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

Publishing research on this is about the least that should be happening to protect children. It's ridiculous that Brown would prioritize the desires of a tiny number of unrelated activists over the clear best interests of children to not be exploited by them and their parents efforts to help them, let alone over the university's proper priority of scientific inquiry.

Who knew that research results could be so dangerous?

I’m the mother of a girl who out of the blue identified as a boy for three years and then changed her mind. I’ve seen #ROGD first hand. Families are up against a huge campaign to silence us from trans advocates who claim that medical intervention with all its attendant harms is best for children and young people and wish to prevent research that might suggest otherwise. We need universities and journals to balance the dominance of activist voices. The perspectives of worried parents are a legitimate avenue for enquiry. Lisa Littman’s paper is measured, aware of its own shortcomings and important to discussions about safeguarding children and young people. Support Lisa Littman's work Brown University and PLOS ONE

Help the children. Don’t lead them down a path we barely understand ourselves.

How can research like this be censored, in the name of 'diversity?'

The university should be ashamed.

Hard to understand why a prestigious university would apologize for this important scientific work. This work has the potential to help people;. What proper end is served by not supporting the work>

I don't understand everything about transgender issues and want to read research not find it censored

I am convinced that the increase in girls identifying as trans is 1. Being pressured by the upruse in trans and; 2 The idea they will become tougher and safer Being 'male's. This is far from reality, indeed even more vulnerable. The current increase must be questioned and challenged.

Both of my daughters (aged 14 and 11) have come home from school saying that some of their friends are now transgender, completely out of the blue. I have been worried about this sudden rise in gender dysphoria ever since. To call this concern transphobic is simply ridiculous and the essential research by Dr Littman should be the first of many and I sincerely it isn't suppressed.

Preventing research into this area risks making you complicit to future damage inflicted on children who transition and subsequently desist. Anybody who suggests that research is not required in this area is in essence pursuing a faith over science based agenda. I believe we are no longer in the dark ages and should not be afraid to shine a light into this area.

This needs investigation!

I’m 18, i’m a woman and already i’ve self-identified as trans and come to re-identify once I started thinking logically and critically about the concept of gender and my physical and emotional immaturity at the time when I self-identified as trans. This research is important, not just for academic freedom but for the mental and physical wellbeing of people like me. It matters; it should not be silenced.

The trans movement is resulting in a mass sterilization of our beautiful and gifted girls on the spectrum. It must be critically looked at and studied.

I've been a supporter of sexual minority rights as long as I can remember, and I view the progress on this front as part of the larger project of improving humanity and improving our understanding the complexity of human nature and the human experience. Unfortunately a certain breed of postmodern activists do not see scientific and philosophical understanding and exploration as inherently good. Like religious puritans, they wish to replace old oppressive dogma not with openness but with new "progressive" dogma. These regressives cannot be allowed to dictate public or scientific discourse.

What ever happened to letting kids be themselves? Instead they are being convinced that if they do not relate to the stereotypes that society has for men and women that they need to become the opposite sex. There's a lot of confused kids out there being given the wrong advice. Celebrate individuality.

Shutting down research because the results are uncomfortable to some is anti-scientific and a bad trend. The findings can only ultimately serve the community as a whole. As Carl Rogers said, the facts are alway friendly.

Let’s help our children make good decisions according either their age and development

Mum of an ROGD teen. Formerly happily out as gay. We need to know what is happening to out gay children given the rates of desistance

Keep freedom of speech FREE.