As a dedicated psychotherapist who has devoted my career to the mental well-being of children, I am concerned about the current Canadian gender affirming legislation. It's crucial that we approach children's with care, sensitivity, and psychological insight. Current legislation and medical treatment often sidelines comprehensive psychological evaluations and therapy that can be pivotal in determining the best course of action for children experiencing gender-related distress. Many young individuals I have worked with experience confusion and distress about their identity, yet, this confusion is often looked to as the solution to painful and disorienting mental health and social issues, such as depression, anxiety, neglect, trauma, and social rejection and isolation. Many of these children are autistic and otherwise neurodivergent, and feel they do not fit into peer groups. 

On May 1, 2025, The US Department of Health and Human Services published their Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices report, which states:

"...gender-affirming model of care includes irreversible endocrine and surgical interventions on minors with no physical pathology. These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret. Systematic reviews of the evidence have revealed deep uncertainty about the purported benefits of these interventions."

This is extremely serious. Research indicates that a large proportion of children experiencing gender dysphoria will not remain dysphoric in adulthood. In fact, various studies suggest that between 61% and 98% of children may eventually align with their biological sex. Such statistics warrant a more cautious, exploratory approach rather than immediate affirmation at an age when life-defining decisions should ideally be postponed. 

Gender affirming policies, while well-intentioned and harmful for children. We live in a time of rapid change, and the pressure on youngsters to make irreversible decisions about their bodies and identities is immense.  It is essential to tailor support to individual needs rather than prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution that may not always serve the best interests of the child.

By repealing and revising the current legislation, we can advocate for policies that prioritize the mental health and well-being of young people. Calls for more stringent guidelines, increased mental health support, and careful, case-by-case consideration should be at the forefront of any legislative framework concerning gender identity in minors.

I urge policymakers to reconsider the existing laws, and I invite you, concerned citizens, parents, and professionals, to join me in this call for reform. Please sign this petition to help ensure our legislative approaches concerning gender identity in children are both scientifically sound and compassionate.