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Blog post by Augustin Hamilton (Quebec Life Coalition) — Translated by QLC — Photo: Freepik

A young woman who underwent a transition process between the ages of 13 and 17 laments that the healthcare system which supported her during the transition is now abandoning her as she seeks to detransition, according to Le Journal de Montréal:

“I was supported during my transition to become a boy when I was aged 13 to 17,” says Rose Guérin. “But now, suddenly, there are no more services for me.”

The young woman, now 21, underwent a double mastectomy at 16, but at 17, just before what the Le Journal de Montréal article refers to “the big operation” (presumably a hysterectomy), she changed her mind:

“I burst into tears and called my mum to tell her that I wasn’t a boy; I’d just always been a girl who felt very uncomfortable in her own skin.”

Fortunately, she, who dreams of having children, was able to regain her fertility after stopping her transition treatments. However, she will not be able to breastfeed:

“I have a flat chest with two large scars and I will never be able to breastfeed. However, by stopping the hormones, I have become fertile again.”

Rose Guérin estimates that the various treatments for hair removal, voice modification and breast reconstruction will cost her around $30,000.

She has found support from a group of around ten other young detransitioners. Despite her experience, she says she is not against transitioning: “I’m not anti-trans, I’m just saying it was a mistake for me.” However, she adds that she receives hostile messages every time she shares her story:

“Every time I share my experience, I receive abuse or messages encouraging me to commit suicide, but I don’t want to stay silent.”

The system is not only one-sided in that it encourages and supports young people’s transition, but gender activists also express hatred towards anyone who questions the idea that transition is always happy.

Rose Guérin says that, back when she wanted to transition, she would probably have taken her own life if she hadn’t gone through with it. The JdM article also notes that she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

On that last point: A recent Finnish study indicates that young people suffering from gender dysphoria often also suffer from other psychiatric problems too, and that many of those who transition experience an increase in these problems. The researchers who carried out the study emphasise that the medical system often overlooks the psychiatric problems by allowing young people to undergo the transition process.

Besides hindering the body’s healthy development and ultimately resulting in the unnecessary mutilation of healthy organs, gender transition is a response that fails to address the real issues these young people are facing.

Several jurisdictions, including England and Finland, have reversed their stance on gender transition for minors and restricted various aspects of the process. It is time for Canada and Quebec to follow suit.