Gender Affirming Care in Greensboro North Carolina
Gender-Affirming Care Is Healthcare For Everyone
As a therapist, I often remind people that gender-affirming care is not a fringe concept. It is not something “special” that only transgender and nonbinary people access. It is something that all of us, including cisgender people, participate in, whether we name it that way or not.
Examples of Everyday Gender-Affirming Care We All Use
When most people hear the phrase “gender-affirming care,” they may immediately think of transgender communities. In reality, gender-affirming care shows up in everyday life for everyone.
Cisgender men may seek hair plugs or use Rogaine to address baldness. Cisgender women pursue breast augmentation or hormone therapy for menopause. Countless people use makeup, hair dye, shapewear, or cosmetic procedures to express how they want to be seen by the world.
All of these choices are forms of gender-affirming care. They help people feel comfortable, confident, and aligned with their sense of self. When cisgender people access these services, society rarely questions it. It is considered normal, even expected.
Why Calling Gender-Affirming Care ‘Mutilation’ Is Harmful
When it comes to transgender healthcare, however, the conversation shifts dramatically. Politicians and media outlets often use charged language like “mutilation” to describe medically supervised, evidence-based treatment. This framing is not only inaccurate, but also deeply harmful.
Many major medical organizations endorse puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries as safe, effective, and often lifesaving (Advocates For Trans Equality, 2024). These treatments are consensual, carefully considered, and provided under professional medical supervision. The idea that children are being “mutilated” is a fear tactic, not a fact. It is designed to spark outrage and justify stripping away rights, rather than protecting anyone’s well-being.
The Truth About Gender-Affirming Care for Young People
Another common myth is that children are undergoing irreversible surgeries. In reality, surgeries for minors are rare and, in most places, are not permitted before the age of 18. A small number of areas may consider certain procedures before age 18, but only with parental consent and extensive evaluation (Dai et al., 2024).
Even before hormones are prescribed, many healthcare providers require a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Many providers also require their patients to engage in ongoing mental health support. For surgery, oftentimes it requires at least one letter of support from a qualified mental health professional, in addition to meeting strict medical criteria.
This means that gender-affirming care for youth is not rushed or taken casually. It is deliberate, cautious, and designed to protect young people while giving them the support they need to thrive. There are specific standards of care for transgender individuals that are outlined in the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8 (Coleman et al., 2022).
Understanding Detransition: Facts vs. Myths
Another narrative that dominates headlines is detransition. Stories of people who stop or reverse some part of their care are often presented as though they represent the majority of transgender experiences. The truth is very different.
Research consistently shows that detransition is rare. Of those who do, many cite external pressures such as family rejection, financial barriers, or discrimination, with very little citing regret about their identity (Turban et al., 2021).
The media fixation on detransition is not about accuracy, but about creating a narrative that justifies harmful policy. Highlighting rare exceptions while ignoring the overwhelming majority who benefit from affirming care distorts the reality of trans lives.
If We Restrict Gender-Affirming Care, Where Does It End?
One question I often ask both clients and colleagues is simple: if lawmakers are determined to ban gender-affirming care for transgender people, what does that mean for cisgender people who access the same procedures?
Would a cisgender man no longer be able to get hair plugs? Would a cisgender woman be denied breast reconstruction after cancer, or augmentation to feel more confident? Should we outlaw Botox, makeup, hair dye, or cosmetic surgery entirely?
When we strip away the politics, it becomes clear that gender-affirming care is not a niche issue. It is simply healthcare. It is healthcare that everyone, in one form or another, participates in.
Gender-Affirming Care Improves Mental Health
The truth is simple: gender-affirming care saves lives. Research shows it reduces depression, lowers suicide risk, and increases overall quality of life for transgender people (Matouk & Wald, 2022). Denying it to them, while allowing cisgender people to pursue the same practices, is not about protecting health. It is about control, stigma, and fear.
Affirming care is not a threat. It is compassion in practice. It is medicine. It is lifesaving.
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References
Coleman, E. et al. (2022) – Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. These are the internationally recognized guidelines for affirming, evidence-based care.Read here
Dai, D. et al. (2024) – Research on how common gender-affirming surgeries are among both minors and adults in the U.S. Published in JAMA Network Open. Read here
Matouk, K. & Wald, M. (2022) – Columbia University article on how gender-affirming care saves lives by reducing depression, suicide risk, and improving well-being. Read here
Turban, J. L. et al. (2021) – Study on why some transgender and gender diverse people detransition. Findings show it’s rare, and often driven by external pressures rather than regret. Read here