Author: Sue Seboda

The Transgender Campaign, Part 3

Can the transgender movement be simply explained?  Yes.  To be truly supportive of transgender children, activists demand that society believe gender is independent of biology.  In other words, any individual can be any gender on any given day regardless of chromosomes. 

A decade ago, and for eons prior, generally accepted reality dictated that males are men, females are women, men and women have limitless personality traits that often overlap and a very small proportion of the population had gender identity issues.  Until 2013 such issues were considered a mental disorder by the American Psychological Association (APA).    

While the silent majority had their collective head in the sand, a campaign percolated in academia to declare this human reality wrong.  The idea that “one’s gender is part of personal identity and not a disorder requiring treatment” exploded out of academia and is now supported by a large, well-funded coalition of progressives including politicians, their benefactors, private and public institutions, the APA, the Endocrine Society, teachers’ unions, woke corporations, big tech, big pharma, gender clinics, sex change surgeons, powerful LGBT+ NGOs and a cadre of social media influencers.  These are the marketeers who relentlessly promote their idea that the man/woman dichotomy is a false premise, gender exists on a spectrum to be decided at will and social and medical transition are the only appropriate courses of action for a gender confused youth.  

The marketeers’ campaign to change the definition of men and women under the guise of protecting our gender confused children has the potential to fundamentally change our society.  Equally important, success will fill their coffers which will solidify their power.  

We learned in the previous article, Snowballs, how the marketeers use compassion to manipulate society to accept their idea that gender is independent of biology.  They also use another classic trick, encourage folks to focus on the consequences of their ideas instead of the idea itself.  For example, society tears itself apart arguing over biological men who compete in women’s sports when we should be questioning whether we accept their ideas or not.  As our attention is diverted with one gender crisis after another (rapes in prison, sports, bathrooms) we unwittingly signal our tacit acceptance of the core concepts.  The result?  The marketeers’ underlying gender ideas continue to seep into our institutions with little resistance.  Genius.  

For those who don’t buy what they are selling, the marketeers employ another successful tactic – cancel public voices into oblivion.  They also rely on their fanatical acolytes to ostracize the disbelievers or anyone who questions their methods and motives.  This family’s story provides an excellent example.

Have the marketeers’ strategies been successful?  Yes, they have made significant progress.  Let’s examine the data.  

According to a recent Pew Research Center analysis “Adults under 30 are more likely than older adults to be trans or nonbinary. Some 5.1% of adults younger than 30 are trans or nonbinary, including 2.0% who are a trans man or trans woman and 3.0% who are nonbinary – that is, they are neither a man nor a woman or aren’t strictly one or the other.”  

A recent Gallup report stated “Roughly 21% of Generation Z Americans who have reached adulthood — those born between 1997 and 2003 — identify as LGBT. That is nearly double the proportion of millennials who do so, while the gap widens even further when compared with older generations.”  As Bill Maher famously said, at this rate we will all be gay by 2054.  

According to the Williams Institute as of June 2022, “among U.S. adults 18 and older, 0.5% (about 1.3 million adults) identify as transgender. Among youth ages 13 to 17 in the U.S., 1.4% (about 300,000 youth) identify as transgender.”  

The Williams institute estimates the number of transgender 13–17-year-olds is 300,000 today and was approximately 150,000 in the 2016/2017 report.  Note however better base data is available today and the earlier estimate could be inaccurate.  

The Williams study also examined prevalence at the state level, “At the state level, our estimates range from 3.0% of youth ages 13 to 17 identifying as transgender in New York to 0.6% in Wyoming.”  Is this disparity a result of how active the marketeers are in New York vs Wyoming?  The marketeers would have us believe that children are more comfortable coming out but geographic disparities call this theory into question.  In July 2015, to be more “inclusive” and stop kids from bullying those with gender dysphoria, New York implemented guidelines forcing schools to teach all kids they can be any gender they want at will.  The data shows that kids are listening.  So are their parents.  

