The attack on trans rights, including gender affirming care for minors, did not begin with the Trump administration. The persecution of and harmful rhetoric about the trans community vastly predates Donald Trumps presidency, not to mention the onslaught of legislation against the trans community across the globe, includingthe United Kingdoms ruling excluding trans women from the legal definition of women. Yet, its evident that, since January 20, 2025, the United States has experienced an unprecedented targeting of trans rights.Since Trump took office, its estimated that886 anti-trans bills are currently under consideration in the US, and that number is expected to increase over time. So far, in 2025 alone, 97 anti-trans bills have passed in the United States. At the state level and federal level, many bills specifically target trans minors, primarily with attempted bathroom bans, sports bans and bans on gender-affirming care. One of the most pressing of those attacks is Trumps attempt viaexecutive orderto cut federal funding to institutions that provide such care to minors, whom they define as anyone under 19.This focus on banning gender-affirming care has increased under the Trump administration, which is a strategy that was clear throughout his 2024 campaign. Pera fact sheet put out by GLAAD, Trumps anti-trans talking points on the campaign trail included: outlawing gender-affirming care for minors, cutting federal funding for schools that promote inclusivity, and banning transgender athletes from sports teams aligned with their gender identity.A report by CBS Newsestimated that Trump and his allies spent tens of millions of dollars on anti-trans ads during his 2024 campaign. The same report confirmed that Make America Great Again, Inc. (MAGA) independently spent about $1.1 million on similar ads.Americans in general have also shifted to a less favorable opinion of trans people, witha survey from the Pew Research Centershowing that, compared to 2022, Americans are now more in favor of laws restricting protections for trans people. The survey reflected a 10-percentage point increase in favorability for bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors, an 8-percentage point increase in favorability for sports bans, and an 8-percentage point increase in support of bathroom bans.However, many of these talking points represent misconceptions and misinformation. One prominent example from Trumps 2024 campaign was the notion that children were going to school andgetting gender-affirming surgery(which is unequivocally false). Perthe Trans Can Work organization, other common myths and misconceptions about gender affirming care include that it is unsafe/experimental, not backed by science, and likely to lead to regret.Likewise,the National Association of Social Workersidentified myths and misconceptions such as children receiving medical procedures/surgeries, puberty blockers causing irreversible changes, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) being harmful to long-term health, among others.The truth is it is rare for anyone under the age of 18 to receive gender affirming surgery.One study, which included a cohort of 522,605 pediatric patients from 2018 to 2021, found that only .02% of patients were minors who had received gender affirming surgery. Of those .02%, most were 16 years old or older and were specifically getting chest surgery.While gender-affirming surgery for minors is therefore exceedingly rare in the United States, gender affirming care for minors can include puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Yet, the aforementioned misconceptions persist, and, as identified above, continue to be pushed by politicians as well as organizations likethe Heritage Foundation.The previously mentioned beliefs about puberty blockers and HRT are also false. For most children, especially those who are pre-pubescent, gender-affirming care is social and mental health related. This includes social transition involving clothing, hairstyles, names and pronouns, etc. In terms of mental health, organizations likethe Gender Clinic at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphiaorthe Gender Services department at Boston Childrens Hospitalconnect families with psychologists and social workers who are informed and trained in gender affirming care and related mental health needs.According tothe Human Rights Campaign, For patients seeking out gender-affirming medical care, they often receive counseling for extended periods of time. If medications or surgery are part of their gender journey, they are only prescribed after further assessments to ensure they meet prescribing criteria. This can include but is not limited to documentation and referral letters, parental consent, and ongoing mental health support. At all stages, gender-affirming care is only delivered after patients and their families have been counseled, and informed consent has been given.PerAdvocates for Trans Equality, puberty blockers are also a temporary, reversible way for trans minors to put a pause on puberty as they, and their families, work with doctors to determine the best, safest and healthiest path forward on an individual level.By contrast, several effects of puberty are irreversible once theyve occurred, which also discredits the notion that trans kids can simply wait until they are adults to make these decisions. These changes, which puberty blockers can keep at bay temporarily, can be incredibly distressing for trans people and can directly impact their mental health and well-being. Delaying gender-affirming care for minors, therefore, can and does cause direct harm.What is also abundantly clear is that gender affirming care is life-saving care, and thats more than just a slogan. Per aStanford University School of Medicine study, the odds of severe psychological distress were reduced by 222%, 153%, and 81% for those who began hormone therapy in early adolescence, late adolescence, or adulthood, respectively. The odds of previous-year suicidal ideation were also 135%, 62%, and 21% lower in patients who began hormone therapy in early adolescence, late adolescence, or adulthood, respectively, when compared to a control group. These numbers are clear: gender affirming care, especially when begun in early adolescence, can help to reduce thoughts of suicide, which, according tothe Trevor Projects 2024 survey, affects an estimated 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people.These stats directly disprove several claims made by the Trump administration regarding what gender-affirming care, especially for minors, actually entails. Ultimately, many professionals in the field, includingthe American Academy of Pediatrics, continue to back gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kids, and their surveys, studies, and statistics reinforce that much of this rhetoric stems from misinformation.The post The real-life impact of delaying gender-affirming care appeared first on News Is Out.