I just sent an email to On the Media's tip line. Thanks for the suggestion! Here's what I wrote:
"Hello!
The efficacy and benefits of gender-affirming treatments for youth with gender dysphoria--such as puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries like mastectomies-- are by no means proven, as the research behind these treatments is sparse and often badly misinterpreted/misunderstood. But it seems most media in the United States report otherwise, claiming the positive benefits are undeniable and ignoring stories about people who have been harmed.
Meanwhile, countries like Finland, France, and likely soon the U.K. (see the interim Cass Report on the Tavistock GIDS) are slowing or halting these treatments for minors due to what they acknowledge is a lack of substantial evidence that the treatments are helpful and reversible.
I wish your program would look at why this issue has received such one-sided reporting in what I would call moderate, mainstream news sources in the U.S., like PBS Newshour, NBC, etc.
For the record, I am a life-long democrat/progressive. I have no axe to grind, and have always supported LGBTQ rights.
Thanks for this great essay. There does seem to be a remarkable disjoint between scientific data and media reporting of those data. Interestingly, I've taught biology classes just on this topic — students would pick a media report and then try to find the scientific data behind the report. In general, there is a mismatch. Also, there often is a mismatch between biological data and what biologists actually claim....
Hi Lisa, I am on mission to find a journalist who “got it wrong” and will re-evaluate the situation. Keep doing what you are doing, fight the good fight. Heard there are a thousand families suing the Tavistock, let’s hope that spreads to the US/Canada. It shocks me how people don’t get it. Just had a good friend, known for 30 years, she lives in Texas but is a Democrat visit. I enlightened her, told her our story and what we have been doing. She’s gone back to Texas with a whole new perspective. Kathleen from the retreat.
If true, this is a serious breach of ethics by those involved, and they need to be investigated by their hospitals, universities, and professional associations for ethics violations. This is a serious accusation from a source that is claiming to have receipts. If other journalists are not investigating to determine if they can confirm the accusations because they are afraid a conservative news source got it right and they may have to report something that goes against the pro-child transition narrative, then those journalists are also acting unethically.
This is so maddening. I want to say more, I'm just so exhausted. It's like living amongst zombies. I just want to run up and down the street shaking people and shouting "wake up" in their faces.
This is the study that had 6 kids in the control group when it ended. A clearer example of scientific malpractice might exist, but if so, I want to know about it.
Jesse wrote several billion thoughtful words about that study, but the attrition in the control group should’ve barred it from publication on anything except toilet paper.
As someone who works at a university at a time when most schools are scrambling for tuition dollars, I can attest that bad PR is the only deadly sin. I read the internal emails in that light. Surely some of the players at UW are true believers. Others are going along to get along. None get a pass from me - but understanding motivation might help us strategize as to how we return to evidence-based care for distressed young people, free of dogmatism.
Fill out the form by choosing "WYNC" and then choose "provide feedback for a show or podcast" and then choose "On the Media" from the list of programs. Here is what I wrote:
Please examine recent widespread media misrepresentation of a UW study concerning suicidality in young people and its relationship to "gender affirming" care. See these reports by independent journalists Lisa Selin Davis and Jesse Singal:
This issue is far too important to allow misinformation to circulate. Thank you for your consideration.
Science Friday would be another one to try. Friends, I know NPR seems totally captured beyond hope, but we have to try. You never know when the right intern will read your email and pass it up chain. We never know when we can break through! Getting coverage in the mainstream media is critical. Please share your own message if you send one!
This issue seems reminiscent of the anti-vax idolatry which began with another incorrect paper, later retracted, but the damage was done, and now we have polio and measles returning. It is shocking how much faster misinformation spreads than sober, reasonable information. Thank you for trying to be a voice of reason on this issue. I was heartened to read this statement today: https://lesbians-united.org/organizationMaterials/Official%20Statement%20on%20Puberty%20Suppression.pdf and the accompanying literature review.
Lisa, thank you as always, You rleadership on this is encouraging. I posted this to the podcast Conspiritualality.: "The science is not settled on this topic. To question the the relationship between sex and gender or even be curious about the rapid increase in youth identifying as trans is verboten in liberal circles. It's sad that the only people willing to publicly question this are conspiratorial lunatics. Truth is there are a lot of devout rational liberals out here who know the science is not settled and have grave concerns about how quickly gender theory is being accepted as scientific fact." We need to speak up and speak out. This topic is totally in their wheelhouse. How long will it take to break this fever?
I just sent an email to On the Media's tip line. Thanks for the suggestion! Here's what I wrote:
"Hello!
The efficacy and benefits of gender-affirming treatments for youth with gender dysphoria--such as puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries like mastectomies-- are by no means proven, as the research behind these treatments is sparse and often badly misinterpreted/misunderstood. But it seems most media in the United States report otherwise, claiming the positive benefits are undeniable and ignoring stories about people who have been harmed.
