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

I enthusiastically support this petition, Dr. Lisa Littman's much-needed research, and PLOS One's publication of her research. It is dreadful to read from young women that they regret having had their breasts cut off and their bodies otherwise permanently impaired, because they didn't have the knowledge or proper support from mental health providers to explore other possible reasons for their gender dysphoria or trans identities than the blanket gender-affirmative model presumes for all. It is common sense to thoroughly explore all possible reasons for GD and a trans identification, and the least invasive methods of recovery from it, in lieu of doing anything invasive. I strongly support full funding and further research from Dr. Littman and her colleagues on the subject of transgenderism, and the publication of that research, particularly regarding females (biological females: I refer to people by their biology.)

I am one of the parents who participated in Dr. Littman’s survey study. My daughter fervently believed she was transgender for about a year when she was 16 years old—more than long enough for her to have received a prescription for testosterone and approval for a double mastectomy in today’s “affirmation only“ climate in the US. She is now 21 and is glad that I did not take her to a gender therapist, and did not cave to her sudden demands for drastic medical intervention. Prior to her abrupt announcement, she had never indicated any unhappiness with her sex. After spending several weeks immersed in online pro-transition videos and websites, she began pressuring me to see a gender therapist; everything she said sounded like it was read from a script. We both told our story for the Economist magazine, published today (“Why are so many teenage girls appearing in gender clinics?“). The journalist advised that we use pseudonyms because speaking out about this could result in massive harassment to both of us. Rapid onset gender dysphoria is real. We can’t ignore the girls who are being swept up into this and later change their minds. Irreversible drug and surgical interventions should only be undertaken as a last resort. The unfortunate truth is that they are more and more a first resort, at least in the US. In the Economist article, a top gender therapist, Dianne Ehrensaft, compares parents like me, who seek support in online forums, to Ku Klux Klan members. This kind of slander needs to be exposed and practitioners like Ehrensaft called to account.

I am not a parent, but rather a girl not much older than many of the daughters of 4th Wave Now users. I have read lots of articles about ROGD and have grown increasingly worried about the growing number of girls identifying as trans. I know a lot of young trans-guys and feel so concerned for them as they undertake hormonal replacements and surgeries that cause massive changes to their bodies. My worst fear for any of them is that these alterations are unnecessary and instead brought about by issues (mental illness, social contagion etc) that means their dysphoria should instead be treated by teaching them to be content with their bodies and gender nonconformity. Parents who question whether their children should have to change their gender (socially and medically) are treated abominably by medics and the LGBT community. It's generally believed that the teens know their genders for certain and the parents are just not accepting the truth. Since when have the majority of teenagers known better than their parents?! That's enough to make me suspicious. Also, I hate the guilt-tripping parents have forced upon them ("live son, dead daughter" etc) in order to make them accept their child's transition. This is a form of manipulation, which is another reason to be suspicious. I really want this study to be accepted by the medical community as evidence that perhaps there IS an alternative to transitioning for young, gender-confused girls and that maybe a lot of these parents weren't actually "transphobes" after all but were onto something!

I work in healthcare and physicians aren't listening - just catering to what kids think they are...sad!

I support this study.

As a Physician who has worked for and supported women’s health for over 30 years , I feel that this is a very important health issue for these young people . The Erie’s and drugs being given to young people will effect there long term health, and this is being done at such young ages that they do not have complete brain development to even make this kinds of life altering long term decisions! We need to do these stidies!

I support freedom of academic inquiry regardless of the offence the results imply. This phenomenon needs more studying to be understood and the people of the study need to be understood so that they can be properly treated and not just pushed through a medical system that may have lifelong health repercussions. Dysphoric (rapid onset or not) people deserve to be understood better and be presented with more treatment options. The more our society understands how this happens, the better we can help them strive.

Without this study, no doctor or therapist with such a patient can feel confident that they "First did no harm." Help our doctors to help us.

Don't cave to tyranny, or there will be no end to it. It is not the case that, if you give in now, they will be happy and go away. The ante only climbs up. So stop it here and now. Scientific questions must be worked out through the scientific method, not through silencing and censorship of ideas someone does not like. That is putting tape over all our mouths. People who actually believe they have truth on their side will do better research to try to support their belief--not strong arm, punish, and make an example out of anyone who publishes research they don't like. That is evil. All that is needed for evil to prevail and grow is for good people to do nothing or cave to it. Be of good courage, and don't be afraid!

One study is not enough as it might be pushed aside due to political forces.

Dean Bess Marcus of Brown's School of Public Health stated this conflict of interest: "Independent of the University's removal of the article because of concerns about research methodology, the School of Public Health has heard from Brown community members expressing concerns that the conclusions of the study could be used to discredit efforts to support transgender youth and invalidate the perspectives of members of the transgender community." Future studies at Brown need to declare that conflict of interest: 1) In their journal submission paperwork, and 2) In the text of a paper, for example: "This study was conducted so the conclusions cannot be used to discredit efforts to support transgender youth or invalidate the perspectives of members of the transgender community." Or the dean could realize how stupid that would look, and support science instead.

This brain washing of our youth in our learning institutions must end. Even without this study it is blatently obvious that this gender thing is being pushed and is not typical or genetic in most cases, but due to societal pressure influencing our easily influence youth.

Every other subject is open to academic rigeur and debate. Why is the discussion around the "science of transgenderism" not allowed to be challenged. Universities are supposed to be responsible for teaching and encouraging critical and analytical thinking.

Activism does not make good science.

I wish these so-called bastions of "higher learning" would get some backbone and stand up to the trans activist that want to shut down and silence anything that does not make them appear to be the correct answer for the youth of today that are too influenced by peer pressure.

Let’s go!

Freedom of thought and freedom of speech is our basic human right. Who benefits when women are silenced??

Unable To Solve

Stop suppressing research because it hurts some people's feelings!

Censorship of research is unacceptable. People have the right freely to criticize the methodology of a study and/or its conclusions, as others have an equal right freely to evaluate their criticisms. They have no right whatever to get it suppressed. Mere aversion to the conclusions of the study or to their implications is not a legitimate argument.