Research proves false claim about transgender children
New research proves that the widely shared claim about transgender children 'desisting' was based on flawed studies. The statistic originated from a 2016 blog post and has been used harmfully for nearly a decade.
For many years, anti-trans activists have shared a popular statistic. They claim that 60 to 90 percent of transgender children stop being transgender. This claim has been used to argue against gender-affirming care. New research now shows this statistic is wrong.
The original claim comes from a blog post written in 2016. Researchers and journalists have been checking this claim for a long time. The new study looked carefully at the old research. The results are very clear. The old studies had serious problems.
The old studies included many children who were not actually transgender. Many of those children never identified as transgender in the first place. They were just children who did not follow typical gender rules. This is very different from being transgender.
When researchers looked only at children who truly identified as transgender, the numbers changed completely. Most of these children continued to identify as transgender into adulthood. The claim of 60 to 90 percent was simply not accurate.
The false statistic has caused real harm. Parents have used it to deny their children gender-affirming support. Politicians have used it to create laws that restrict healthcare for transgender youth. Doctors have used it to advise families against supporting their transgender children.
Mental health experts say that supporting transgender children is very important. Studies consistently show that transgender youth do better when their families support them. They have lower rates of depression and anxiety. They are less likely to have thoughts of suicide.
The new research is important for families and doctors. It helps people make better decisions based on real facts. Transgender children deserve care that is based on good science.
LGBTQ+ organizations welcome the new findings. They say the old statistic was always misleading. They hope this research will help change harmful policies. They also hope it will encourage more families to support their transgender children.
Experts say the conversation should now focus on how to best support transgender youth. Good support from family and healthcare providers makes a big difference. Every transgender child deserves to be treated with respect and care.