Trump Orders Study on Trans ‘Regret’ and Halts LGBTQ+ Research

As a shock to no one, Trump has aimed yet another attack against trans folks. This time, his administration is trying to discredit trans people’s need for gender-affirming care with “science” and has ordered the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study gender transition “regret.”

Previous interim NIH director Matthew Memoli sent an email to NIH directors saying that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “has been directed to fund research on a few specific areas” regarding gender affirming surgeries. Except Memoli refers to the care as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” He also adds that the “research” is very important to Trump and HHS Secretary RFK Jr., who have repeatedly proven that they have no intention of being properly educated on the well-being of trans people or any marginalized group.

The HHS stated, “NIH is prioritizing research that serves the best interests of public health, not ideological agendas, and will continue to support studies that provide clear, objective data—particularly regarding the long-term effects of gender transitions.” This direction comes after the NIH has terminated hundreds of research grants that were focused on LGBTQ+ health and gender identity.

Human Rights Campaign Director of Communications, Laurel Powell calls the focus on transition regret, “junk science” and said that since the beginning, “the entire administration (has) ignored the science and advanced their own agenda.” Harry Barbee, a nonbinary person who studies LGBTQ+ health and gender at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland says, “When ideology is prioritized over scientific merit, that threatens the entire scientific enterprise,” especially when numerous studies have proven that gender-affirming care saves lives and is necessary for children and adults. The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all share this same sentiment.

While trans people should not have to justify their existence or prove that they deserve access to medical care (essential or not), the overwhelming evidence supporting them should be enough to convince people to stop trying to deny their lived experiences. This “research” into transition regret is only going to serve as confirmation bias for the Trump Administration so that they have somewhere to point to while they continue to destroy trans people’s livelihoods. The Advocate has also noted that most regret from transitioning is caused by anti-trans discrimination. More people have been shown to regret having children or getting a tattoo than transitioning.

This is once again about control, not about the health and well-being of people. This is white supremacy ordering scientists to confirm that their hatred and discrimination are justified.

Photo Credit: Tara Winstead