Alberse, A, Popma, A, Steensma, T, and de Vries, A. (2022). Self-Perception of transgender adolescents after gender-affirming treatment: A follow-up study into young adulthood. LGBT Health, 9(4), DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2020.0494.
Boulware, S., Kamody, R., Kuper, L., McNamara, M., Olezeski, C., Szilagyi, N., & Alstott, A. (2022). Biased Science: The Texas and Alabama Measures Criminalizing Medical Treatment for Transgender Children and Adolescents Rely on Inaccurate and Misleading Scientific Claims. Available at SSRN 4102374.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4102374
Kimberly, L. L., Folkers, K. M., Friesen, P., Sultan, D., Quinn, G. P., Bateman-House, A., ... & Salas-Humara, C. (2018). Ethical issues in gender-affirming care for youth. Pediatrics, 142(6).
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/6/e20181537/37504/Ethical-Issues-in-Gender-Affirming-Care-for-Youth
Kuper, L. E., Cooper, M. B., & Mooney, M. A. (2022). Supporting and advocating for transgender and gender diverse youth and their families within the sociopolitical context of widespread discriminatory legislation and policies. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 10(3), 336.
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fcpp0000456
Kuper L.E., Stewart S., Preston S., et al. (2020). Body dissatisfaction and mental health outcomes of youth on gender-affirming hormone therapy. Pediatrics, 145(4):e20193006. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/4/e20193006/76951/Body-Dissatisfaction-and-Mental-Health-Outcomes-of
Tordoff, D., Wanta, J., Collin, A., Stepney, C., Inwards-Breland, D, Ahrens, K. (2022). Mental health outcomes in transgender and nonbinary youths receiving gender-affirming care. JAMA Network Open. 5(2): e220978. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978
Turban JL, King D, Carswell JM, et al. (2020). Pubertal suppression for transgender youth and risk of suicidal ideation. Pediatrics,145(2): e20191725.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/2/e20191725/68259/Pubertal-Suppression-for-Transgender-Youth-and
Resource Links:
Endocrine Society
Gender Dysphoria/Gender Incongruence Guideline Resources
https://www.endocrine.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/gender-dysphoria-gender-incongruence
Endocrine Society
Advocacy to Protect Access to Gender Affirming Care
https://www.endocrine.org/advocacy/accomplishments-and-champions/access-to-gender-affirming-care
National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Supporting Gender-Affirming Care
https://www.nata.org/blog/beth-sitzler/supporting-gender-affirming-care
