LGBTQ Issues (Part 3)

[Huckleberry]

"Identity fraud": Proposed Texas state law would make identifying as transgender a felony - Salon.com

A new bill proposed in the Texas state legislature would open transgender Texans up to felony fraud charges.

www.salon.com

"Identity fraud": Proposed Texas state law would make identifying as transgender a felony
The bill proposed by State Rep. Tom Oliverson would leave transgender Texans open to charges of fraud


The Texas state legislature may soon consider whether transgender Texans can be charged with a felony for identifying as their preferred gender.

A bill proposed by Houston-area Rep. Tom Oliverson asks to amend the state penal code to create a new crime of "gender identity fraud." Under the act, a person could be charged with a felony for "identifying the person's biological sex as the opposite of the biological sex assigned to the person at birth" while dealing with either government entities or employers. The charge carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Oxford Academic: Examining gender-specific mental health risks after gender-affirming surgery: a national database study

Results
From 107 583 patients, matched cohorts demonstrated that those undergoing surgery were at significantly higher risk for depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders than those without surgery. Males with surgery showed a higher prevalence of depression (25.4% vs. 11.5%, RR 2.203, P < 0.0001) and anxiety (12.8% vs. 2.6%, RR 4.882, P < 0.0001). Females exhibited similar trends, with elevated depression (22.9% vs. 14.6%, RR 1.563, P < 0.0001) and anxiety (10.5% vs. 7.1%, RR 1.478, P < 0.0001). Feminizing individuals demonstrated particularly high risk for depression (RR 1.783, P = 0.0298) and substance use disorders (RR 1.284, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion
Gender-affirming surgery, while beneficial in affirming gender identity, is associated with increased risk of mental health issues, underscoring the need for ongoing, gender-sensitive mental health support for transgender individuals’ post-surgery.

 

[Huckleberry]

Oxford Academic: Examining gender-specific mental health risks after gender-affirming surgery: a national database study

Results
From 107 583 patients, matched cohorts demonstrated that those undergoing surgery were at significantly higher risk for depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders than those without surgery. Males with surgery showed a higher prevalence of depression (25.4% vs. 11.5%, RR 2.203, P < 0.0001) and anxiety (12.8% vs. 2.6%, RR 4.882, P < 0.0001). Females exhibited similar trends, with elevated depression (22.9% vs. 14.6%, RR 1.563, P < 0.0001) and anxiety (10.5% vs. 7.1%, RR 1.478, P < 0.0001). Feminizing individuals demonstrated particularly high risk for depression (RR 1.783, P = 0.0298) and substance use disorders (RR 1.284, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion
Gender-affirming surgery, while beneficial in affirming gender identity, is associated with increased risk of mental health issues, underscoring the need for ongoing, gender-sensitive mental health support for transgender individuals’ post-surgery.

Mental health support is clearly needed to help individuals cope with the challenges faced after gender-affirming surgery.

From the paper: It is also crucial to acknowledge that transgender individuals seek mental health support for a wide range of issues, not solely those related to gender identity. The lifelong impact of minority stress continues to affect transgender individuals’ experiences of depression and anxiety even after transitioning. Barriers to mental health care, including discrimination within healthcare settings, exacerbate these mental health challenges, fostering systemic distrust and reducing access to necessary services. Our findings highlight that anxiety is particularly prevalent among transgender men post-surgery, while substance use disorder is more common among transgender women, reflecting gender-specific mental health risks. For transgender women, societal pressures to conform to traditional female roles and the pervasive devaluation of femininity may contribute to heightened stress, emotional distress, and, ultimately, increased reliance on substance use as a coping mechanism. Conversely, transgender men may encounter societal expectations to suppress emotions, aligning with traditional masculine norms, which can heighten anxiety as they navigate their new gender identity.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Mental health support is clearly needed to help individuals cope with the challenges faced after gender-affirming surgery.

Absolutely. I think this is inherently obvious.

The idea that allowing children to have access to this 'treatment' isn't 'saving lives.

 

[Huckleberry]

Absolutely. I think this is inherently obvious.

The idea that allowing children to have access to this 'treatment' isn't 'saving lives.

Gender-affirming surgery isn't really an issue for minors.

Gender-affirming surgeries rarely performed on transgender youth | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

A new Harvard Chan School study found little to no utilization of gender-affirming surgeries by transgender and gender-diverse minors in the U.S.

hsph.harvard.edu

 

[crimsonaudio]

Gender-affirming surgery isn't really an issue for minors.

Yes, but I think it shows that treatment (such as puberty blockers, which are used in minors) aren't necessarily the answer.

