1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recently re-released document by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding gender-affirming care for youth. This report, initially released in May and re-released on November 19 with author names added, is a blatant example of political bias masquerading as scientific review. The inclusion of authors with known anti-transgender stances severely compromises the credibility of this document. Alex Byrne, an MIT philosophy professor who has written a book disputing trans identities, along with Leor Sapir from the Manhattan Institute and Evgenia Abbruzzese from SEGM, an anti-trans advocacy group, are among the named authors. This roster reads more like a who's who of conservative activism rather than a panel of objective medical experts. The American Psychological Association's highly critical response to this report is particularly telling. They stated that the report's methodology lacks transparency and clarity - fundamental principles of sound scientific research. This criticism from a respected professional organization should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, the review process for this document deviates significantly from standard academic peer review practices. The handpicked reviewers, some of whom were involved in early drafts, and the lack of anonymity in the review process raise serious questions about the document's objectivity and scientific rigor. It is alarming that a report with such far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of transgender youth lacks input from experts in gender medicine. This omission is not just an oversight; it's a deliberate exclusion of critical perspectives. I urge you to take immediate action to address this situation. We need a truly independent, scientifically sound review of gender-affirming care for youth. This current report, tainted by political bias and methodological flaws, should be rejected. Our policies must be based on robust, peer-reviewed science, not on politically motivated pseudoscience. Please use your position to call for a new, unbiased review that includes genuine experts in gender medicine and follows proper scientific methodology. The health and rights of transgender youth are at stake, and they deserve better than this shameful display of political interference in medical science.