Three big cultural moves just happened. What does it mean?
First, Congress is now considering a bill to end government involvement in gender imitative surgeries. H.R.3329, the “End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act,” has been around for a while. But it has now gone active to codify what the President has mandated by executive order. If successful, this would be a significant change: From 2016 to 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense spent approximately $15 million on these procedures.
Second, The Supreme Court agreed this week to hear a challenge to the Colorado law that prevents therapy aimed to help people with same-sex attraction pursue intergendered relationships or to help the gender dysphoric be reconciled to their bodies. A little bit less than half our country’s states currently carry similar banning laws, so SCOTUS’ eventual ruling will have nationwide implications. Our highest court may change the availability of getting such help.
And then, something just as big also happened. The Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study last month showing the mental health effects of the above cited gender imitative surgical procedures. The study’s goal was to evaluate outcomes in individuals with gender dysphoria who have undergone surgery to provide relief. Using the TriNetX database, University of Texas and other researchers examined 107,583 patients, aged 18 and over, some who underwent surgery and others who did not.
What did they find? The rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and substance abuse were “significantly higher” among those who underwent surgery, assessed two years later. The surgery seems to have actually increased these marks of alienation. Please note, because the study did not rely on survey data but medical codes entered on follow-up, this is very strong data. It confirms earlier studies, contained in the resources highlighted on this website.
The big surprise is that this study got published. I pay attention to these kinds of events to assess the state of temporal judgment under which our country stands. If the cultural engines allow real help for people afflicted with intense alienation from their bodies, help to restoration, I draw encouragement. And the allowance of published results pointing in a different direction like this bodes well, however muted.
On the other hand, I still wonder, is the country really changing? The JOSM study itself suggests that our culture remains on the same track, in the implications the researchers chose to, and chose not to, draw. They offered,
“Findings suggest the necessity for gender-sensitive mental health support following gender-affirming surgery to address post-surgical psychological risks.”
I don’t know, folks, do you think there might be another solution?
Sam, encouraging and informative post — especially the news about the JOSM study. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. And, yeah, I do think there might be another solution.
Grace+Peace,
Ted
Thank you so much for the information and your clarity. I appreciate your work.
“gender imitative” 🎯 spot on
Sam, in response to your last question, I say, wholeheartedly, Yes! A major solution is effective, Christian-based psychotherapy. It’s a travesty that supposed professionals are timid and not speaking about this need that can be addressed. In effective therapy, the client learns to attach and bond healthily with the same-sex therapist; deal with underlying, contributing factors to the confusion; become grounded in his or her physical maleness or femaleness; and become invested in healthy relationships.
I experienced transgender feelings from early years and believe dynamics in my family, and my childish interpretation of those dynamics, set me up for confusion. During young adulthood, I lived homosexually and took on a gay identity. I see my same-sex attraction as a drive to repair the confusion in my soul. With the help of Living Waters ministry as the catalyst; skillful, change-allowing therapy; and quality friendships with other men — slowly over time, the transgender feelings evaporated and are not a problem. I am grateful to God that my skillful therapist and compassionate, truthful persons in my church – especially those in Living Waters circles and pastors – have held out hope for me, related to me and supported me on my sanctification/transformation path. I know for a fact that transgender feelings and homosexuality are changeable.
Thank you for your comment, Steve. And thank you for charting a different path for questioning folks.