Biden leaves behind an awkward political tangle on ‘transgender youth’

Never make promises you can’t keep.

That’s the old adage Democrats should perhaps be thinking about now–as the lumbering Biden-Harris administration faces a rather awkward political tangle–one that their next presidential candidate quickly will inherit following Joe Biden’s abrupt departure from the race, announced over the weekend.

See, despite promising transgender rights at all costs, it seems the Democrats are now U-turning their unconditional support on sex change surgery for minors.  

The about-face came just days after the end of Pride Month and less than three weeks after soon-to-be-former First Lady Jill Biden hosted a celebration for trans people on the South Lawn of the White House. 

“These are deeply personal decisions and we believe these surgeries should be limited to adults,” a spokesperson for the Biden-Harris administration told news website The 19th. 

“We respect the role of parents, families, and doctors in these decisions.” 

Soon after this slap in the silicone to the trans lobby, Neera Tanden, director of the White House Policy Council, elaborated on the statement, telling Human Rights Campaign, “We continue to fight state and national bans on gender-affirming care, which represents a continuum of care, and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors — not politicians — in these decisions. Gender-affirming surgeries are typically reserved for adults, and we believe they should be.”

The unexpected narrative shift comes after reports of behind-the-scenes conversations between the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and staff for Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the highest-ranking transgender official in the Biden-Harris administration.

According to reports in The New York Times, Levine’s team pressured WPATH to eliminate age minimums from its updated official guidelines over concerns it would invite political backlash. The reason? WPATH wanted the age threshold for breast removal to be reduced to 15 years-old, and the age for genital surgeries to be lowered to 17 years-old. 

Worryingly, the finalized WPATH 2022 guidelines did not include any age limit, as per Levine’s request, which suggests it makes decisions based on politics rather than science. 

For girls, sex-change surgeries can include the removal of ovaries and the adding of prosthetic genitalia that appears male. For boys, sex-change surgeries can include the addition of prosthetic breasts along with castration and a penectomy (removal of the penis). 

This all begs the question: why is Levine secretly pushing her own personal agenda? Is it really in the best interests of children – or are gay youngsters just collateral damage for a bigger vision?

Unsurprisingly, the shift has unleashed a firestorm from LGBT activists and organizations. 

“Health care decisions for young people belong between a patient, their family, and their health care provider. Trans youth are no exception,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. “The Biden administration is flat wrong on this. It’s also inconsistent with other steps the administration has taken to support transgender youth. The Biden administration, and every elected official, need to leave these decisions to families, doctors, and patients–where they belong.”

In a similar reaction, PFLAG National CEO Brian K. Bond said, “Transgender youth and their parents deserve to get the medically necessary healthcare they need when they need it, just like everyone else. Yet, because the Biden administration bowed to a transparently politicized campaign to harm transgender people and families and weaken our health system, now the government stands between patients, parents, and doctors. 

“The White House’s wholesale opposition to physician-approved, medically necessary rare surgical interventions for transgender youth is misguided, harmful, and unnecessary. This decision is not based on science — and flies in the face of all the previous statements and good work in support of trans youth by President Biden.”

However, the Biden-Harris administration’s position is not out of sync with the UK’s new left-wing government, Labour, which has followed a similar path since coming to power earlier this month. 

Last week, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to extend the UK’s existing ban on puberty blockers, which was put in place by right-leaning Conservatives during their 14-year run in Downing Street. 

Streeting, who is himself gay, is now being attacked by so-called liberals, who have described him as a “monster” and a self-hating homosexual.    

Susie Green, former chief executive of British trans charity Mermaids, said Streeting has “blood on his hands.”

“I am so angry and desperately sad right now. How dare Wes Streeting put so many trans kids at risk by continuing this murderous ban.”

Streeting will “kill hundreds of young people”, added trans broadcaster India Willoughby.

Previously, the Biden-Harris administration petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of trans youth and their families. And, to a certain extent, they were successful. 

Next year, the Supreme Court will take up the question of whether gender-affirming care bans for transgender youth are unconstitutional. Specifically, it will assess if a care ban in Tennessee violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection and due process clauses. 

The ruling, which is expected next autumn, has the potential for nationwide impact as 25 states currently outlaw medical care for trans youth. Texas, with a population of more than 30 million, is the largest state to ban transgender care for minors. Others include Iowa, Mississippi, and Indiana.

“To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially the young people, you’re so brave,” Biden said in 2021 to a joint session of Congress. “I want you to know your president has your back.”