Brown University and PLoS ONE: Defend academic freedom and scientific inquiry

Congratulations to the researcher for her curiosity, and shame to those who don't want this information on peer pressure on today's teens. Thank you!

If anyone withholds research from the public, especially research that helps the public benefit in any way, its a violation of their humans rights and a breach of trust between medical institutions and the general public.

I support Dr. Lisa Littman in her research, as medical professionals, we ought to challenge the statements of the transgender movement and for educational purposes that guide our decisions as clinicians into the right direction, research of this magnitude should not be withheld if it means that families and medical staff can benefit from this research to better help gender-confused teens.

Dr. Littman should be commended she conducted research, and published her research on a topic that she had to of known would be immediately questioned and disputed by LGBT activist. In this day and age political correctness trumps scientific discourse and this needs to stop. We need more researchers like her who are not afraid to honestly approach these issues.

I agree 100% with Dr. Littmans findings. Most care these days jump the gun and start on transition rather than looking for the root cause of the ROGD.

Pressure to not study something makes me believe trans issue is hogwash, otherwise they'd favor the results rather than fear them.

We need more information on this! I cannot accept that in such a short time that there is a dramatic increase in the number of trans identified kids. We need better screening tools. We need professionals who don't tell us to "stop trying to intellectualize" the reasons for my kid suddenly claiming he wants to be a girl!!! Please help. This isn't about trans rights or not supporting transgender people. This is about a new psychological problem facing teens today!!

I strongly support the Littman study as a valid academic work.

Transgender therapies are a lie that will lead several trans to suicide. I like that it doesn't happen, but the empírical knowledge says that ir will happen. Transgender activism is a way to mutilate the people and to empty the Earth.

I support Dr. Littman's study on the topic of rapid onset of gender dysphoria

I find the pressure *not* to research or report on such an important phenomenon very disturbing. It's as if trans rights activists don't want the condition understood.

This research should free of political interference.

I ask that Brown truly consider whether this is about "research methodology" or about controversial content of Dr. Littman's study. She has clearly outlined the limitations/delimitation of her study and its design.

I recently heard of Dr. Littman’s research and read a few articles. A couple of them denouncing the findings. I am appalled that pressure and lobbying from the trans-activists would stop an educational institution from continuing reasearch into such an important and timely occurrence. I have a daughter who currently identifies as male. Has socially transitioned in pronouns and expression. Both “his” mother and I have been supportive in all aspects of our child’s journey of discovering who they are. We stop short of hormone blockers, cross sex hormone treatments and gender affirming surgery. Our child had not expressed or demonstrated ANY signs of gender dysphoria prior to puberty. Once she started into puberty about a year ago, she came out to us and we were shocked to say the least. We began to research what we were to do from a parents perspective. Everything we found was from the trans-activists side of things. They say that if we don’t accept that our child and do everything we can to affirm their expressed gender identity we can expect depression, drug addiction, prostitution, self harm and suicide attempts! This is comforting to see that there are other parents who have children and adolescents who do not fit the mold of expression of dysphoria at an early age. Also our child has a social group that identifies as transgender to varying degrees. It started at age 13 where our child had a friend who “suggested” our child may be transgender and continued to pressure her in that direction and it continues to be a social pressure whithin that group (6 kids in same grade at same school all “assumed to be female” at birth...what are the odds?) there are so many other things in this study that fit and make sense in our situation. Not to say all adolescents who identify differently than assigned at birth fit the ROGD description. But ours definitely does.

I was not one of the parents in the study. But my experience with my daughter's transgenderism mirrored the parents in the study. Our family went through hell. The influences of the internet and friends are huge on a gullible teen, not to mention the "supportive" teachers at school. We did not buy into Affirmative Therapy or cross sex hormones. We did limit her internet use and are now homeschooling. After several months away from influences of inernet, friends and teachers, our daughter now considers herself "straight". This study has merit. Transgender acivists need to deal with truth from a parents point of view. Parents know their children better than strangers or activists pressing their agenda. For this reason and for many others I am for academic freedom and scientific inquiry.

My son, plus 3 high school friends, announced rapid onset gender dysphoria, as seniors in high school. No sign throughout childhood. Therapist embraced the idea, social media encourages, parents portrayed as evil for questioning the diagnosis. I am lost.

Research should not be discounted based on political correctness or popular opinion.

Don't suppress knowledge

Brown University has done a great disservice to science, in general, and the much-needed research on ROGD. Witnessing a teenage girl, who just one year ago had a crush on my son and found him "dreamy," is baffling to her mother and everyone else who knows her. And, yes, her peer group matches what Dr. Littman has described. Moreover, the medical problems associated with hormone therapies are frightening (there are plenty of published, peer-reviewed studies on that topic) . Before proceeding with hormones and/or surgery, it only makes sense that further research be conducted. Promoting transition in a developing body and mind is akin to abusive medical experimentation.

I never thought I’d live in an America where a University on the caliber of Brown would supress research because they disagree with the outcome. These are scary times!