Transgender kids are no threat. Why are Missouri and Kansas lawmakers attacking them?

Most people in the U.S. do not know any transgender people. Or at least they do not think they know a trans person. Sometimes it isn’t safe to be open about it. Sometimes a person just wants to go about their day. I am a family physician in Kansas City, and I am trans. As part of my practice and community involvement, I’ve gotten to know many trans youth and their families. I care for people of all ages and from both states that comprise our beautiful city, in both Missouri and Kansas. I am extremely worried for the well-being of this community I am so proud to be a part of. From both a medical and personal perspective, as I watch the attacks that legislators and politicians across the country are passing against trans people, their families and their health care providers, I am fearful for the short- and long-term impact on our safety.

From Iowa to Arkansas, Kansas to Missouri, Texas to Tennessee, there has been an increase in proposed laws targeting transgender people, especially children. Because it is where I live and provide health care, I am especially worried about the impact of the bills introduced in Kansas and Missouri banning trans girls from sports participation and banning medical care for trans youth. These proposed laws are a solution without a problem. These kids are not a threat to anyone.

I wish people could see that transgender kids are regular kids. They want to spend time with friends and family, be a part of their community, go to church and have fun. They love music, movies and playing sports. Trans kids want to participate in sports for the love of athletics and competition. As a physician, I know there is well demonstrated medical evidence that participation in school sports has a positive impact on children and their mental health. It encourages teamwork, physical health and discipline. Prohibiting trans girls and boys from school sports will further stigmatize and isolate a group of kids who already experience disproportionately high rates of depression and self-harm.

Trans kids are just kids. They want to live. This world makes it so hard for them to do that. Lawmakers want to make it even harder by criminalizing appropriate medical care for transgender youth, even though it is the standard of care supported by multiple major medical groups including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Psychiatric Association. Starting medical treatment for gender dysphoria is not a fast process. Multidisciplinary teams evaluate each child and create individual care plans based on their goals. Irreversible treatments such as hormones or surgery are not typically used for young children.

Having anyone who sees you, values you and honors who you are is a truly life-changing experience. Your doctor should be someone who can do that for you. Your parents should be people who can do that for you. Your teachers, peers and community should be people who can do that for you. Trans kids deserve that. They deserve lawmakers who put their health before politics.

I believe that the people of Missouri and Kansas care about children. I believe that parents want their children to live long, happy, healthy lives. I believe that we want to do right by children, but these bills are not the way to do that. These laws will not protect any children. These laws will leave trans kids vulnerable and isolated. Forcing medical providers to reject and say no to trans kids seeking the health care they need is going to have dire consequences. I wish that people didn’t see withholding this care as a neutral option, because denying someone the ability to be themselves is not neutral.

I wish that people knew how easy it actually is to support trans kids and to love them for who they are. I wish they knew just how much it can help someone who is struggling to honor them and value them for who they are. I implore constituents to call their legislators, hold them accountable for their dangerous actions and tell them to stop these discriminatory bills. These bills are too extreme for Kansans and Missourians to support, and too harmful for children and families.

This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.