Clinical Track

Oral Presentations

MS11 - Science versus “science”: Affirmative Care versus “rapid Onset”, “80% Desistance”, “wait and See”, and Other Transphobic Pseudoscience (CANCELED)

Presenter(s)

• 

  Laura Jacobs, LCSW-R

  Psychotherapist, Private Practice
  Chair, Board of Directors, the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

  Beacon Press: Royalty Recipient

Co-Presenter(s)

• DE

  Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D.

  Developmental and Clinical Psychologist, Director of Mental Health Child and Adolescent Gender Center
  Associate Professor of Pediatrics UCSF

  Nothing to disclose

Background : Increasing numbers of transgender and gender nonbinary youth and adolescents have come out, and there has been unprecedented hostility from those attempting to limit acceptance, a masquerade of 'concern' through misinformation and fear. But data unmistakably show that affirmative approaches yield happier, healthier, and better adjusted youth.

Methods : This workshop will feature members of the Gender Dysphoria Affirmative Working Group, a broad coalition of experts in gender and sexuality, discussing the overwhelming evidence that affirmative approaches produce happier and better adjusted children and making plain that "Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria", “80% Desist”, and “Wait and See” are inherently flawed and biased research, harmful to these vulnerable youth.

Results : Affirmative approaches - in which the youth’s self-reported gender is respected and where the youth is able to explore without judgment or predetermined outcome - demonstrate improved quality of life, self-esteem, and self-confidence, along with reductions in anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide. These youth discover what gender is appropriate for them, if any. Rates of regret are miniscule.

Conclusions : Every child is unique, and these youth are capable of making informed decisions about their authentic gender congruence. Flawed research broadcast in mass media is not only a source of confusion and stress for the parents attempting to provide support, but a threat to the wellbeing of these youth.

Only when youth are supported can they thrive.

www.gdaworkinggroup.com

Learning Objectives:

• • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to recognize the flaws inherent in “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria”, “Social Contagion”, “80% Desist”, and “Wait and See”, and to place them within a longer legacy of transphobic pseudoscience.
• • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to outline the gender affirmative model and how it applies to transgender youth.
• • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to summarize the benefits of affirmative care and how affirmative approaches yield happier, better adjusted youth.

1. • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to recognize the flaws inherent in “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria”, “Social Contagion”, “80% Desist”, and “Wait and See”, and to place them within a longer legacy of transphobic pseudoscience.
2. • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to outline the gender affirmative model and how it applies to transgender youth.
3. • At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to summarize the benefits of affirmative care and how affirmative approaches yield happier, better adjusted youth.