[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) has released a powerful statement urging leading medical associations to cease promoting gender transition treatments for children and adolescents.

The statement specifically calls out the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

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In their statement, ACPeds criticizes the endorsement of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for young individuals experiencing distress over their biological sex. The organization references recent research and harmful outcomes linked to the approaches advocated by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and similar groups in the United States.

“Given the recent research and the revelations of the harmful approach advocated by WPATH and its followers in the United States, we, the undersigned, call upon the medical professional organizations of the United States…to follow the science and their European professional colleagues and immediately stop the promotion of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for children and adolescents who experience distress over their biological sex,” the statement reads.

ACPeds urges these organizations to recommend comprehensive evaluations and therapies that address underlying psychological co-morbidities and neurodiversity often associated with gender dysphoria. The statement also encourages physicians who are members of these professional organizations to advocate for evidence-based research within their leadership.

The full statement and a list of supporting studies can be found on the ACPeds website, Doctors Protecting Children.

This call to action reflects growing concern about the long-term impacts and ethics of current gender transition treatments for minors, emphasizing a need for caution and thorough evaluation in addressing gender dysphoria among young patients.