Interestingly the Williams Institute report stated “overall, based on our estimates from 2016-2017, we find that the percentage of number of adults who identify as transgender has remained steady over time.”  Marketeer messaging to adults does not appear to seek their transition but instead the acceptance of the medical transition of young people.  The marketeers and their acolytes tell distraught parents “would you rather have a live son or a dead daughter” suggesting that if the child doesn’t start expensive, dangerous puberty blockers, which lead to a lifetime of drugs and serious health consequences, he or she might commit suicide.  Parents should dig a bit deeper before accepting such statements.    

While the accuracy of the studies above is unknown and they have different parameters and results, it appears transgender youth represent a very small part of the population.  Yet there is a significant upward trend especially in areas where the marketeers have control of the messaging.  Considering that US marketeers insist on immediate social affirmation and irreversible medical treatments in lieu of “watchful waiting” psychotherapy, the trend is also alarming for the physical and emotional health of any child (and their parents) who heed the call to social affirmation and medicalization.   

Before we examine the data regarding puberty blockers and surgery, it is important to restate key facts:

• In the absence of social and medical transition, “Childhood-onset gender dysphoria has been shown to have a high rate of natural resolution, with 61-98% of children reidentifying with their biological sex during puberty.”  Source. 
• “Historically, the small numbers of children presenting with gender dysphoria were primarily prepubescent males. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in referrals of adolescents, and particularly adolescent females, to gender clinics. Many do not have a significant history of childhood gender dysphoria and a number suffer from comorbid mental health issues and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The reasons for these changes are understudied and remain poorly understood.” Source  Are the increases a result of the marketeers’ attempt to redefine gender, inundate society with trans messaging making it “cool” and a way to “belong”?  
• A recent study suggests desistance is rare when parents elect to socially transition a young child (6 or 7 years old).   
• Once a child begins puberty blockers, desistance is very rare if at all.  Almost all will progress to cross sex hormones and the certainty of infertility and other lifelong health consequences.  
• Regardless, the Biden Administration released standards of care for transgender children that include immediate social affirmation, puberty blockers at approximately 12, cross sex hormones at 16 and sex reassignment surgery if desired.  In some locales puberty blockers are encouraged at younger ages. 
• President Biden signed an executive order on June 15, 2022 that appears to further prioritize medical transition over “watchful waiting” psychotherapy.  Note other Western countries are moving in the opposite direction and have put the brakes on the medical transition of youth.  

How many children in the US have been prescribed puberty blockers?  

Curiously this information is not readily available.  We do know the first gender clinic prescribed puberty blockers in 2007 and there are hundreds of prescribers now which suggests the number has increased dramatically.  

Lupron (Abbvie) and Supprelin (Endo) are the primary drugs prescribed off label to block puberty in children with gender dysphoria.  The charts below reflect total sales which include among other uses, prescriptions for palliative care for prostate cancer, endometriosis and precocious puberty.  Therefore, one cannot conclusively prove without additional data from Big Pharma how much of the increase is due to kids with gender issues.

Note Abbvie’s annual report explained the 2020 reduction in Lupron sales was due to pandemic related shortages while Endo’s annual report suggested the increase in Supprelin sales was due to supply shortages of a competitor.  Endo canceled production of Vantas in 2021, a cheaper alternate to Supprelin prescribed off label for puberty suppression.  Annual sales data for Vantas were not included in the online annual reports.  2022 annual sales reports will be interesting.

The long-term effects of prescribing these drugs to healthy kids have not been properly evaluated nor have Abbvie and Endo undertaken the rigorous testing necessary to obtain FDA approval for on label use to block puberty for healthy children.  However, there is evidence that these drugs can do serious damage especially in bone and brain development.  Equally important, almost all kids who start blockers progress to cross sex hormones which are irreversible and have many serious health consequences not the least of which is infertility.   

The marketeers’ assertion that puberty blockers are reversible is a blatant lie.  

The Swedish health authority sums up the concerns regarding puberty blockers best: “the risks of puberty suppressing treatment with GnRH-analogues and gender-affirming hormonal treatment currently outweigh the possible benefits, and that the treatments should be offered only in exceptional cases.” 

An older study in the Netherlands suggested that 65% of children referred to their primary gender clinic in 2010 progressed to hormone treatments by 2015.   If this trend holds in the US, without question the marketeers’ push for medical transition of kids will result in a greater number of transgender adults many of whom will fill Big Pharma’s pockets for the rest of their lives.  One cannot help but wonder if the marketeers hope the number of kids prescribed blockers stays hidden.  If this information were available along with an honest assessment of the risks, their acolytes and the silent majority might finally wake up.

How successful are the marketeers in encouraging minors to have sex reassignment or nonbinary surgery?  

Below are charts compiled from data released by The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) that represents the number of adult sex reassignments since 2015 performed by their members.  

Note the data does not include minors nor does ASPS have this data sorted by age but considering the Williams Institute and Pew Research data above, it is likely heavily tilted towards young adults.  The location of these surgeries is also key data necessary to evaluate the marketeers’ efforts.  Are procedures concentrated in areas where the marketeers have successfully redefined gender in K-12?  

Is the increase in female to male surgical transitions a result of the increase in rapid onset gender dysphoria in young girls that many believe is a result of social contagion? If so, we can draw a clear line between the marketeers’ messaging, “gender affirming care” and a surgeon’s knife.

While the increasing trend is clear, the number of people seeking surgery is very small compared to our population. This raises questions regarding intent.  Why did the California Department of Insurance direct all insurance companies in the Golden State to pay for the mastectomies of any gender transition patients under the age of 18?  Did California force this change because there was an existing market of young girls who were desperate to remove their breasts or to encourage market demand?  

The marketeers in western countries are gleefully counting their future dollars as demand for these surgeries grow.  Global Market Insights (GMI) estimated in 2019 that we “will witness 25.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during 2020 to 2026.”  They estimate sex change surgeries will be a billion-dollar industry by 2026.  The synopsis suggests that “increasing focus on the transgender issues through various studies will contribute to the sex reassignment surgery market growth.”  And not unexpectedly, “favourable government policies associated with gender transition surgeries is one of the major factors driving the industry demand.” 

As with puberty blockers sex reassignment surgery comes with serious risks and long-term health consequences.  According to some who have transitioned, these pesky details are not thoroughly discussed with patients.  This article will open one’s eyes to the brutality of male to female sex change surgeries as will Scott Newgent’s female to male experience during and after surgical transition.  

Let’s summarize.  A coalition was built to promote a new definition of gender under the guise of protecting a minute number of transgender youth relative to the population.  At no time did the marketeers offer an alternative method to assist our gender confused children that did not include reordering society at large.  

Through a variety of successful strategies, the idea that gender is independent of biology has been relentlessly pumped into mainstream culture via education, entertainment, legislation and social media.  Young people are listening.  Their parents suffer with nowhere to turn.  

Utilizing poor quality data, the marketeers including the APA, the Endocrine Society and the Federal Government encourage social and medical affirmation of gender confused children, a strategy that will likely result in their sterility, a lifetime of drugs and profound health issues with no guarantee of improved mental or physical outcomes.   Meanwhile the marketeers seek to suppress opposing views, deliberately lie about the side effects of the drugs they push and downplay the consequences of sex change surgery.  This should be deeply troubling to all.  

Unbelievably many, if not most, Americans are oblivious to the danger to our youth and therefore our country.  Society rages over consequences of this ideology (bathrooms, prisons, women’s sports) which have served as effective diversions.  Meanwhile, the ideology itself has taken root. This is striking since it is highly likely the silent majority believes that gender and biology are inexorably linked.

We the people let this happen and we the people are the only ones who can stop it.  We must.  

