Among the most significant developments of the past year has been the strong pushback against radical gender ideology and the growing evidence against so-called “gender-affirming care.” Early in 2024, internal files leaked from the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH), the self-anointed medical association that has pushed for the chemical and surgical “gender transition” of minors, were made public. For years, clinical, political, and pop culture activists have cited WPATH in order to claim that the science on “gender-affirming care” is “settled” and that social, chemical, and surgical “transition” interventions are safe, reversible, and lifesaving.
The leaked files from WPATH revealed a different and far more damning story. Far from being settled science, these “treatments” were known to be experimental and known to lead to painful complications, including life-threatening conditions like cancers. In a leaked video, a leading WPATH doctor admitted that a minor could not fully understand the implications of “treatment,” especially for his or her future fertility. In other words, this pseudoscience was being pushed on minors who were unable to grant consent.
A few weeks later, the UK’s National Health Service released an almost 400-page report on the state of “gender identity services for children and young people.” The Cass Review was a bombshell. Contrary to the standard narrative peddled by activists, this report affirmed that “gender-affirming care” is built on “shaky foundations” and that the evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgeries to “treat” gender dysphoria is “remarkably weak.”
According to the report, most of the studies cited in support of social, chemical, or surgical “transition” lacked the quality required to reliably and safely guide clinicians and families in caring for gender dysphoric young people.
Much was also learned in 2024 about the comorbidities that accompany gender confusion. For example, research out of the UK exposed that adults who identified as transgender were six to seven times more likely to have ADHD, four times more likely to suffer from depression, five times more likely to have bipolar disorder, more than five times as likely to have obsessive-compulsive disorder and, shockingly, over 28 times more likely to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Another study found that youth who experience gender dysphoria are far more likely to have experienced emotional abuse and physical and emotional neglect. Before the summer heat arrived, a survey of millions of patients over the course of two decades dropped, suggesting that those who undergo “gender transition” surgery are 12 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
That last study exposes the evil of the suicide myth, an enduring lie that has effectively driven the transgender epidemic for years now. Counselors and activists have pressured parents into “affirming” their children’s dysphoria with the manipulative question, “Would you rather have a live son or a dead daughter?”
These revelations that continued to emerge throughout 2024 confirm what Christians should already know to be true. Even more, they should inspire us to steward this cultural moment faithfully. To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton, we must be a church not moved by the world, but stubborn in our belief that the world can be moved by a church committed to Christ and to truth. For us, this means having the courage to counter the lies of gender ideology while caring for those victimized by these bad ideas.
This proper response requires a worldview big enough to make sense of the world. We not only must know what is true, we must have the courage to live by truth. Just a year ago, the trans agenda seemed unstoppable and out-of-control. Today, its lies have been exposed, and more people are speaking out. Praise God.
The Colson Center began and ended 2024 with a Breakpoint Forum aimed at keeping Christians informed about the issue of gender confusion and medical deception. In May, at the Colson Center National Conference, we welcomed a mom who courageously defended her daughter, who was led by teachers and online influencers to question her identity. Tragically, she was forced to stand alone. We asked her to tell her story so that other Christians would be inspired to stand with courageous truth-tellers, especially parents defending their children. We must be the Church.
With God’s help, we will continue to equip Christians to face the toughest issues, in 2025 and beyond. Breakpoint and the other resources of the Colson Center are possible because of the generous support of donors. Please help us in this critical mission. Every dollar given to the Colson Center by December 31 will be doubled thanks to a $350,000 challenge provided by generous supporters. Please, add your support. Make your gift today at colsoncenter.org/November.
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/ronniechua
Published Date: November 22, 2024
John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.
The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.
BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931 – 2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.