 

[Huckleberry]

Yes, but I think it shows that treatment (such as puberty blockers, which are used in minors) aren't necessarily the answer.

It's certainly a controversial issue and one which I feel is best left to the family and the child's doctors to decide.

 

[jthomas666]

It's certainly a controversial issue and one which I feel is best left to the family and the child's doctors to decide.

Exactly. Every case is different, just as every child is different.

 

[cbi1972]

It's certainly a controversial issue and one which I feel is best left to the family and the child's doctors to decide.

The issue inevitably becomes who is forced to perform, pay for, provide facilities, and support services that are on the fringe of medical necessity and cultural acceptance.

 

[HSV_1969]

Mental health support is clearly needed to help individuals cope with the challenges faced after BEFORE gender-affirming surgery.

Fixed the real issue. These people have mental illness issues, and need treatment for that. They do not need a system to "affirm" their mental illness and push them to indulge that illness further into changing their body.

 

[Huckleberry]

Fixed the real issue. These people have mental illness issues, and need treatment for that. They do not need a system to "affirm" their mental illness and push them to indulge that illness further into changing their body.

People used to say the same sort of thing about homosexuality. Thankfully, we've moved past that. (Well, maybe not. There is still the court case brought about by intolerant religious bigots regarding the abhorrent practice of "conversion therapy" to consider.)

In any case, simply being transgender doesn't mean someone has a mental illness. It's gender dysphoria combined with the discrimination and stigmatization inherent in transphobia that brings about the increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation.

 

[Huckleberry]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1904327302986514717

Under Ohio law LGBTQ+ teens get 6 free mental health sessions—Republicans want that eliminated.

H.B. 172 bans 14-17 year olds from access to mental health without parent consent.

Bill sponsor is "pastor entrepreneur" who says identity as LGBTQ+ is grounds to expel from church.

Rep. Jonathan Newman also serves as the "pastor of counseling" at a megachurch in western Ohio.

This bill has nothing to do with medication, surgery, or any inpatient treatment—it's about banning kids from talking to a therapist.

These therapy sessions are used when a minor is in a crisis—and there is a safety concern regarding their parents' response to their gender or sexual identity.

 

[jthomas666]

Yes, but I think it shows that treatment (such as puberty blockers, which are used in minors) aren't necessarily the answer.

Any given treatment isn't necessarily the answer for every patient. That's one reason that mental health care is so problematic--you can't just throw an azithromycin dosepak at the problem; you may have to go through multiple medications, therapies, etc., before finding one that is effective for you.

 

[Huckleberry]

Salt Lake City approves 3 new flags to get around Utah's ban on Pride flags

The city’s three new flags mix the existing Salt Lake City flag design with elements of flags celebrating various communities that were barred from being flown at public buildings.

www.nbcnews.com

Salt Lake City approves 3 new flags to get around Utah's ban on Pride flags
The city’s three new flags mix the existing Salt Lake City flag design with elements of flags celebrating various communities that were barred from being flown at public buildings.
...

One of the proposed flags, dubbed the Sego Belonging Flag, is intended to honor the city’s LGBTQ residents, while another, which officials called the Sego Visibility Flag, is intended to recognize the city’s trans community. The third proposed flag, dubbed the Sego Celebration Flag, is intended to honor the city’s Black residents, as well as the history surrounding the Juneteenth holiday.

 

[JDCrimson]

A zpac might not fix the problem, but ivermectin dispensed from a caulking gun on to a cracker most assuredly will cure it...

Any given treatment isn't necessarily the answer for every patient. That's one reason that mental health care is so problematic--you can't just throw an azithromycin dosepak at the problem; you may have to go through multiple medications, therapies, etc., before finding one that is effective for you.

 

[Huckleberry]

 

[Huckleberry]

 

[Huckleberry]

 

[2003TIDE]

King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss was gunned down yesterday in Texas.

 

[Huckleberry]

Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship

A new name for the Harvey Milk was not given but, according to the memo, Hegseth and Phelan are planning to announce the new name aboard the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned Navy ship.

www.military.com

Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to take the rare step of renaming a ship, one that bears the name of a gay rights icon, documents and sources show.

Military.com reviewed a memorandum from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy -- the official who holds the power to name Navy ships -- that showed the sea service had come up with rollout plans for the renaming of the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk.

A defense official confirmed that the Navy was making preparations to strip the ship of its name but noted that Navy Secretary John Phelan was ordered to do so by Hegseth. The official also said that the timing of the announcement -- occurring during Pride month -- was intentional.