American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Policy in Support of Trans Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a new policy in support of transgender children.
The doctors group made the announcement on Monday, and published its recommendations in the journal Pediatrics. It is a first for the group, which last year issued a statement opposing the Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era guidelines allowing trans students to access bathrooms matching their identity, but had yet to issue policy on the topic.
"Any discrimination based on gender identity or expression, real or perceived, is damaging to the socioemotional health of children, families, and society," the paper argues.
Children who are raised in supportive environments are more likely to escape these hardships, which the group noted are the result of issues such as stigma, internal conflict, and societal discrimination.
It stressed the importance of trans and gender non-conforming youth having access to healthcare in a safe and affirming space, family-based therapy, supportive schools, insurance plans that cover transition-related care, and records that reflect the "asserted gender identity of each patient while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding duplicate charts."
Additionally, the AAP noted the importance of workplace equality in the healthcare fields, as well as a need for research that prioritizes improving the quality of evidence-based care for trans and gender non-conforming youth.
"We know that family and community support are essential for any child's healthy development, and children who are gender-diverse are no different," said lead author Dr. Jason Rafferty, MD, in a statement, MedPage Today reports.
"What is most important is for a parent to listen, respect, and support their child's self-expressed identity. This encourages open conversations that may be difficult but are key to the child's mental health and the family's resilience and wellbeing."
"We encourage families, schools, and communities to value every child for who they are in the present, even at a young age," added Dr. Cora Breuner, MD, chairperson of the AAP Committee on Adolescence. "As pediatricians and parents, we also appreciate how challenging, and at times confusing, it can be for family members to realize their child's experience and feelings."