According to Dr. Jack Turban, the founding director of the Gender Psychiatry Program at the University of California, San Francisco, half of the states in America have passed laws or policies that restrict treatment for young people who have gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is when someone experiences discomfort or distress because their gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. While some of these laws are currently on hold due to court challenges, the legislative debates surrounding them have been emotional rather than focused on scientific and medical evidence.
In his new book titled “Free to Be: Understanding Kids and Gender Identity”, Dr. Turban aims to use science and research to provide information about gender identity and treatments for transgender youth. He explains that gender identity refers to a person’s psychological sense of themselves in terms of masculinity and femininity, which is influenced by both biological factors and societal influences.
Sex assigned at birth is also a complex concept that can be based on chromosomes or physical characteristics. Dr. Turban discusses how sex is recorded on a person’s birth certificate and why this does not always reflect a person’s true gender identity. By basing his explanations on research and medical expertise, Dr. Turban hopes to provide a better understanding of gender identity for both professionals and the general public.
