Identification Before Prescription: Necessary Changes for the Support of Transgender Youth

What is it about?

This publication is responding to an original article advocating for increased access to puberty blockers for gender diverse youth. We make the case that broad structural changes are required if we truly wish to identify transgender and gender-questioning youth and support them. Though improving access to puberty blockers is a necessary piece of this puzzle, waiting to support youth until they are ready for medical transition means that providers are waiting too long and missing important opportunities to intervene to support gender diverse youth and their families. To address this concern, we advocate for improving provider education about gender affirmation and assessment, insurance coverage for counseling and gender affirming care, standardization of gender assessment, and education about gender diversity in schools.

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