---

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Oct-2024/081n.jpg)

 [ LGBTQ ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=380)

#  Are Bans on Gender Affirming Care Really About Protecting Children?

October 07 2024

Written by Maria Nieto, Ph.D..

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE - Parents who seek treatment for a child with [gender dysphoria](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20475262) argue that it is their right to consult with psychiatric and medical practitioners to attain the best care possible. In large measure, [gender affirming care](https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/gender-affirming-care-young-people.pdf) typically involves supporting the child’s gender through 1) the use of gender-affirming pronouns, dress, restrooms, etc.; 2) puberty blockers; 3) hormone therapy; and rarely, 4) gender-affirming surgeries that are done on a case-by-case basis in older adolescents. Discussions surrounding gender affirming care for youth have become increasingly divisive, with those opposed to the care likening the range of medical services provided to child abuse.

Legislators opposed to gender affirming care claim that legislative action is a just recourse to protect the wellbeing of children. If this is true, why have these same legislators in state after state across the country included text in anti-gender affirming care legislation that would undoubtedly harm young children, including infants? Take as one example [Arkansas House Bill 1570](https://legiscan.com/AR/text/HB1570/id/2325960), which includes a listing of exceptions when the surgical alteration of a child’s genitals would be permitted and warranted. Such instances include, but are not limited to, children born with typical female XX chromosomes and an enlarged clitoris (virilization) or children born with typical male XY chromosomes and a smaller than typical-size penis (under virilization). Both of these cited examples represent cases of [intersex](https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-the-intersex-community)—an individual born with internal and/or external sexual and reproductive characteristics that are not typically male or female.

In many instances when children are born with virilized or under virilized genitals, surgical intervention serves no medical need; it is strictly done for cosmetic purposes in order to “normalize” the genitals to make them appear more typically male or female. Functionally and aesthetically, there is nothing wrong with a smaller than typical-size penis or a larger than typical-size clitoris; these variant genitals will still have the capacity to function and afford sexual pleasure. If the genitals a child is born with require surgical intervention because there is a medical necessity, of course surgery would and should be warranted. Because surgeries performed on the genitals of infants have a likelihood of causing [dire outcomes](https://read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/1148/Fixing-SexIntersex-Medical-Authority-and-Lived), namely, the inability to achieve orgasm and a high incidence of urinary incontinence, pain, and other medical and psychological issues, there is a strong argument to be made to let intersex children, when old enough, decide for themselves if they want their genitals surgically altered for cosmetic purposes alone.

Allowing the time for an individual to make decisions about undergoing surgeries to alter their own genitals also provides time for one’s gender identity to become clearer. Case in point: a child born with XY chromosomes and under virilized genitals is subjected to surgeries that “normalize” the genitals to make them appear typically female. In such a scenario, it is not improbable that this same child could grow up to identify with a boy/man gender. Note: gender may not have even been fully considered prior to the surgical intervention.

Do the legislators who have drafted anti-gender affirming care legislation really want to protect all children, or do they only care about maintaining a paradigm built around a [sex](https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sex-gender) (male or female) and [gender](https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sex-gender) (boy/man or girl/woman) binary? This question is pressing, especially in light of the harm that can result from not only surgically altering the variant genitals of intersex infants but also from disregarding the idea that gender is distinct from sex.

*(Maria Nieto, Ph. D is a Professor Emerita (Department of Biological Sciences, California State University East Bay) and the co-author of The Spectrum of Sex: The Science of Male, Female, and Intersex ((Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Hachette UK Book Group).*

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png)](https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles)

###  Exploring LA

With Nick Cabot Rodriguez

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental2%208-11-26.png)](https://www.medentalspa.com/)

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/candidates%20ad%202026.png)](mailto:nantoni@mindspring.com)

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays

 Message

 [ ![Dogwatch Banner](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/dogwatch2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/80 "DogWatch Promo 2 - Home - HB1-1")

 [ ![Your Free DIY Lawn-To-Garden Resource](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/LADWP_LEAP_300x250.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/88 "LA DWP - Home - HB1-1 (LEAP)")

 [ ![Neighborhood Council Map](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/nc-map-graphic.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/89 "Home - Neighborhood Council Map - HB1-1")

 [ ![Neighborhood Council Meetings Here](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/NewsPromos/nc-meeting%20banner.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/90 "Home - Neighborhood Council Meetings Here - HB1-1")

 #HB1-1

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/something%20you%20should%20know2.jpg)](https://www.citywatchla.com/podcasts)

 [ ![Cheap Gas](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/cheap-gas2-10-24.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/96 "Home - Cheap Gas - HB1-2")

 #HB1-2

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a9/070g-a9407aaa.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33278:they-said-it-made-no-sense-then-they-voted-yes&catid=327)

### [They Said It Made No Sense. Then They Voted Yes.](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33278:they-said-it-made-no-sense-then-they-voted-yes&catid=327)

INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS - Sacramento has streamlined housing approvals so aggressively that residents rarely get a heari…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/20/070h-20f29015.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33277:trump-world-from-assassination-abroad-to-chaos-at-home&catid=395)

### [Trump World. From Assassination Abroad to Chaos at Home](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33277:trump-world-from-assassination-abroad-to-chaos-at-home&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - We’re at a moment when all sorts of political questions are coming to a head. And if that old phrase…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4b/070i-4ba64015.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

### [Newsom’s Next Immigration Gamble: Defy Federal Law And Dare Washington To Fight Back](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gov. Gavin Newsom is about to decide whether California should take another extraordinary gamble with fed…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/44/071d-441a7ed2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

### [As California Debated Sharing Data On Drivers, Homeland Security Subpoenaed 17 Million Records](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

TECHNOLOGY - California lawmakers wrestled with a difficult question earlier this summer: Could the state safely share…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/88/071n-88bb0b90.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=312)

### [Follow the Money: How Does a $3,662 Apartment Become “Affordable Housing”?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=312)

INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS - ED 1 Is Redeveloping Los Angeles—One Neighborhood at a Time You know that persistent, annoyin…

---

##  [ LGBTQ ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=380)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/071e2.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33296:34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own&catid=380)### [34 Years After Camp Laurel Began for Kids With HIV, Its First Campers Return With Children of Their Own](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33296:34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own&catid=380)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Mar-2026/025h.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32477:attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda&catid=380)### [Attacks on Transgender Women Are Part of a Larger MAGA Agenda](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32477:attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda&catid=380)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/013r.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32267:pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive&catid=380)### [Pride Flag Returns to Stonewall as New York Officials Defy Federal Directive](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32267:pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive&catid=380)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/012f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32245:california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth&catid=380)### [California LGBTQ Community Still Worried For Transgender Youth](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32245:california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth&catid=380)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Mar-2025/019a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30485:california-hotels-and-cafes-remain-friendlier-to-lgbtq-community&catid=380)### [California Hotels And Cafes Remain Friendlier To LGBTQ+ Community](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30485:california-hotels-and-cafes-remain-friendlier-to-lgbtq-community&catid=380)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>