Details

• Note this is the third article on the transgender campaign that has gripped and divided our country.  For background data it may be helpful to read “Through the Looking Glass” and “Snowballs”.  
• To be perfectly clear, I firmly oppose the marketeers’ tactics, ideology, and push to transition and medicalize children.  I believe we can and should be supportive and compassionate to our gender confused children without a fundamental shift in our understanding of gender and the resultant reordering of society.  In addition, should any informed adult whose prefrontal cortex is fully developed wish to pursue hormones and/or surgery to reduce distress caused by gender incongruence, they should have the opportunity to do so.  Medicalizing children before their brains are mature and they are able to fully understand the risks is akin to child abuse and should only be pursued in the most extreme circumstances after extensive traditional (not affirming) psychological treatment. 
• The Society for Evidenced Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) has a wealth of information for those interested in understanding this topic in greater detail.  Anyone with children in school districts controlled by the marketeers and who are free to roam social media should have a laser focus on this issue.  “Our aim is to promote safe, compassionate, ethical and evidence-informed healthcare for children, adolescents, and young adults with gender dysphoria.” https://segm.org
• A “must read” from SEGM that fact checks the Biden Administration’s recently released standards for gender affirming care.  https://segm.org/fact-checking-gender-affirming-care-and-young-people-HHS
• Genspect’s https://www.statsforgender.org is another excellent resource.  
• The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is a prime marketeer for “gender affirming” care who also supply materials to schools.  In concert with other organizations such as the National Education Association (NEA) they published “Schools in Transition, A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 School”.  While much of the material is appropriately based in compassion, the following excerpts indicate their goal – to redefine gender.  
  • “While this concern may seem understandable, it is often based on the false idea that a transgender boy is not a “real” boy, a transgender girl is not a “real” girl or that a transgender student wants access to those facilities for an improper purpose. Schools should attempt to address these and any other misconceptions that may be causing the student’s discomfort.” The article goes on to suggest that the student who is uncomfortable use a different restroom.
  • “Unfortunately, schools often erroneously believe that a transgender student, particularly a transgender girl, will have a competitive advantage over the other players and therefore should not be allowed to compete on the team that matches their gender identity. Concerns regarding competitive advantage are unfounded and often grounded in sex stereotypes about the differences and abilities of males versus females.11”
  • “As part of this effort, it is important to educate the student’s family members about the serious consequences of refusing to affirm their child’s gender identity.”  There is no mention of informing the parents of the serious consequences of affirming their child’s identity and that going through puberty cures gender dysphoria for the majority of kids.  Nor do they mention the substantial numbers of adolescent girls claiming to be transgender with no prior history.  
• This article examines the experience of one family in California.  It is a “must read” and demonstrates how open discussion of the pros and cons of transition is prohibited in certain areas and those who attempt to question the narrative are ostracized.  
• This article highlights the acolytes’ fanatical obsession with the gender narrative.  https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-workers-advocating-for-trans-rights-within-company-march-at-seattle-pride
• Angus Fox (a pseudonym) has written an excellent series “When Sons Become Daughters”.  Here is part 7.  https://quillette.com/2021/06/18/when-sons-become-daughters-its-time-to-admit-that-reflexive-affirmation-has-been-a-mistake/
• Casual research into Lupron will reveal its dangers.  Hormones Matter is a good resource.  In this article Dr. Julia affiliated with Genspect answers questions on blockers.  This PBS article discusses the long term side effects and this article in the Daily Wire is the personal story of a woman who is currently taking the drug. 
• Anyone considering Lupron for themselves or their children might benefit from contacting one of the many Lupron victim groups. I have been in touch with the Lupron Warriors group on Facebook.  
• Annual sales data for Lupron (Abbvie) and Supprelin (Endo) was pulled from their online annual reports.  2021 Abbvie annual report. 2021 Endo annual report.
• I searched extensively for Lupron and Supprelin annual sales limited to puberty blockers for transgender children and the number of prescriptions written annualy but, as a Big Pharma outsider, was unable to find this data.  It is important data and if any reader has a means to obtain it, please feel to contact me.  We may have to wait until states such as Texas release reports resulting from their actions against Abbvie and Endo.  

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