For those just joining us, please read the following links to catch yourself up:
Rates of suicide are twenty times greater among adults who use cross-sex hormones and undergo sex reassignment surgery, even in Sweden which is among the most LGBQT – affirming countries.
Now, this on it’s own sounds pretty damning, doesn’t it? They even cite a study that has been used over and over again to justify things such as the following:
- The study shows that “trans medical care = suicide” so therefore it’s bad! (We will come back to this in a bit)
- After transition, “Male to Female” transsexuals retain male-pattern criminality, including crimes against women. (Yep, they’re trying to claim that transwomen are criminals and rapists)
So, how do we go about this? Well first off, let’s take a look at where the ACP is getting their little sound byte point?
A 2011 study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden produced the most illuminating results yet regarding the transgendered [sic], evidence that should give advocates pause. The long-term study—up to 30 years—followed 324 people who had sex-reassignment surgery. The study revealed that beginning about 10 years after having the surgery, the transgendered [sic] began to experience increasing mental difficulties. Most shockingly, their suicide mortality rose almost 20-fold above the comparable nontransgender population. This disturbing result has as yet no explanation but probably reflects the growing sense of isolation reported by the aging transgendered [sic] after surgery. The high suicide rate certainly challenges the surgery prescription. –Dr. Paul McHugh
While I am loathe to cite something from Gender Identity Watch (a known TERF hate/doxing group run by lawyer Cathy Brennan), it is the only place where I can find the entire article. The clip that I have posted above has been provided by the Transadvocate, who I will be citing during this article. The Transadvocate has actually reached out to the head person in the study cited by Dr. McHugh, and a lot of clarification apparently has been needed. For starters, the myth that Dr. McHugh has been spreading is just that, a myth. It was debunked by Dr. Dan Karasic and his entire response has been graciously reposted here.
One thing I would like to point out before we continue is that Dr. Paul McHugh has been one of the leading anti-LGBT activists in the public eye for quite some time now. He’s the former chief psychologist for Johns Hopkins hospital and is often used as an authority figure when it comes to LGBT activities. However, there’s a bit of an issue.
In fact, it’s a rather large issue. One that could possibly be pointed to as a major setback in our understanding of gender.
Back in the 1970s, after ONE study, Dr. McHugh shut down the Gender Identity Clinic at Johns Hopkins. The study suggested that some trans people continued to suffer from adjustment challenges after surgery, something that has since been proven to be inaccurate. As science has progressed we have seen that many of the old studies that people used to use to justify things such as racial segregation, homophobia, and sexual discrimination being debunked and put away only to be used for historical purposes. We are now seeing the same with many of the studies that had been done regarding those who are transgender. To continue to base your bias and beliefs on a subject that has been debunked and proven incorrect is simply ignorant and shows a lack of integrity.
What compassionate and reasonable person would condemn young children to this fate knowing that after puberty as many as 88% of girls and 98% of boys will eventually accept reality and achieve a state of mental and physical health?
Ugh….we covered this already. Deceptive statistics and percentages do not a good argument make. See point 5 if you wish to read up again on this.
For further reading on the problems with the Swedish study, I would suggest checking out the links below, including the study itself. Like many of the other studies the ACP uses, it doesn’t say what they claim it says….
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885
Illuminatus Design 