The Inconvenient Truth About Shultz's "Natural Bodies" Article

Hey everyone, I want to talk about a recent article by Lisa Shultz (EyesOpen)1 that's been posted on PITTparents.com - one that claims to be about protecting "natural bodies" but is really just peddling fear and falsehoods about transgender youth and the gender-affirming care that saves their lives. (TLDR2)

The author throws around a lot of loaded terms like "healthy breast removal" and "disassociating from womanhood" that show a fundamental misunderstanding, or willful misrepresentation, of what it means to be trans. No one is getting mastectomies for funsies or because they're confused about gender stereotypes. These are necessary life-saving medical procedures for folks suffering from severe, often debilitating gender dysphoria.

And let's be clear - being trans isn't a trend or a phase, it's a deeply-rooted identity that has existed throughout human history. Implying that social media is somehow tricking girls into cutting off their breasts is not only absurd, it's downright dangerous. This kind of rhetoric fuels the very real discrimination and violence that trans people, especially trans youth, face every day.

The author also conveniently ignores the fact that gender-affirming care is supported by every major medical association as evidence-based, medically necessary treatment. It's not about "cementing an identity that might not last," it's about alleviating suffering and allowing individuals to live authentically. No one is getting fast-tracked into surgery - the process involves extensive assessments, counseling, and safeguards. Frankly, it's far more difficult to access than it should be given the life-saving impact it can have.

But perhaps the most insidious part of this article is the way it weaponizes parental love and grief to argue against affirming trans kids. I have no doubt that having a child come out as trans can be challenging for families, but the solution isn't doubling down on rejection that we know leads to devastating mental health outcomes and high suicide rates. If your love for your child is contingent on them conforming to your expectations of their body and identity, then that's not really unconditional love at all.

At the end of the day, no one is claiming that medical transition is right for every gender questioning kid. What we're saying is that trans youth deserve respect, support, and access to the full spectrum of care they might need to survive and thrive - just like any other kid struggling with a health issue. Spreading misinformation and stoking fear about best-practice treatment doesn't help anyone. In fact, it just contributes to a culture of transphobia that claims far too many young lives.

So while I empathize with the protective instinct and parental anxiety underlying articles like this, I cannot condone the way they misrepresent science, dismiss lived experiences, and ultimately make the world a more hostile place for an already marginalized and at risk population. If we want to have a real conversation about supporting gender diverse youth and their families, it has to start with facts, compassion, and a whole lot more listening to the trans community itself. Not advocating for what is tantamount to a form of gas lighting and conversion therapy.

But that is just my thoughts on it. I think we all can agree that we should think more critically about the information we consume and the impact our words can have.3 Stay safe out there, and take of yourselves, and each other.