Help I'm talking to a young trans(man I think on FB)...

[Yambabe]

...and I'm a bit out of my depth as I lurk and read a lot here but don't post much.

How would you respond to these please?

Hormone blockers, which is what is prescribed to those under 16, is a completely reversible treatment that allows young people to explore their gender without the time pressures of puberty. And I know many people who still have sexual experiences while on it, as they will not give it until a young person has reached tanor stage 2 of puberty. For reference I am now 17, was put on blockers a year after coming out and after 6 months at a gender clinc at 16, and am now on a slowly increase dose of cross sex hormones which I began in February 2017. I am also still on blockers.

I am always willing to talk as education is vital in achieving true acceptance and equality. Self-ID does need consultation, as should any law which effects the publics safety, however, the only difference it would make would be to allow people to legally be registered as their true identity, all other rights and arguements are already covered under the Equalitys Act 2010, for anyone who has, is in the process, or has expressed the desire to transition.

[UpstartCrow]

I wouldnt respond. That's an individual who is very young, under the legal age to be considered an adult, and at risk.
You arent arguing about hypothetical cases here. Wish them well with their treatment and refuse to engage any further. there is nothing you can say that wont sound like a personal attack on a vulnerable person.

Block them if you have to. But as an adult, don't argue with children online.

[Yambabe]

They are a friend of a friend, and they reposted a really nasty (and factually incorrect) rant about transphobes which my friend shared.

I carefully pointed out some of the incorrect "facts" to my friend and this person popped up. To be fair we are not arguing, just discussing, and I have been very impressed with some of their reasoning. They don't seem to be a TRA, just a confused teenager parroting some stuff that they've read elsewhere, and they have agreed with a couple of my points too.

You're probably right though. I'll stop responding. Thanks.

[Truthstar]

Wish them well and leave it at that.
This is very young person with such a lot going on and may be vulnerable.
You're an adult.

[thebewilderness]

Those hormone blockers are off label cancer drugs and they are not reversible, That is an evil lie people are telling.

[DamnDeDoubtanceIsSpartacus]

Girls are suing in the US due to adverse symptoms caused by puberty blockers. Puberty is essential for brain development, ducking out of it at a crucial time may be harmful. Almost all children, most of whom would grow up happy in their own bodies, who take puberty blockers go on to take cross sex hormones. This is homophobic and is used as a gay cure in Iran. Why do healthy children need to take drugs? If there were no sex stereotypes would anyone feel unhappy with their sexed body?

[archery2]

DamnDeDoubtancelsSpartacus

Could you point me to info on the US girls suing over puberty blockers please? I would be interested to know more about it.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

Those hormone blockers are off label cancer drugs and they are not reversible, That is an evil lie people are telling.

This is not correct. They are hormone blockers, licensed for some cancer treatment, and also for treatment of precocious puberty. Hormone levels revert back when treatment (in line with the licence) stops.

They are not licensed for the facilitation of “gender reassignment”. There’s no evidence for safety outside the licensed indications, and IMHO it’s breathtakingly reckless to essentially experiment on these children. But posting inaccuracies is unhelpful.

[UpstartCrow]

Hormone levels revert back when treatment (in line with the licence) stops.

Thats true when they are used for precocious puberty, and when they are stopped before natural puberty ends.
But if someone takes them past natural puberty, there is no way to guarantee puberty will restart in an adult.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

Yes, exactly. But it is disingenuous, and undermines the argument, to present these medicines as though they were not also licensed as puberty blockers.

Science is on our side; misrepresentation of science is unnecessary and counterproductive.

[nauticant]

I agree WiseUpJanetWeiss. The way to fight this effectively is to stick to the facts and not let inaccuracies creep in which we like because they tell a story we like.

[Kyanite]

I think this applies here. It's not as straight forward as he says.

[UpstartCrow]

No one here is being disingenuous. Puberty blockers are used to delay precocious puberty.
They have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in transgender children. Used this way, they are used off label.
Lupron is not licensed for this use.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

Yes, they are. Upthread it was stated that these were cancer drugs. That’s a misrepresentation, or at least a misunderstanding.

Also, Lupron and the FDA are irrelevant to the discussion in the UK. Here, the regulator is the MHRA, and the brand name is Prostap.

Accuracy is important. Inaccuracy and the repetition of hearsay will be used against us.

[DamnDeDoubtanceIsSpartacus]

archery here

Just google Lupron

[DamnDeDoubtanceIsSpartacus]

and here

The point is we have zero idea what the long term effects are, how could we?