New report from European medical orgs declares unwavering support for gender-affirming care

A recent report from several European medical organisations highlights the necessity of gender-affirming care for trans youth while criticising the UK’s Cass Review for its claim that such care is harmful to young people.

According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, this comprehensive 400-page report, published last week in German, involves contributions from 26 medical and psychotherapeutic professional organisations across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. As analysed and translated by trans journalist Erin Reed, the report advocates for the use of puberty blockers for trans youth and emphasises the importance of tailored care.

The report further states, “If, in individual cases, progressive pubertal development imposes a time constraint where delayed intervention could result in irreversible health consequences (e.g., a male voice change), prompt access to child and adolescent psychiatric or psychotherapeutic evaluation and medical treatment options should be ensured.”

The report criticises the Cass Review for its endorsement of psychotherapy over gender-affirming care for treating gender dysphoria, pointing out that “none of the studies included in the review in question were able to show a reduction in gender dysphoria through psychotherapy.”

As a 400-page analysis of commonly referenced research on gender-affirming care for minors, the Cass Review concluded that reliable evidence showing positive outcomes from such care is scarce, recommending “extreme caution” with puberty blockers or hormone replacement therapy for minors. It also suggested postponing “life-changing” gender-affirming decisions until adulthood, as the brain matures into the mid-20s.

Trans activists expressed frustration, arguing that the Cass Review ignored numerous studies demonstrating the significant benefits of gender-affirming care for youth. Reed sharply criticised Cass’s conclusions upon its publication, highlighting that its concepts were rejected by over 60 mental health organisations, including the American Psychological Association.

Reed observed that the new guidelines from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria represent “a significant advancement for transgender healthcare in those countries,” indicating a European trend towards expanding access to gender-affirming care. These recommendations, she noted, “disprove the false narrative that Europe is ‘pulling back’ on transgender care. In contrast, it is the United States where regressive policies have positioned it far to the right of much of the Western world.”

She also critiqued the media’s lack of coverage of the new pro-trans youth care report, despite extensive reporting on the Cass Review.

Reed commented on Bluesky, pointing out the disparity, “Anyone find it funny how when the UK releases the Cass review to ban trans care, we get everything ranging from New York Times push notifs to op-eds in every major US paper… But when Germany, Switzerland, and Austria release pro-trans youth care guidelines, not a single article anywhere but mine?”