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

OMG, Brown! Seriously? Do you even believe in free speech?

When you're frightened of men in dresses you have a problem.

social sciences are fake lol

It is wrong to shut down research and discussion just because the results make people uncomfortable. Shutting down debate won't make the issues go away.

This is affecting children, adolescents, and young adults all over the developed world. The stakes are high and the possibility for misdiagnoses is real, especially if the social contagion aspect is true. Why would an academic institution try to stifle information? This issue should not be political. To omit discussion on potential side effects for fear of being labeled transphobic is irresponsible, as it puts the future health of these young people in jeopardy. Cross-sex hormones FOR LIFE and SURGICAL REMOVAL of healthy body parts is a not reasonable treatment plan. Critical thinking and conversation on this issue is absolutely necessary. Hopefully, other academic institutions will conduct additional studies. This whole thing seems Orwellian.

The pursuit of science, even when a result goes against what we would prefer, should be protected. Anything less, and the censors become no better than the church that sought to shutdown Galileo.

Well researched data and the resulting conclusions should not be brushed aside because of the feelings of people with a known disorder (gender dysforia) Are research projects into Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia next?

This systematic concealment amounts to lying. And totalitarianism is bad for everyone.

This is clearly a new fad for dealing with the hard emotions and experiences of being a teenager but with far graver and permanent consequences. This study is essential.

The fact that young lesbians are over represented here should give you serious pause. Please open your eyes to the madness that has become the trans loby which no longer represents the vast majority of trans people who just want to live in peace and stand in stark opposition to the silencing tactics being used here and which have become the norm. We must not give into a culture of fear and we must take seriously our duty of care for the young.

The fact that young lesbians are over represented here should give you serious pause. Please open your eyes to the madness that has become the trans loby which no longer represents the vast majority of trans people who just want to live in peace and stand in stark opposition to the silencing tactics being used here and which have become the norm. We must not give into a culture of fear and we must take seriously our duty of care for the young.

When you allow politics and activists to influence scientific research, you discredit your own position in the scientific community. Proper leadership stays focused on the scientific process and methodology. This occurred and your university because particular leadership is more focused on their popularity and social acceptance rather than scientific methods. Take heed to UC Berkeley's justified criticism.

This study needs to be shared and read by everyone. Suppressing this information is not helping anyone. I have a daughter that fits this research, I've been told I'm a bad parent for insisting her depression came first and she never once showed any sign of being gay or transgendered until after the onset of depression and bullying at Junior/Senior High School. No therapist in MA or CA will consider any type of therapy that talks about her sexuality due to the Law in both States making it illegal and no one believes me when I say the transgender was after the onset of depression, not the other way around.

Pure academic should never be silenced to “fit the narrative”... even if it is uncomfortable. Universities should be ashamed to even consider this!

its all about shutting down dissenting views, not good.

Every study has and cites limitations, like this one. It describes itself as being based on parental observations even in its title, "A study of parental reports." The scientific response to that limitation is to do more research, as this study calls for.

Silencing legitimate voices in this conversation corrupts the process and harms everyone, especially those questioning their identity who need open-minded, multi-faceted support for ongoing self-awareness, self-acceptance, and well-being. The best way to help people is to understand the complexities from all sides and angles and this research presents critical information that moves this conversation forward.

Social media and peer pressure have eradicated common sense in young men and women. This scientific research is critical and should not be abandoned or ended because it is not popular.

The University was once a place to uncover truths, not ignore them when they conflict with fashionable agendas. Shameful.

Academic research is not a popularity contest. So long as it passes peer-review and academic rigor, it needs to be unconstrained by politics. It is critical that we understand how social media is impacting young women and men. Unless you've waded through the cesspool that is Tumblr, you don't have a clue.