Issue
The Federal Trade Commission sought information “to better understand how consumers may have been exposed to false or unsupported claims” about gender-affirming care.
Impact
An estimated 1.0% of the U.S. population aged 13 and older, or 2.8 million individuals, identify as transgender. This includes 2.1 million adults and 724,000 youth. The 2022 US Transgender Survey found that 60% of adult respondents reported receiving some form of gender-affirming care. Almost all of those receiving care described their experience with gender-affirming care as positive and reported that it improved their well-being.
Summary
Scholars present research on the prevalence of transgender people in the U.S. and the rigorous standard of care endorsed by leading medical associations. Additionally, they examine evidence showing the improvements in well-being associated with gender-affirming care. They also describe how the denial of care may contribute to increased stress, negative mental health outcomes, and other serious health risks for patients and providers.