Utah governor conveys rational stance on transgender surgery for minors

In an interview with CBS host Margaret Brennan, Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) defended his cautious stance on transgender medical treatments for minors — that there is not enough evidence to logically support it. His position is a clear result of research and critical thinking, the latter of which is often lost in the harshly polarized American political sphere.

When Brennan protested, defending the authority of pro-transgender American medical groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, Cox stood his ground and argued reasonably that they have become politicized and have thus lost their credibility.

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He said he has researched the effects of medical transgenderism in other countries in order to find unbiased evidence outside of the United States’s “culture war battles.” He described his current bill, which prohibits transgender surgeries for minors, as a “pause” until more information is available about their benefits.

That evidence is unlikely to appear. Really, it should not take much research to take a sure side in this debate since transgender “care” consists of removing healthy organs and injecting harmful drugs in order to prevent natural puberty. But Cox’s take is still refreshing because it is a thoughtful break from the nuance-less mentality of most LGBT proponents.

Historically, Cox has shown full support for the priorities of LGBT activists. In 2016, he apologized for “mistreating the LGBT community” during his Mormon upbringing. In March 2022, he vetoed a bill that would prohibit transgender participation in youth sports. Last June, he publicly announced Pride Month in Utah.

Cox’s break from the narrative demonstrates a mature capability for reflection that is lacking in most political circles. And his critique of the medical field is well-founded.

On June 16, CBS interviewed the head of the American Medical Association, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld. He expressed his concerns about a “healthcare crisis,” referring to states’ bans on transgender surgeries for minors and abortion access.

Referring to abortion as “healthcare” is equally as nonsensical as referring to transgender surgeries as “healthcare.” They may both involve surgical procedures, but one involves destroying natural parts of the human body while the other destroys a human life. Most biologists agree that life begins at conception, but the AMA is happy to stray from the science to support the Left’s political agenda.

Another example of medical politicization in America is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s obsession with transgenderism. On its website, it suggests ways to chestfeed, which is a harmful parody of breastfeeding. The practice involves inducing lactation by means of chemicals that are used in sex change surgeries. When women are unable to breastfeed, they are recommended baby formula as a milk substitution. They are not forced to lactate by having their bodies pumped full of hormones that could potentially hurt their children. The CDC does not consider people’s health, nor does it promote science; it caters to an ideology.

Cox is right not to trust the AMA and the APA. They are politically charged groups hiding under the guise of “science.” His resistance to the transgender movement’s infatuation with children demonstrates mindfulness — even if he is largely supportive of the LGBT community, he has enough prudence to pause the agenda to defend the lives of children. We can hope other political leaders will soon realize the insanity of transgenderism and follow suit.

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Briana Oser is a summer 2023 Washington Examiner fellow.