Health Secretary Wes Streeting has approved a clinical trial for puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria, despite personal discomfort and opposition from some politicians, following recommendations from the Cass Review to better research the drugs' effects.
The Trump-era Justice Department is reportedly considering proposals to restrict firearm ownership for transgender Americans, building on previous executive orders targeting transgender rights, amid ongoing debates about mental health and gun laws, with critics arguing it scapegoats a vulnerable population.
The Air Force has implemented a new policy that denies transgender airmen the right to a peer hearing before discharge, mandating automatic separation if diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a move criticized as unlawful and potentially setting a precedent across the military, undermining fairness and trust in leadership.
The UK has indefinitely banned new prescriptions of puberty blockers for minors with gender dysphoria, following an independent study that highlighted weak medical evidence and potential safety risks. The decision, supported by the study's author, Dr. Hilary Cass, emphasizes the need for evidence-led children's healthcare. Transgender activists have criticized the ban, which allows current users to continue treatment and permits prescriptions for cisgender minors with early puberty. The ban will be reviewed in 2027, as the UK plans clinical trials on the medication.
Mina Caputo, the lead singer of the rock band Life of Agony, announced he is detransitioning back to living as a male after more than a decade of identifying as transgender. Caputo, who came out as transgender in 2011, stated that his gender dysphoria has been "cured" and he plans to undergo surgery to remove his breast implants. He has been off hormones for several years and expects to complete his detransition by 2025. The band's bassist, Alan Robert, expressed support for Caputo's decision.
Mina Caputo, lead singer of the rock band Life of Agony, announced he is de-transitioning to live as a man again, reclaiming his original name, Keith. Caputo, who came out as transgender in 2011, stated that his gender dysphoria has been cured and plans to undergo surgery to remove breast implants. He has been off hormones for several years and will complete the de-transition process by 2025. Caputo's announcement comes amid increasing discussions on transgender issues and de-transitioning cases.
A preprint study from Mayo Clinic suggests that puberty blockers may cause long-term fertility problems in boys with gender dysphoria, potentially leading to permanent impacts such as sex gland atrophy and testicular microlithiasis. The study raises concerns about the use of puberty-blocking drugs, linking them to increased risks of testicular cancer and other health issues. Experts caution against the growing rush to gender-affirming treatments, emphasizing the need for safer and more effective approaches for those with gender dysphoria.
A landmark study by British pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass reveals that children presenting with sudden onset gender dysphoria often have other mental health diagnoses, not true gender dysphoria, such as issues stemming from family situations, domestic abuse, and neurodiversity. The study suggests that "gender affirming" medical interventions would not address these underlying psychological issues and warns of negative psychological repercussions if children are rushed into such treatments. Another recent Dutch study also found that a significant majority of gender-confused children grow out of their feelings by adulthood. Both studies argue against rushing to transition kids with gender dysphoria and advocate for holistic mental health treatment instead.
A review commissioned by England's National Health Service found that the medical evidence underlying gender care for adolescents is "remarkably weak," leading to little clarity on long-term outcomes. The report emphasizes the need for better care for young people with gender dysphoria but highlights the lack of good evidence on how best to provide it. The review urges extreme caution around providing hormones before the age of 18 and emphasizes the lack of evidence on the impact of social transitioning. The NHS has announced that puberty-blocking drugs in England will only be available for young people in the context of a clinical trial, and plans to widen access to gender care are underway, although there is a significant backlog of cases.
England's NHS has decided to stop routinely prescribing puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria due to limited evidence of their safety and effectiveness. The decision has been praised by detransitioners who have experienced negative effects from such treatments, with one calling it a matter of "common sense." However, a U.K.-based charity supporting transgender children has expressed disappointment, while detransitioners have shared their experiences of enduring lasting side effects from puberty blockers.
England's NHS has halted the use of puberty blockers for transgender minors due to insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness, pending a study to be conducted by December. While less than 100 young people in England are currently prescribed puberty blockers and will be able to continue their treatments, clinicians can still apply for the treatment under NHS England's Individual Funding Request process. The decision has sparked debate over the risks and benefits of gender-affirming care, with major medical associations in the U.S. emphasizing its safety and effectiveness, while some states have restricted gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
England's National Health Service has banned the use of puberty blockers for children seeking treatment for gender dysphoria due to limited research on safety and clinical effectiveness. The decision comes after concerns about the drugs' impact on mental health, with a study showing that one-third of trans youth experienced a decline while taking puberty blockers. Some European countries have also exercised caution on using pharmaceutical interventions for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, with Swedish doctors calling for more research on the long-term effects of these drugs.
NHS England has announced that children with gender dysphoria will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers due to insufficient evidence of their safety and clinical effectiveness. The decision follows a public consultation and review of available evidence, with new regional services for under-18s with gender dysphoria set to open next month without the use of puberty blockers, except for those participating in clinical trials. The move has been welcomed by the government but has raised concerns from LGBTQ+ rights groups and praise from organizations advocating evidence-based policymaking in gender identity services.
A therapist in Washington state quit her job at a hospital system due to pressure to approve gender transitions for young patients, regardless of their diagnoses. She detailed instances where patients with complex mental health histories were pushed into medical gender transitions, despite potential risks and lack of proven long-term benefits. The therapist spoke out, expressing concern that the industry's approach is causing irreversible damage to young patients.
A Washington therapist, Tamara Pietzke, quit her job after being reprimanded for not immediately approving children's requests for puberty blockers and sex change surgeries. She was told to "throw out" her training and simply affirm young trans children's genders, despite their complex mental health issues and trauma history. Pietzke's concerns about potential irreversible harm were dismissed, and she was accused of having personal biases against trans kids. She shared her experiences to raise awareness about the risks of medicalizing troubled young people and the pressure to provide gender affirming care without proper assessment.