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

We need to stand together on this.

As an academic myself, I am shocked and horrified that Brown University is suppressing research on this important medical and social issue.

Politics must not corrupt academic integrity, especially when the wellbeing of children and adolescents are concerned.

The current trend of teenage girls suddenly deciding that they need to drastically change their bodies is vitally important to investigate. I am so disappointed to hear that Brown is capitulating to a group of activists who are trying to shut down debate or even the availability of information about this trend. Please live up to your reputation as a center of independent research by making this study available. Make me proud of being an alumna.

I know that social contagion CAN intersect with homophobia to convince young children that they are trans, when this is not the appropriate path for them, because this happened to me 15 years ago. As a professional scientist, I find Brown University and PLOS One's utter dismissal of Dr. Littman's results due to activist backlash to be embarrassing and cowardly. I expected more integrity from these institutions.

As an obstetrician/gynecologist, as well as a scientist, I feel it is imperative that science not be censored, especially when the result is mutilation, probable long term health risks, and infertility for the children affected by this. Science must not continue to fall to social pressure...put the data out there and let people know what the study shows.

My degree in rhetorical studies included work in feminist theory and practice and qualititative and quantitative research. I helped start a Women Studies program at a private university in the midwest. I am disgusted by the way universities are running away from their obligations by giving in to a small though deep-pocketed group whose only response to any criticism is to try and silence it. I implore you to investigate the trans movement's tactics, which far worse than their cultish beliefs and practices undermine everything that a university is supposed to represent.

Let me get all sides of an issue! Please, I’m raising kids here.

Research should not be stifled and should be public as a right to people who are going through similar experiences.

This is something that ought to be seriously explored, given that women who love women (or men who love men) are NOT the same thing as dysphoria, yet stigmatization of homosexuality could lead youth easily to want to be "normal" via a sex change: "These sites point to the probability that many kids who are today identifying as trans are in fact experiencing internalized homophobia. In other words, the contributors to these sites are concerned about the wellbeing of gay and lesbian kids, and they want to ensure that their children are not transitioning simply because they are ashamed of their sexual orientation."

Don't be fascist, keep the results up.

Good luck!

As someone who suffered anorexia and gender dysphoria and found a way to fight those demons I urge this discussion and research to continue.

The pursuit of understanding through research should be free from political and ideological influence. There are ways to scrutinize findings without resorting to censorship. Publish rebuttals, do more studies. "... to avert the evil by the process of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence." ~Louis Brandeis

Dr Littman's research should be made available to the public. The Trans lobby is stamping out even academic freedoms, and thus is a scandal. Thus does not reflect well on the previously good reputation of Brown University.

It is crazy to assume that just because a young person feels drawn to culturally defined "feminine' or "masculine" things they need to, or even can, become the opposite sex. A boy who likes dressing up and baking cookies is not "really a girl", he is a boy who likes baking cookies. A girl who likes baseball is not "really a boy", she is a girl who likes baseball. It is ultimately devestating to young people seeking identity to imagine that just by "changing gender" all their problems will be solved, and one might dare to ask, is it really that simple to become a woman, or a man?

We need research on every aspect of this issue.

Let inquiry be free of politics.

United States

It is unacceptable that a university would cave to a position of documenting less information, particularly on the subject of transgenderism and adolescent transitioning, as a result of trans activists. This is simply yet another example of how the trans movement does everything possible to close down reasonable inquiry into their claims and ideology. FOR SHAME!