Brazil’s CFM council raised the minimum age for transgender individuals to access hormone therapy from 16 to 18, also prohibiting puberty blockers for minors with gender dysphoria. The council further increased the minimum age for certain gender reassignment surgeries to 21. This decision follows similar actions in other countries, including Argentina, and mirrors growing global debate surrounding the provision of such treatments to minors. The move reflects a broader conservative trend impacting transgender rights, fueled by ongoing political and legal challenges worldwide.
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Following expert medical advice, the UK government has implemented an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria, except within clinical trials. This decision, supported by the Commission on Human Medicines citing unacceptable safety risks, makes permanent the emergency measures initially introduced in May. The ban applies UK-wide, following consultation with devolved administrations, and affects new patients only; existing patients will continue treatment. A planned clinical trial aims to establish a clearer evidence base for the medication’s use.
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The recent classification of trans people as ‘mentally ill’ in Peru after a government decree has sparked a heated debate. The decree designates body dysphoria, or the feeling of discomfort with one’s assigned gender, as a mental illness requiring treatment. This move opens up access to government and insurance funds for necessary treatments such as sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy, which are essential for many individuals struggling with gender dysphoria.
Despite the potential benefits of this classification in terms of providing medical solutions for transgender individuals, it has raised concerns among LGBTQ groups in Peru. While transitioning is already covered and legally protected in Peru, the labeling of trans people as ‘mentally ill’ still raises red flags for many.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker