WoLF was honored to submit its first testimony of 2023! On January 24, WoLF submitted written testimony in support of three related bills in Missouri. HB419, HB463, and HB540 all addressed ways for the government of Missouri to protect children from life-altering medical interventions, and to hold medical professionals accountable for providing “gender affirming” treatments and surgeries to anyone under the age of 18.

HB419 and HB540 provided a detailed list of the many different ways in which “gender affirming care” will harm the health of children and adolescents. Unnecessary surgeries, puberty-blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, the removal of healthy body parts, and other cosmetic surgical procedures on young people have harmful, long-lasting, and often permanent effects. Children are affected for the rest of their lives when medical professionals make decisions about removing their healthy body parts, introducing unnatural levels of hormones into their bodies, or sterilizing them. Medical professionals have the power to make profound, life-altering decisions about children’s bodies, long-term health, and fertility. We encouraged Missouri lawmakers to review our recent submission to the National Institutes of Health; in our NIH submission, we provided detailed discussions about some of the harms caused by unnecessary medical interventions. 

All three Missouri bills placed the burden of responsibility on medical professionals and held these professionals accountable for causing harm to children and adolescents. We explained to Missouri lawmakers that we agreed with holding medical professionals accountable when they encourage, promote, and/or provide unnecessary, permanent, and life-altering medical interventions to children and adolescents. However, we also explained that because of the insidious infiltration of gender ideology, many medical professionals are now being indoctrinated into believing that “gender affirming” care is the only appropriate or reasonable treatment option for children and adolescents. Therefore, we encouraged lawmakers to consider the fact that many medical practitioners are simply following the guidance that they have been given by their professional organizations and their educational institutions. 

HB419 and HB540 prohibited public funds from being directly or indirectly used to provide “gender transition procedures,” and they also stated that parents of child victims should not be held liable. We indicated support for both of these strategies. Public funding should absolutely not be used to promote harmful and unnecessary medical treatments. We also urged caution against criminalizing parents who are simply trying to provide support to their children. Unfortunately, many parents have been indoctrinated into believing that “gender affirming care” is the only viable option for their children, and we do not want these parents to be prosecuted when they are simply following the advice given to them by political activists, healthcare professionals, and even some educators.

WoLF receives a number of submissions from adults who are concerned about their children being harmed by the social contagion of gender ideology and unnecessary medical treatments that are now being touted as “gender affirming.” Read about parents’ concerns here.  

If you are concerned about issues related to child medicalization, there are several easy ways to join the fight to protect children! Sign our petition to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and urge federal lawmakers to pass the Protect Minors from Medical Malpractice Act. You can also learn more about WoLF’s previous work to protect children, including our submission of testimony in Tennessee and Ohio, our critique of WPATH’s irresponsible behavior, and our submission of an amicus brief in the Eighth Circuit Court in support of the Arkansas SAFE Act.