A number of European countries have restricted gender transition treatments for minors, in sharp contrast to some parts of the United States. Several nations, including Great Britain, Sweden, France, Norway and Finland have restricted such procedures in recent years.
In February, Sweden announced a ban on hormone treatment for youths in most circumstances.
“The uncertain state of knowledge calls for caution,” said a representative of the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The nation reported a 1,500% increase in young biological females declaring themselves to have gender dysphoria since 2008.
Nearby Finland made a similar decision in 2020.
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) restricted the use of puberty blockers to most youths this month.
The interim decision cited an increase in requests for “gender dysphoria” treatment over the last decade. In 2011 and 2012, the service’s Gender Identity Development Service received 250 referrals. In 2021 and 2022, this number had increased to more than 5,000.
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The report also states that a “significant number” of the cases included children who also suffer from mental health disorders and risky behavior which “requires careful consideration and needs to be better understood.”
Furthermore, the British health service stated that there was a “lack of evidence to support families in making informed decisions about interventions that may have life-long consequences.”
The NHS decided that it would phase out the use of such puberty blockers except in cases of clinical trials.
Britain also saw a high-profile case of Keira Bell, who transitioned from a female to a male identity and sued those responsible for her treatments, stating that she was too young to consent to the treatments. Bell was 16 years old at the time and lost her court battle.
Republicans on Capitol Hill referred to the decisions by European states. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) said that it was “beneficial to see European countries coming to their senses.”
“This is the issue of our time,” he said. “This is a hill we’re gonna die on.”
A number of Republican-dominated states have passed restrictions on youths receiving gender change treatment.
However, a number of Democratic Party-dominated states have moved in the other direction, with some offering sanctuary status for young people seeking such treatment.
