This week, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons came out against gender transition surgeries for minors, marking the first time a major U.S. medical association has stiffened its guidance on pediatric gender care.
A statement sent on Tuesday to the group’s 11,000 members and reported by The Washington Post recommends surgeons delay gender-related chest, genital and facial surgery until a patient is 19 years old or older.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall touted the decision and said he was glad to see that "responsible medical groups are finally prioritizing patient safety over ideology."
"For years, advocacy groups like the ACLU worked with medical organizations to claim sex-change procedures for children are medically necessary," he stated. "This was never evidence-based, and I'm glad responsible medical groups are finally prioritizing patient safety over ideology."
Marshall, also a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama, called the recommendation a "major win for protecting children."
This is a major win for protecting children, but we can’t ignore the years of harm already inflicted on thousands of American kids. The work isn’t over. We must keep protecting our most vulnerable from irreversible abuse," he wrote on his campaign for Senate account.
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