Really, a Sex Change at 15…. Come on…. This is just sickening….
The list of things 15-year-olds are not legally allowed to do in Oregon is long: Drive, smoke, donate blood, get a tattoo — even go to a tanning bed.
But, under a first-in-the-nation policy quietly enacted in January that many parents are only now finding out about, 15-year-olds are now allowed to get a sex-change operation. Many residents are stunned to learn they can do it without parental notification — and the state will even pay for it through its Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan.
“It is trespassing on the hearts, the minds, the bodies of our children,” said Lori Porter of Parents’ Rights in Education. “They’re our children. And for a decision, a life-altering decision like that to be done unbeknownst to a parent or guardian, it’s mindboggling.”
via Oregon Allows 15-Year-Olds To Get State-Subsidized Sex-Change Operations — Without Parental Consent.
An American Point of View 
I honestly fail to see the problem here.
First, why is having a sex change at 15 sickening? There’s nothing perverted or dirty about getting a sex change. Not only this, but the majority of transgender youth experience anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts (more than half of transgender people have at least one suicide attempt by the age of twenty) as they approach puberty. Puberty suppression using hormone blockers has already been shown to be an effective method of treating these symptoms (and is reversible). Since the majority of children have finished or are finishing puberty by the age of 15, why is this such an unreasonable age to have a sex change? I would imagine it would have the same effect as puberty suppression, allowing transgender youth adults to bypass the anxiety and confusion that comes with growing up in a body that does not match their gender identity.
I think that while it’s completely fair to call a sex change operation a life-altering decision, gender identity is not a decision. More importantly in this situation, depression is not a decision. If we allowed parents to make this choice for their children, and allowed them to stop their child from getting this operation, whatever the parents’ reason, they would be condemning their child to years of mental and emotional pain. That to me, is what’s truly “sickening”.
That being said, I completely understand some parents’ concern of their child being able to undergo an operation of any sort without the parent’s knowledge. However, in my opinion it is more important that youth are able to live happily and without depression and anxiety.
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Reblogged this on straw to steel and commented:
I saw this post scrolling through the “liberal” tag. I left a comment, but since it’s awaiting moderation, I want to share it here:
I honestly fail to see the problem here.
First, why is having a sex change at 15 sickening? There’s nothing perverted or dirty about getting a sex change. Not only this, but the majority of transgender youth experience anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts (more than half of transgender people have at least one suicide attempt by the age of twenty) as they approach puberty. Puberty suppression using hormone blockers has already been shown to be an effective method of treating these symptoms (and is reversible). Since the majority of children have finished or are finishing puberty by the age of 15, why is this such an unreasonable age to have a sex change? I would imagine it would have the same effect as puberty suppression, allowing transgender youth adults to bypass the anxiety and confusion that comes with growing up in a body that does not match their gender identity.
I think that while it’s completely fair to call a sex change operation a life-altering decision, gender identity is not a decision. More importantly in this situation, depression is not a decision. If we allowed parents to make this choice for their children, and allowed them to stop their child from getting this operation, whatever the parents’ reason, they would be condemning their child to years of mental and emotional pain. That to me, is what’s truly “sickening”.
That being said, I completely understand some parents’ concern of their child being able to undergo an operation of any sort without the parent’s knowledge. However, in my opinion it is more important that youth are able to live happily and without depression and anxiety.
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