Rep. Lisa Mazur has introduced a bill to keep transgender youth under the age of 18 from accessing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. She accused the medical community of “rushing minors into irreversible medical interventions.” She ignored the fact that every major professional medical and psychological association approves these treatments and that both individual testimony and gender care clinics show there is no rush involved. She showed compassion when speaking of individuals she had talked with who regret their decision and detransition, but she admitted she had had no conversations with people who were happy and thriving after transgender care. Only 2% of trans individuals regret their decision, so perhaps speaking to some of the other 98% would have helped her craft this bill, or better yet, scrap it. She did not have a single question for the young people or their parents who came to testify. I don’t know why I am surprised. I’m a constituent and she refuses to talk to me. Legislators who see themselves as only representing those who agree with them do not truly represent us. When asked if she has a moral objection to transgender people, she said, “I love everyone.” I’ll believe it when I see it.

Nancy Brennan

Weare