STOP THE DOCS: The American Parents Coalition launched a new campaign today, “Stop The Docs,” calling attention to four of the worst hospitals across the country that have been harming children through irreversible gender interventions and procedures: Children’s Minnesota, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The campaign highlights findings from the explosive Stop The Harm Database, which calls out the number of child sex change patients, surgeries, prescriptions, and financial stakes of the extremely controversial gender intervention procedures.
Children’s hospitals do incredible work saving lives each and every day. We all rely on these hospitals for life-saving care and treatment in so many other areas of medicine. That’s precisely why these harmful gender interventions on children must stop.
STATE OF PLAY: Restrictions on child gender interventions vary widely by state, but it’s important to understand the legislative landscape in these four states with the worst offending hospitals. Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. have no prohibitions on minors being prescribed puberty blockers or undergoing irreversible surgeries while Ohio has banned such practices, although it has been challenged in court.
Worse, many states have passed so-called “shield” laws to protect gender clinics from punishment. These laws vary, but generally prohibit courts and law enforcement from participating in another state’s actions against a health provider, conceal medical records during legal actions, and prohibit insurers from taking actions against physicians. Minnesota and Washington, D.C. have both passed such laws.
Source: Minnesota Legislature
In Minnesota, the state is considered a “trans refuge” and tramples all over parental rights. This law allows Minnesota courts to take custody of children who are being denied gender interventions by their parents, prohibiting enforcement of out-of-state subpoenas, arrest warrants, and extradition requests for people from other states who sought treatment that is legal in Minnesota. It also bars complying with court orders elsewhere to remove children from their parents’ custody for getting gender-affirming care.
In D.C., the law also obstructs parents. In DC, minors of any age can consent to medical services if the treating provider believes the “delay that would result from attempting to obtain parental consent would substantially increase the risk to the minor’s life, health, mental health, or welfare, or would unduly prolong suffering.”
Source: The Daily Mail
WHERE WE CAN IMPACT CHANGE: The election outcome last week represents a ringing indictment against radical policies such as the assault on parental rights. Americans sent a clear message reaffirming that parents should be in the driver’s seat and making decisions for their kids. Lawmakers in Congress and state capitals across the country should act accordingly when legislatures return to session in January.
Last term, representatives in Pennsylvania and Minnesota introduced legislation to ban gender interventions on minors. No such legislation was introduced in Washington, D.C. With a new legislative term about to begin, these bills will need to be reintroduced.
NEW STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES: Since most state and federal elections have been called, now is a great time to reach out to your newly elected leaders and call on them to introduce, co-sponsor, or support legislation to ban harmful and irreversible gender interventions on kids when they return to work. Below, you will find a sample letter you can send to your local legislator to urge them to do just that.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
OTHER NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL INVESTIGATE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: The Attorney General of Montana filed the first civil investigation into the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding their guidelines for treating gender dysphoria. AAP’s gender treatment guidelines were reaffirmed in 2023 despite mountains of evidence showing gender interventions are harmful to children. The Montana investigation aims to expose what evidence, or lack thereof, the AAP used to come to their decisions in 2018 and again in 2023. Organizations like AAP and other medical professionals should put politics aside and focus on the wellbeing of our children. Read more here.
APPLE URGED TIKTOK TO RAISE AGE RATING: A newly filed lawsuit by South Carolina reveals that Apple privately urged TikTok to raise its recommended user age to 17 and over, citing “frequent or intense mature content.” TikTok, currently rated for ages 12 and up on the App Store, allegedly downplayed the prevalence of harmful material, including profanity and suggestive content, in communications with Apple. This case is part of a wave of lawsuits from various states accusing TikTok of misleading consumers about child safety. The lawsuit also claims TikTok tried to curry favor with local leaders and organizations to offset growing scrutiny. Read more here.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS SPEAK OUT: ‘BOYS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY GIRLS SPORTS’: Following the election, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said they oppose transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Read more here.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ON PAID LEAVE AFTER TELLING CONSERVATIVES TO KILL THEMSELEVES: After the election, a University of Oregon Greek Life Administrator publicly posted comments mocking Trump supporters and telling them to “jump off of a f***ing bridge.” The university responded to these attacks by placing the employee on paid administrative leave. Read more here.
Thanks for reading the latest edition of the American Parents Coalition’s The Lookout. If you have a troubling story to share about a school, doctor, company, or other institution working to usurp parents’ rights, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].
