American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) publishes policy statement in support of trans kids

[mahatmakanejeeves]

RogueAltGov Retweeted:

Big news! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a policy statement in support of trans kids today and it is TRULY supportive! I was able to read it a few days ago & have been dying to talk about it because it’s THAT good. Here’s a thread with some of the best stuff:

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First, a reminder of who we're talking about: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a body of roughly 67,000 physicians who work with children. It's a longstanding and credible body, using fact-based findings to shape its policies.

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In contrast, the deceptively named American College of Pediatricians (ACP) has only a few hundred members (doctors and others) and has been designated a hate group. You may have seen their video on puberty blockers circulating around.

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We’re talking about the AAP today, not the ACP (phew!) The AAP’s recommendations help shape medicine for kids around the world, so this policy statement actually *means something*. That’s why I’m so excited.

Here's the link to the full doc:

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Pediatrics
September 2018
From the American Academy of Pediatrics
Policy Statement

Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents

Jason Rafferty, COMMITTEE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, COMMITTEE ON ADOLESCENCE, SECTION ON LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Abstract

As a traditionally underserved population that faces numerous health disparities, youth who identify as transgender and gender diverse (TGD) and their families are increasingly presenting to pediatric providers for education, care, and referrals. The need for more formal training, standardized treatment, and research on safety and medical outcomes often leaves providers feeling ill equipped to support and care for patients that identify as TGD and families. In this policy statement, we review relevant concepts and challenges and provide suggestions for pediatric providers that are focused on promoting the health and positive development of youth that identify as TGD while eliminating discrimination and stigma.

• Abbreviations:
AAP — American Academy of Pediatrics
GACM — gender-affirmative care model
GLSEN — Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
LGBTQ — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning
TGD — transgender and gender diverse

Introduction

In its dedication to the health of all children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strives to improve health care access and eliminate disparities for children and teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) of their sexual or gender identity. Despite some advances in public awareness and legal protections, youth who identify as LGBTQ continue to face disparities that stem from multiple sources, including inequitable laws and policies, societal discrimination, and a lack of access to quality health care, including mental health care. Such challenges are often more intense for youth who do not conform to social expectations and norms regarding gender. Pediatric providers are increasingly encountering such youth and their families, who seek medical advice and interventions, yet they may lack the formal training to care for youth that identify as transgender and gender diverse (TGD) and their families.3

This policy statement is focused specifically on children and youth that identify as TGD rather than the larger LGBTQ population, providing brief, relevant background on the basis of current available research and expert opinion from clinical and research leaders, which will serve as the basis for recommendations. It is not a comprehensive review of clinical approaches and nuances to pediatric care for children and youth that identify as TGD. Professional understanding of youth that identify as TGD is a rapidly evolving clinical field in which research on appropriate clinical management is limited by insufficient funding.

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[lunasun]

1. Kick