The Kindness of Critical Thinking

If you want to skip down to the part where we take apart the original article's arguments and see how they fall apart under closer scrutiny, keep scrolling down until you see the comic. The detailed, point-by-point deconstruction of its claims and reasoning starts there.

Gender Critical Beliefs are NOT Kind

This substack is full of stories of the pain "gender critical" ideology causes parents. Stories of the pain of watching parents make choices that will hurt their kids, descriptions of the pain of losing a parent who goes so toxic that the kid, sometimes the family, has to go "no contact." This article is about the pain "gender critical" ideology causes to people beyond the families, people they may not even know.

People are beginning to see that the "gender critical" ideology phenomenon is not kind. We saw that when the women boxers in the Olympics were getting kicked down by radical extremists frothing at the mouths and keyboards, as the ‘transvesitgations’ started. Then they tie themselves up in knots of cognitive dissonance as they try to argue biological essentialism and that XY men can be born with a vagina. Sometimes women and girls see it when an angry woman comes into the women's restroom, giving everyone a “one over” and staring critically at everyone's crotch. We see the trans women incarcerated with men and the horrific things that happen to them. Those women suffer while shut away from the world with no escape.

Denying someone's gender identity is not just parents being unkind to their children. Rejecting a child's deeply felt sense of self because of a rigid adherence to outdated gender stereotypes is unkind to the countless individuals who have found joy, purpose, and authenticity in embracing their true selves. What does it say to a transgender person who has finally found the courage to live openly and honestly when a parent or loved one dismisses their identity as a "delusion" or a "trend"? What does it do to a young person's psyche when they spend years battling depression, anxiety, and fear, only to have their worst nightmares realized when they come out to a hostile and unaccepting family? What kind of despair and hopelessness takes root in someone's heart when they realize they are trapped in a world that refuses to see them for who they truly are, with no hope of accessing the care and support they so desperately need? What message does clinging to the notion that chromosomes, gametes, and genitals are the qualifier of who you are, and your value to your loved ones?

Thankfully, most people do not know the depths of despair and self-loathing that can come from being constantly bombarded with messages that your very existence is a threat to society. My friend suffered from gender dysphoria for years, feeling like a stranger in their own body, only to be told by "gender critical" activists that their desire to transition was a sign of mental illness or a betrayal of their "true" gender. They told me how they spiraled into a deep depression, feeling like they would never be able to live authentically, all because of the cruel and baseless rhetoric of those who claim to be "protecting" women and children.

We know that denying transgender people access to gender-affirming care can have devastating consequences for their mental and physical health. Studies have consistently shown that transgender individuals who are supported and affirmed in their identities have far better outcomes than those who are rejected or forced to suppress who they are.1 But "gender critical" activists seem more concerned with pushing their rigid ideological agenda than with the well-being of actual human beings.

Think of the transgender teenagers who are driven to self-harm or suicide because they are constantly told that their identities are a lie or a perversion. Is it kind to prioritize abstract fears and hypotheticals over the very real and documented harm that rejection and discrimination cause to some of our most vulnerable youth?

The greatest unkindness comes from those who spread misinformation and fear about transgender people, who seek to deny them autonomy over their own bodies and lives. Activists and politicians who fight against access to gender-affirming care, who work to exclude transgender people from public spaces and legal protections, are not motivated by kindness or concern. They are motivated by prejudice, ignorance, and a stubborn refusal to accept the beautiful diversity of human identity and experience. What does writing, speaking, and broadcasting these messages do to the targets of your vitriol? What happens to those who hear your words, and out of anger, hate, or disgust, act upon the targets of your anger? And for what purpose? Trans people are still here, have always been here, and will always be here. All you are doing is contributing a little bit more to their senseless injury, assault, suicide, and murder.

Sometimes the kindest thing is to say "no" to your own internal knee-jerk reaction of fear, unknowns, and instinct to leap to the worst-case scenario. To say “no” to those who would force others to conform to their narrow and oppressive view of the world. Sometimes the kindest thing is to stand up for the right of every person to live authentically and with dignity, regardless of their gender identity. Sometimes the kindest thing is to challenge the lies and the hatred spread by the "gender critical" movement and to fight for a world where transgender people are celebrated, not demonized. To say “yes” to love, acceptance, kindness, learning, and patience.

So let us all commit to being truly kind, not just to our transgender loved ones, but to all those who are harmed by the toxic ideology of "gender critical" activists. Let us be kind by speaking out against bigotry and misinformation, by supporting policies and practices that affirm and protect transgender individuals, and by creating a society where everyone is free to be their true selves without fear of rejection or violence. That is the kind of kindness our world so desperately needs.

If you want to see how the original article's arguments fall apart under closer scrutiny, keep reading for a detailed, point-by-point deconstruction of its claims and reasoning.

A Masterclass in Misinformation and Logical Fallacies

The article "Trans is NOT Kind" from pittparents.com is a prime example of how misinformation, logical fallacies, and fearmongering can be used to push a harmful and misguided agenda. Under the guise of "concern" for society, the author employs a range of dubious rhetorical strategies to attack transgender individuals and to undermine the importance of gender-affirming care. In this response, we'll systematically debunk the false claims and flawed reasoning of the original article, using a combination of factual evidence and biting satire.

False Equivalence: Or, How to Compare Apples to Orangutans
One of the most glaring logical fallacies in the original article is the false equivalence between elective gender-affirming surgeries and involuntary losses of body parts due to illness or injury. The author claims that these surgeries are "unkind" to people who have lost breasts to cancer or genitals to accidents or violence. However, this comparison is absurd on its face. Gender-affirming surgeries are medically necessary procedures that are undertaken by individuals who have a deep and persistent identification with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.2 They are not cosmetic or frivolous, but rather a crucial part of the treatment for gender dysphoria, a recognized medical condition.

To compare these surgeries to the involuntary loss of body parts is not only illogical but deeply insensitive. It's like saying that getting a cochlear implant is "unkind" to people who have lost their hearing due to old age or that using a prosthetic limb is "unkind" to people who have lost a leg to diabetes. These comparisons are nonsensical and serve only to trivialize the experiences of both transgender individuals and those who have suffered from illness or injury.

Anecdotal Evidence: The Favorite Tool of Armchair Experts Everywhere
Another major flaw in the original article is its reliance on anecdotal evidence and hypothetical scenarios to support its claims. The author invokes the specter of "creepy men" invading women's restrooms and locker rooms, despite the fact that there is no evidence to suggest that allowing transgender people to use the facilities that align with their gender identity poses any risk to public safety.3 In fact, studies have shown that it is transgender individuals who are at a much higher risk of experiencing harassment, violence, and discrimination in public spaces.4

Similarly, the author's claim that gender-affirming surgeries are "tying up operating rooms" and causing delays for other patients is based on nothing more than speculation and fearmongering. In reality, gender-affirming surgeries make up a tiny fraction of all surgical procedures performed in the United States, and there is no evidence to suggest that they are causing significant delays or disruptions to other medical care.5

Of Falsehoods and Fearmongering - UTIs and Antibiotic Resistance: The Imaginary Scourge of Gender-Affirming Surgery
One of the most baseless and fear-mongering claims in the original article is the idea that gender-affirming surgeries are leading to a plague of UTIs and antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The author suggests that these surgeries are "unkind" not only to the individuals who undergo them but to society as a whole, by supposedly contributing to a public health crisis of epic proportions.

However, a quick look at the actual evidence reveals that this claim is nothing more than a scare tactic designed to prey on people's fears and prejudices. Studies have consistently shown that the risk of UTIs following gender-affirming genital surgeries is relatively low and comparable to that seen in cisgender populations.6,7 Moreover, there is no credible evidence to suggest that these infections are contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance, which is a complex issue driven primarily by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in other settings.8

In fact, the real unkindness here is the attempt to use baseless and exaggerated claims about UTIs and antibiotic resistance to undermine the legitimacy and necessity of gender-affirming care. It's a cynical ploy that seeks to exploit people's fears about public health in order to push a transphobic agenda, without any regard for the actual facts or the well-being of transgender individuals.

Of Falsehoods and Fearmongering - Transgender Women in Women's Prisons: A Matter of Safety and Human Rights
The original article makes a brief and troubling reference to transgender women incarcerated in women's prisons, suggesting that their presence there is somehow "unkind" to cisgender women. This claim is not only baseless but deeply misguided, as it ignores the very real and well-documented risks faced by transgender women in men's prisons.

Research has consistently shown that transgender women in men's prisons face shockingly high rates of sexual assault, harassment, and violence.9,10 Placing them in men's prisons not only puts them at risk of serious harm but also violates their basic human rights and dignity. In response, some jurisdictions have adopted policies allowing transgender women to be housed in women's prisons based on their gender identity, recognizing that this is a matter of safety and basic decency.

Contrary to the implications of the original article, there is no evidence to suggest that housing transgender women in women's prisons poses any increased risk to cisgender women.11 In fact, the real unkindness here is the attempt to use fearmongering and unsupported claims to justify policies that put transgender women in harm's way and deny them their basic rights.

Ultimately, the issue of transgender women in women's prisons is a complex one that requires careful consideration and a commitment to the safety and human rights of all individuals. It is not a matter of "kindness" or "unkindness," but of basic justice and decency. And it is certainly not an excuse for perpetuating harmful stereotypes or spreading misinformation about transgender people.

Slippery Slope: A Logical Fallacy Disguised as a Water Park Ride
Perhaps the most egregious logical fallacy in the original article is the slippery slope argument that gender-affirming care will lead to a host of negative societal consequences, from antibiotic resistance to rising insurance rates. This claim is not only baseless but utterly absurd. There is no credible evidence to suggest that the small number of individuals accessing gender-affirming care is having any measurable impact on public health or healthcare costs.12

Moreover, the idea that providing medically necessary care to a marginalized population will somehow lead to the downfall of society is a classic example of the slippery slope fallacy. It's the same kind of flawed reasoning that has been used to argue against everything from interracial marriage to same-sex adoption. It's a scare tactic designed to prey on people's fears and prejudices, rather than a legitimate argument based on facts and evidence.

Conclusion: Choosing Facts Over Fear
In the end, the article "Trans is NOT Kind" is a case study in how misinformation, logical fallacies, and fearmongering can be used to push a harmful and misguided agenda. By relying on false equivalencies, anecdotal evidence, baseless claims, and slippery slope arguments, the author seeks to undermine the legitimacy of transgender identities and to sow fear and confusion about the importance of gender-affirming care.

But we don't have to fall for these tactics. By arming ourselves with facts, critical thinking skills, and a commitment to empathy and understanding, we can see through the lies and distortions of the "gender critical" movement. We can choose to listen to the voices of transgender individuals themselves, as well as the medical experts and researchers who have dedicated their careers to studying and supporting this community.

Ultimately, the true kindness lies in accepting people for who they are, in all their beautiful diversity and complexity. It lies in providing compassionate, evidence-based care to those who need it, without judgment or prejudice. And it lies in standing up against the forces of ignorance and hatred that seek to marginalize and harm some of our most vulnerable citizens.

So let us be kind, not by denying people's identities or spreading baseless fears, but by opening our hearts and minds to the truth. Let us be kind by fighting for a world where everyone is free to live authentically and with dignity, regardless of their gender identity or expression. That is the true essence of kindness, and it is a goal worth striving for every day.