Guardian hits new low

I have no issue with Elliot speaking for himself, but promoting the belief that suicide is the only way for children to deal with their confusion (some of which is a normal part of puberty) is so wrong.

America is so screwed up. Oprah is a national treasure and Elliot is a movie star with a huge following. Where's the scrutiny? Why isn't anyone in the editorial team saying, 'ahem, that bit where she talks about kids chopping their breasts off, maybe you should challenge her on that?'

Its just wrong on so many levels, mastectomy just like hysterectomy is not a quick fix that will solve all their problems without side effects and to tout is as such is irresponsible and dangerous as is reinforcing the belief that suicide is the only alternative.

Precisely. Its not a 'chop your boobs off and off you go', it is a painful procedure with risk of infection, requiring drains, scarring etc. And yes, this narrative that the only options are 'double mastectomy or suicide' is just absolutely horrendous.

My biggest problem is that the whole approach to treatment of
gender dysphoria is
affirmative

NO OTHER disease / illness / situation is treated on that basis
(anorexia, cancer, body dysphoria, depression, anxiety you name it)

EVERY OTHER set of clinicians try to

• understand
• analyse
• put into context
• seek to cure (where possible)
• treat (where possible)

so why is gender different ?

Its just wrong on so many levels, mastectomy just like hysterectomy is not a quick fix that will solve all their problems without side effects and to tout is as such is irresponsible and dangerous as is reinforcing the belief that suicide is the only alternative.

Therapy is so important, witout that the underlying problems don't go anywhere.

I have no issue with Elliot speaking for himself, but promoting the belief that suicide is the only way for children to deal with their confusion (some of which is a normal part of puberty) is so wrong.

weebarra I'm so sorry for what you and your family have been through

We are in a country where the mouthiest win

We are in a country in the UK where special interest lobby groups have had huge influence over social change thanks to wealthy backers.

Also, the 'children will die' thing - so Elliot is advocating for double mastectomies on under 18s??? WTF?!

So, I've got a serious question that has just occurred to me. TRAs support surgical changes to the bodies of people who say they are trans and want surgery to change their bodies, and in this country they want this surgery funded by the NHS.

Not to mention the social questions we are surrounded by. Poverty affects many more children in this country than trans issues. And poverty does kill. Health inequality kills. Why have trans issues come to be given so much airtime, while socioeconomic disadvantage is not recognised as a bigger disability than anything else. We are in a country where the mouthiest win, and I am so sick of seeing that dressed up in the language of 'ethics' and 'human rights', under left-wing banners.

"Children will die, its really that simple" fucking hell that's disgraceful

This is what's said to shut down any kind of criticism out debate. I mean, who wants children to die?

Also "paedo" and "why are you interested in other people's genitalia", and "trans phobe/TERF".

And it definitely is not 'that simple', it's all to avoid discussion

Republican lawmakers across the US are seeking to curtail gender-affirming care and punish doctors who deliver it, as well as banning trans youth from playing sports.

What a lot of shit. The Guardian should be ashamed. Crappy journalism.

Elliot Page looks seriously under weight, even by Hollywood standards. You can’t possibly look at Elliot and think that Elliot looks healthy.

Just a thought Plan, but maybe young people should be being encouraged to find therapeutic routes to managing their dysphoria, rather than prostituting themselves in order to line the pockets of plastic surgeons?

It is a conundrum @MeadowHay.

The fact is the NHS funded work is limited by the number clinicians willing to do it.

It is sad. But in US at least there is more foundation to Elliots statement.

Health insurance doesn’t usually cover gender affirming survey at all and so for many young adults, it’s not the dismay of a long waiting list but a large surgical bill that is unaffordable and may never be affordable on an average income. So suicide risk goes up. Resorting to sex work to get the money goes up (which in turn increases odds of being murdered and trauma leading to suicide). Resorting to drug trafficking goes up which increases chances of being shot and killed by police and other drug traffickers.

For countries like the U.K. where it’s paid for by the tax payer via nationalised health system, and it’s just a wait list, Elliot’s comments are hyperbole. Especially since cancer surgery is always life saving and should be prioritised ahead of gender affirming surgery which is only sometimes life saving.

So, I've got a serious question that has just occurred to me. TRAs support surgical changes to the bodies of people who say they are trans and want surgery to change their bodies, and in this country they want this surgery funded by the NHS. They say this is needed for some trans people due to the mental ill health that is caused by those trans people not liking their bodies as they are (right? I'm not even sure on this point, as I've recently seen a load of TRAs saying being trans isn't a mental health issue etc). Ok. Do TRAs therefore support NHS funded cosmetic surgery for people who want it for any other reason due to them hating their body and those feelings potentially being a part of mental health problems? If not, why not? Why would people be more deserving of cosmetic surgery due to solely due to being trans? And if they support NHS funded cosmetic surgery for anyone who has mental illness which is linked to hatred of their body and wants it changed surgically...could this ever be reasonably resourced on the NHS for everyone who would undoubtedly start rushing in to ask for it?? (I don't think so!)

Oprah! I guess once you are so rich you loose touch with reality then anything goes.

I've watched parts of the interview and what Elliot appears to be describing is straight up body dysmorphia. Elliot also seems incredibly vulnerable in the interview and I just don't think they are the right person to be commenting on kids getting drugs and surgery.

And I'm another who thinks it's really offensive to talk about perfectly healthy people 'being killed' if they don't get double mastectomies. Partly because it's offensive to women whose bodies would be physically taken over by actual cancer without a mastectomy, and partly because it's a fucking horrendous message to send to young women.

@weebarra the insensitivity of such statements when women are having to face what you and your family have is horrendous.

My BF had a double mastectomy. She nearly died. Surgery saved her life.

For these girls, having breasts are not ‘killing’ them. If they are dying it’s mental health difficulties that are killing them.

Nobody is banning anyone from participating in sport. They are only banning them from participating in sport with the opposite sex.

Fucksake. I had a double mastectomy at 36 due to breast cancer. I'm still suffering the side effects including nerve damage.
My 7 year old daughter may have to have one too, as she has a 50% chance of inheriting the lovely BRCA2 gene which will give her a 80% chance of BC.
My cancer was literally killing me. And did indirectly kill my sister, who killed herself through fear of the cancer.

Page urged officials to support healthcare for transgender people and allow them access to sports. Republican lawmakers across the US are seeking to curtail gender-affirming care and punish doctors who deliver it, as well as banning trans youth from playing sports.
“Children will die,” Page said. “And it really is that simple.”
This week, state legislators in Florida rushed through a bill that would ban trans women and girls from participating in school sports. Critics described the move as “cruel and horrific”.