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

I am not a parent of a child in this situation, but have seen this happen ing at first hand among my teenage child's peer group. It is vital that the freedom of scientists and researchers to carry out their work is maintained.

It is utterly destructive of academic integrity and of even of human progress and knowledge to put loyalty to ideology before seeking after truth. Brown's need to understand this if they will do irreparable damage to their academic reputation.

Rapid onset gender dysphoria certainly needs to be studied and reported on ! This is what has happened to my granddaughter in 8th grade, right at the onset of puberty. I believe she had difficulty accepting the changes that were normal in her body , had access to the "glamour" on the internet of being someone else., probably had anxiety and depression and decided at 13 that she is trans. I had her all summer long for 6 years ,up until she was 12 and she was 100% female , never a single thought or expression of being male!! I have since tried to learn about this whole subject by watching and listening to a lot on the internet. And even I, at age 70, could be led to believe that I am trans if I were unhappy with myself! I could easily go through the steps as they are promoted online. This is a travesty for so many girls!

Academic freedom should not be hampered by interested parties

As a concerned Grandparent I am releived that common sense seemed to be prevailing at last. However now I am devasted to see the scientific study withdrawn and apologised for Much shame on the University

Can BrownUniversity STAND BY accurate science please? This study DESERVES to be held as a true piece of work - NOT to be interfered by a politcal lobby group The reponse should be - this is a recognised piece of scientific research - if you disagree - please provide like for like accurate counter research. Pleae do NOT apologise for this work - let it stand without screaming activitists disagreeing. Science must be countered by science Finally - this research shows that all is NOT well in the LGBT+ transgender community - & this is an attempt to cover it up

I am horrified by the cowardice of your inatitution in immediately bowing to pressure from bullies. Young people, their safety and welfare should come before all else.

Controversy is good for science. Critics should use their energy to put scientific claims to scientific scrutiny using the scientific method. Attempting to silence the author is never justifiable.

Brown University needs to reaffirm core academic values and apologise for showing weakness in the face of unprincipled criticism.

What are you trying to hide?

''If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear'' George Orwell.

Either PLOS One is a peer reviewed academic journal or it is not. Activist pressure not withstanding

Transgenderism is a mental illness. Do not support this mental illness being taught to children as acceptable.

Read the study. Its detractors appear to have no understanding of basic research methods, let alone the author's motives and goals. That PLOS One and Brown have rushed to confer legitimacy on their claims is truly disheartening.

On the basis that Brown "desupports" research it thinks some people might find upsetting, I find Brown's position upsetting, therefore it should desist from it.

I don't want to sign this petition. The least that gender dysphoric children and their parents deserve is rigorous, peer-reviewed research. Brown University, as a tertiary institution which I assume supports scholarly research, is right to review Littman's paper further. The paper has been published in PLOS One, which is not subject to academic review. Moreover, while this might appear to have a sound methodology to the uninitiated, it is unconscionably biased. Sound science should seek to report the conclusions of careful research, not to confirm prejudice that was present from the outset, given that Littman only interviewed parents on sites that were openly 'trans sceptical'. Brown University is not curtailing freedom of speech, it is upholding a reasonable standard of academic research and analysis. If Lisa Littman really wants to research gender dysphoria, 'rapid onset' or otherwise, she needs to choose her subjects from a wide range of sources and contexts, and not start out with a hypothesis she is compelled to confirm. If she did so, more transgender children, adults and their supporters might welcome her findings.

Brown University must stand firm for academic freedom and scientific inquiry

Universities must protect researchers' ability to freely investigate the world, even if what they uncover is upsetting to some.

Unfortunately another example of political correctness (itself a 'social contagion') interfering with, and thereby denigrating, honest academic truth-seeking at my alma mater. Pity.

I support real scientific research so if someone wants to research this topic to prove the author's results are invalid then go for it. If you jump through all the QC hoops then maybe you'll get published too.