shades fills you in

Between January and July 2022, state legislators introduced 30 bills across 21 states -- to restrict or ban gender-affirming procedures for trans kids. CNN tracks the bills here

So what are these bills trying to restrict, exactly? The Conversation Magazine says there are four types of procedures at issue: 1. Social transition, 2. Puberty blockers, 3. Hormone treatments, and 4. Surgery

The Atlantic thinks the bills are unconstitutional

A study looking into how hormone therapy affects kids found that using hormones correlated with lower rates of depression and suicide

But another analysis found that intervening with meds or surgery doesn’t work for trans kids -- we should offer them therapy instead

The data can be confusing, says The NYT. Doctors are really divided on how to treat trans kids

A trans clinical psychologist spoke out in the LA Times. She said she’s concerned about a recent rise in kids undergoing surgery and hormone therapy. It’s happening quickly, without rigorous mental health evaluations

“See?” says The Washington Examiner. “People need to quit pushing a political agenda. Kids are too young to know how they want to present themselves for the rest of their lives”

But PBS reports on a study that found trans kids tend to continue identifying as trans as they mature

Plus, an Only Sky Op writes that many trans people wish they’d transitioned younger. It’s much harder to transition in adulthood because you have to fight the effects of puberty, and some parts are irreversible

Take Jazz Jennings, a trans girl who came out at 5 -- in this video, she shares how glad she was that her parents supported her transition

But Keira Bell, who transitioned as a teen, regretted her decision and de-transitioned. She shares her story here

The New Yorker says the decision to transition is just one of many choices kids have. We’re placing an unnecessary amount of importance on this one decision. Let kids choose