Crenshaw argues fiercely with witnesses on youth gender transitions.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) Challenges Experts on Youth Gender Transition Medicine

During a heated debate on Wednesday, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) engaged in a passionate discussion with expert witnesses who struggled to provide concrete evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of youth gender transition medicine in the long term.

Crenshaw specifically questioned Dr. Meredithe McNamara, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, regarding his proposed provision to remove federal funding from training hospitals that engage in gender transition medicine for minors, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgeries.

Federal Funding and Graduate Medical Education

Every five years, federal support for graduate medical education is reauthorized, providing funding to 58 hospitals that train a significant number of the nation’s pediatric physicians. Crenshaw’s resolution aims to withdraw federal dollars from facilities that offer these controversial treatment therapies, drawing a parallel to the Hyde Amendment’s restriction on funding for abortion procedures.

“This is taxpayer money, and when 70% of taxpayers oppose these barbaric treatments on minors, then taxpayers should not fund it,” Crenshaw passionately stated.

The Lack of Concrete Evidence

When Crenshaw pressed McNamara for evidence supporting the long-term safety and efficacy of gender transition medicine for minors, McNamara could only refer to accepted “standards of care” without providing any concrete data.

Crenshaw countered by referencing the British Medical Journal, the Journal of the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, all of which highlight the lack of substantial evidence supporting the medical transition of minors. Unsatisfied with McNamara’s reliance on convention, Crenshaw continued to challenge her.

“‘The standards of care.’ That’s not a journal. That’s not a study. That’s not an organization. It’s not an institution. You’re just saying words. Name one study,” Crenshaw chided.

The Politicization of Medical Journals and Associations

Crenshaw also questioned child and adult psychologist Miriam Grossman, who explained that the lack of data and scientific debate on transgender medicine is partly due to the politicization of medical journals and associations.

“Medicine is unfortunately permeated with politics at this point,” Grossman lamented. “Ideally, we wouldn’t want the government interfering between doctors, parents, and children. But when something so wrong is happening, I believe we have to take action.”

Crenshaw emphasized that youth gender transition medicine is “the issue of our time” and declared, “This is the hill we are going to die on. It is too important.”

Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.