The Christian Post's top 10 news stories of 2024 (part 2)
3. Debate on transgender issues reaches a breaking point
Over the past few years, several states have enacted bans on gender transition procedures for minors and laws prohibiting trans-identified males from competing in women's sports. This year, four additional states implemented laws prohibiting trans-identified youth from obtaining some or all types of gender transition procedures, bringing the total up to 26: Wyoming, Ohio, South Carolina and New Hampshire.
Ohio and New Hampshire also enacted laws requiring athletes to compete on teams that align with their biological sex as opposed to their stated gender identity, increasing the total number of states with such measures in place to 26.
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In April, the long-awaited Cass Report commissioned by the United Kingdom's National Health Service was published, finding that there is "no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress." This prompted the NHS to instruct pediatric gender clinics across the country to "implement a pause" on first appointments for youth with gender dysphoria.
As the U.K. took a step back from the push to provide gender-confused youth with life-altering treatments, the medical establishment in the U.S. doubled down on embracing LGBT ideology.
Earlier this year, Dr. Eithan Haim of Texas Children's Hospital came forward as the previously anonymous whistleblower who revealed that the hospital was continuing to prescribe trans-identified youth with puberty blockers despite assuring the public otherwise.
Texas Children's Hospital's actions directly defied guidance from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declaring that the performance of gender transition procedures on minors amounted to "child abuse."
Even before his identity became public, Haim was subject to a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Haim believes that the investigation constituted a "political investigation meant to support this evil ideology."
The Biden administration has made its support for LGBT ideology perfectly clear, most notably by sending out a message celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. The White House's recognition of the occasion, which takes place on March 31 every year, drew particular backlash this year because the day coincided with Easter Sunday, the holiest day on the Christian calendar.
Despite the continued embrace of LGBT ideology from the medical establishment and the Biden administration, panelists at a Christian Post event titled "Unmasking Gender Ideology" expressed optimism that opponents of the ideology were "winning and moving directionally exactly where we need to go."
In addition to noting all the states that have passed laws banning gender transition procedures for minors and prohibiting trans-identified males from competing in women's sports, the panel highlighted how increased pushback to aspects of LGBT ideology sank one of Biden's judicial nominees.
The panel discussion also focused on how female inmates becoming pregnant by trans-identified male inmates was another consequence of Democrats' insistence that gender identity should always take precedence over biological sex.
Exit polling from the 2024 presidential election shows that concerns about LGBT ideology may have played a role in the race's outcome.
According to a report published by the public opinion research firm Blueprint, 78% of undecided voters who ultimately voted for Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris cited concern that "Kamala Harris is focused more on cultural issues like transgender issues rather than helping the middle class" as a factor that caused them to support Trump over Harris.
Ryan Foley contributed to this report.
