HHS Review on Pediatric Gender Dysphoria Treatments: A Victory for Science and Child Protection
- Gays Against Groomers
- May 2
- 4 min read
On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a landmark 400-page report, Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices, commissioned under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14187. Gays Against Groomers strongly supports this review. It marks a critical step toward evidence-based care, shielding vulnerable youth from irreversible harm, and restoring ethical standards in pediatric medicine.
This article explores the HHS review’s findings, its significance, and why it aligns with our mission to safeguard children from medical experimentation and activist-driven agendas.
The HHS Review: A Science-Based Approach
The HHS report, crafted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Office of Population Affairs, rigorously evaluates medical interventions for children with gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries. Unlike guidelines from groups like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which have faced criticism for ideological bias, this review prioritizes evidence-based medicine. It assesses the quality of existing research, weighs risks against benefits, and addresses the ethics of treating minors with irreversible procedures.
The review’s findings are stark: there is “very weak evidence” supporting the benefits of medical interventions, while substantial research highlights risks like infertility, reduced bone density, cardiovascular issues, and psychological harm. These treatments, often branded as “gender-affirming care,” lack the scientific rigor to justify their use in children, whose developing bodies and minds are particularly vulnerable. The report also critiques the ethical lapses in current practices, noting that medical associations have stifled dissent and prioritized ideology over patient safety.
These conclusions validate our long-held concerns: the push to medically transition children is not compassionate care but a reckless experiment fueled by activism. The review aligns with global trends, as nations like the UK, Sweden, and Finland have restricted these interventions for minors due to similar evidence. By embracing this shift, the U.S. is finally prioritizing child protection.
As individuals within the community, we understand the importance of living authentically. Many of us have navigated complex journeys of self-discovery, but we recognize that children lack the maturity to make irreversible medical decisions, especially under social or ideological pressure. The HHS review supports our view that affirming a child’s gender dysphoria with invasive treatments is not liberation—it’s harm.
Gender dysphoria, the distress from a mismatch between one’s gender identity and biological sex, is a psychological condition that demands careful, non-invasive treatment. Historically, psychotherapy was used to explore underlying causes like trauma or anxiety. The HHS report advocates for “exploratory psychotherapy” as a safer alternative to medical interventions, a recommendation we wholeheartedly endorse. This approach seeks to understand a child’s distress without rushing to alter their body.
Critics, including some LGBTQ+ advocacy groups such as GLAAD and HRC, have mislabeled this as “conversion therapy.” This is a false narrative, and quite ironic coming from people and groups that are perfectly happy to transition children who would otherwise likely just grow up to be gay adults. Furthermore, conversion therapy, a discredited attempt to change sexual orientation, is unrelated to exploratory psychotherapy, which neutrally supports children in understanding their feelings. The HHS review debunks these mischaracterizations, exposing the tactics used to silence ethical care.
The Risks of “Gender-Affirming Care”
The HHS review meticulously details the risks of medical interventions, which proponents often downplay. Puberty blockers, falsely marketed as reversible, can cause infertility, bone density loss, and cognitive impacts. Cross-sex hormones, which induce permanent changes, increase risks of cardiovascular disease and psychological instability. Surgeries are irreversible and carry significant complications. The report emphasizes that these risks are unjustifiable given the weak evidence of benefit.
The lack of high-quality research is a central concern. The review notes that many studies on "gender-affirming care" are biased, poorly designed, or lack long-term data, echoing the UK’s Cass Review, which deemed the evidence base “remarkably weak.” By relying on systematic reviews—the gold standard in medical research—the HHS report offers a credible counterpoint to activist-driven narratives.
To us, these risks are personal. We’ve heard from detransitioners—young people who underwent medical transitions as minors and now face lifelong consequences. The HHS review’s focus on “do no harm” aligns with our mission to protect children from such outcomes.
Ideology’s Grip on Medicine
The report exposes how ideology has corrupted pediatric medicine. It reveals that medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have suppressed debate to create a false consensus around "gender-affirming care." It also highlights instances of political pressure, such as former Biden administration officials urging WPATH to lower age limits for surgeries, prioritizing activism over evidence.
This politicization is what Gays Against Groomers has fought against. Medicine should be guided by science, not ideology. The review challenges claims that "gender-affirming care" significantly reduces suicide risk, noting that such assertions lack robust data. It also questions terms like “gender identity” and “sex assigned at birth,” which obscure biological reality and confuse discussions about care for children.
A Path to Ethical Care
The HHS review calls for ethical, evidence-based alternatives, emphasizing mental health support for children with gender dysphoria, many of whom face co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety. Psychotherapy can address these without irreversible interventions. The report also urges long-term studies to better understand treatment outcomes, empowering parents and clinicians to make informed decisions.
This approach is a massive victory in the fight to end the war on children. It respects the complexity of gender distress while prioritizing safety. It also counters the coercion parents often face to consent to treatments they don’t fully understand, reinforcing medical ethics.
Conclusion: A Triumph for Children
The HHS review is a triumph for science, ethics, and child safety. It exposes the flaws in "gender-affirming care," challenges activist narratives, and offers a compassionate, evidence-based path forward. For all of us at Gays Against Groomers, it validates our fight to protect children from medical experimentation. We call on policymakers, clinicians, and the public to embrace the report’s findings and join us in ensuring that care for children is safe, ethical, and grounded in truth. Together, we can protect the next generation from irreversible harm and restore integrity to pediatric medicine.
Sources:
HHS
CNN
Fox News