Meanwhile, countries like Finland, France, and likely soon the U.K. (see the interim Cass Report on the Tavistock GIDS) are slowing or halting these treatments for minors due to what they acknowledge is a lack of substantial evidence that the treatments are helpful and reversible.
I wish your program would look at why this issue has received such one-sided reporting in what I would call moderate, mainstream news sources in the U.S., like PBS Newshour, NBC, etc.
For the record, I am a life-long democrat/progressive. I have no axe to grind, and have always supported LGBTQ rights.
Here are some links:
Interim Cass Report
https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/
They Knew the Media Had the Story Wrong...and Didn't Correct It
https://lisaselindavis.substack.com/p/they-knew-the-media-had-the-story
The Trouble with Tavistock
https://spectatorworld.com/topic/trouble-with-tavistock-clinic-trans/
Thank you for considering covering this."
Thanks for this great essay. There does seem to be a remarkable disjoint between scientific data and media reporting of those data. Interestingly, I've taught biology classes just on this topic — students would pick a media report and then try to find the scientific data behind the report. In general, there is a mismatch. Also, there often is a mismatch between biological data and what biologists actually claim....
https://everythingisbiology.substack.com/p/biologists-dont-mean-to-mislead-you
As a Biological Psychologist, I'm pretty convinced that ideology will almost always trump data. Thanks again, Frederick
Hi Lisa, I am on mission to find a journalist who “got it wrong” and will re-evaluate the situation. Keep doing what you are doing, fight the good fight. Heard there are a thousand families suing the Tavistock, let’s hope that spreads to the US/Canada. It shocks me how people don’t get it. Just had a good friend, known for 30 years, she lives in Texas but is a Democrat visit. I enlightened her, told her our story and what we have been doing. She’s gone back to Texas with a whole new perspective. Kathleen from the retreat.
If true, this is a serious breach of ethics by those involved, and they need to be investigated by their hospitals, universities, and professional associations for ethics violations. This is a serious accusation from a source that is claiming to have receipts. If other journalists are not investigating to determine if they can confirm the accusations because they are afraid a conservative news source got it right and they may have to report something that goes against the pro-child transition narrative, then those journalists are also acting unethically.
This is so maddening. I want to say more, I'm just so exhausted. It's like living amongst zombies. I just want to run up and down the street shaking people and shouting "wake up" in their faces.
This is the study that had 6 kids in the control group when it ended. A clearer example of scientific malpractice might exist, but if so, I want to know about it.
Jesse wrote several billion thoughtful words about that study, but the attrition in the control group should’ve barred it from publication on anything except toilet paper.
As someone who works at a university at a time when most schools are scrambling for tuition dollars, I can attest that bad PR is the only deadly sin. I read the internal emails in that light. Surely some of the players at UW are true believers. Others are going along to get along. None get a pass from me - but understanding motivation might help us strategize as to how we return to evidence-based care for distressed young people, free of dogmatism.
I just contacted On the Media, and I urge others to do so. Here is the link to the form:
https://nypublicradio.force.com/wnyc/s/programming-help-and-feedback
Fill out the form by choosing "WYNC" and then choose "provide feedback for a show or podcast" and then choose "On the Media" from the list of programs. Here is what I wrote:
Please examine recent widespread media misrepresentation of a UW study concerning suicidality in young people and its relationship to "gender affirming" care. See these reports by independent journalists Lisa Selin Davis and Jesse Singal:
https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/researchers-found-puberty-blockers?s=r&utm_medium=web
https://lisaselindavis.substack.com/p/they-knew-the-media-had-the-story
Also see this report from today, which claims to have receipts of emails from UW keeping quiet about the misinformation:
https://mynorthwest.com/3602854/rantz-despite-concerning-trans-study-uw-kept-quiet-because-of-positive-coverage/
This issue is far too important to allow misinformation to circulate. Thank you for your consideration.
Science Friday would be another one to try. Friends, I know NPR seems totally captured beyond hope, but we have to try. You never know when the right intern will read your email and pass it up chain. We never know when we can break through! Getting coverage in the mainstream media is critical. Please share your own message if you send one!
This issue seems reminiscent of the anti-vax idolatry which began with another incorrect paper, later retracted, but the damage was done, and now we have polio and measles returning. It is shocking how much faster misinformation spreads than sober, reasonable information. Thank you for trying to be a voice of reason on this issue. I was heartened to read this statement today: https://lesbians-united.org/organizationMaterials/Official%20Statement%20on%20Puberty%20Suppression.pdf and the accompanying literature review.
Lisa, thank you as always, You rleadership on this is encouraging. I posted this to the podcast Conspiritualality.: "The science is not settled on this topic. To question the the relationship between sex and gender or even be curious about the rapid increase in youth identifying as trans is verboten in liberal circles. It's sad that the only people willing to publicly question this are conspiratorial lunatics. Truth is there are a lot of devout rational liberals out here who know the science is not settled and have grave concerns about how quickly gender theory is being accepted as scientific fact." We need to speak up and speak out. This topic is totally in their wheelhouse. How long will it take to break this fever?