Iare transidentities sufficiently visible? Are they sufficiently known and respected? The question naturally arises on this March 31, International Day of Transgender Visibility.
Of course, transidentities, we talk about it. But, for some time now, it has also been to reject them, discriminate against them, with an angle of attack now tirelessly repeated: the “health scandal” of trans children and the “horror” of retransitions. The opportunity to multiply false information, untruths with the aim of arousing fear, hatred among those who know nothing about transidentities and will not check the accuracy of the comments.
Throughout the forums and interviews, some outrageous associations, as well as personalities that we knew to be open and benevolent, want to make believe that radical speeches legitimize requests for sex change, at the cost of medical treatment for life or even surgery (removal of the breasts or testicles) on the bodies of children or adolescents.
Harmful, even transphobic arguments
The individuals who make these remarks have probably never met any trans people. These untruths do not in the least disturb certain media that we imagined to be more respectful of the veracity and accuracy of the facts. Thus, they take up, without verification, the harmful, even transphobic, arguments of these associations and personalities whose ideology seems to justify lies and misinformation.
What are these untruths?
– Trans children undergo hormonal treatments: this is false. No gender-affirming hormonal treatment is prescribed for children. The only reality: around 11-12 years old, at the onset of puberty, if the changes in their body seem unbearable to them, such as the growth of the breasts or the beard, young teenagers can benefit from puberty retardants, with agreement of their parents and for a limited period under endocrinological supervision. These drugs have been used for decades for young cisgender (non-trans) people going through early puberty. By respecting the international recommendations for use, their effects are fully reversible.
– Trans children can undergo surgery: this is not true. No genital operation can take place before the age of majority. The only exception: torsoplasty (removal of the mammary glands) can be performed on older adolescents if they can no longer bear their situation and impose on themselves the daily pain of wearing a binder which encloses their chest to make it invisible. This intervention can only be done with parental consent, of course, and solid medical information.
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