Kansas AG Kobach signs on to demand medical group change puberty blocker policy
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach joined a cohort of conservative attorneys general to warn the American Academy of Pediatrics that it could be held liable by consumer protection laws over its position that puberty blockers are reversible.
The AAP adopted the policy in 2018 and again reaffirmed its position in updated 2023 guidelines where it endorses puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgical interventions for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria — though it did note that surgeries are rare for children and are pursued on a case-by-case basis.
The effort is led by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and claims that the AAP’s policy statement on hormone blockers is misleading, citing a British systematic review of youth transgender care that led to the banning of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria in the U.K. The report found a lack of evidence that puberty blockers correlated with improved mental health, that its use could compromise bone health and that it could complicate surgical interventions for transgender adults.
“Parents should be able to trust that guidance from the AAP and its member pediatricians is rooted in safety and reality — and not in woke gender ideology,” Kobach said. “A child changing his or her gender identity has long-term major medical and psychological ramifications."
The letter also asks for communications and research that contributed to the academy's policy recommendations.
Kobach is joined by the Arizona House speaker and Senate president, as well as attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
The American Academy of Pediatrics did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in past statements, it has supported an affirming model of care for gender dysphoric youths. Gender-affirming care rejects that gender dysphoria is a mental disorder and instead seeks to align transgender individuals secondary sex characteristics with their gender identity.
In the 2024 legislative session, Kansas Republicans sought to ban gender-affirming care in the state but failed to get the required 84 votes in the House to overturn Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto in the House after two Republican voted with Democrats.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas AG joins coalition demanding change to puberty blocker policy
