Courage is Contagious
Press Release: For Immediate Release
LGBT-CC Supports New Pediatric Gender Medicine Whistleblower, Calls for More to Come Forward
NEW YORK, NY— The LGBT Courage Coalition is proud to support social worker Tamara Pietzke, the newest U.S. whistleblower to speak out publicly about the reckless practice of irreversible medical interventions for gender-distressed youth.
Pietzke’s story in The Free Press comes a year after the publication of whistleblower Jamie Reed’s article, which drew international attention to the morally appalling realities of so-called “gender-affirming care” at the Washington University Transgender Center at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Reed now acts as Executive Director of the LGBT Courage Coalition (LGBT-CC), a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults calling for reform of youth gender medicine. The group supported Pietzke in coming forward with her story.
Pietzke, a social worker in Tacoma, WA, hesitated to write a letter of support for a minor to receive hormones because of her concerns that the client did not meet the criteria for this treatment based on WPATH Standards of Care. Management at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital dismissed Pietzke’s clinical assessment and concerns.
“I did not seek to become a whistleblower. But I believe wholeheartedly in having a voice when something is wrong, even if you need to stand alone,” stated Pietzke. “I would not be here if it had not been for the support. I would just be heartbroken and disillusioned with the therapy profession.”
The LGBT-CC seeks to serve as a home for whistleblowers who work in or adjacent to pediatric gender medicine and who are concerned with the safety of practice.
“This is not a liberal versus conservative issue, with liberals supporting ‘trans kids’ and conservatives being against them,” stated Reed. “This is about concerned adults who want to prevent permanent harm to children and adolescents. We know the concern is out there, being whispered among liberal friends and neighbors. Well, courage is contagious. As more whistleblowers come forward, more and more people will lose their fear. Instead of continuing to whisper, they will start to speak out.”
Concerned clinicians can reach out to the LGBT-CC for support using the secure email LGBTcourage@proton.me.
Contact for additional statements or interviews from Tamara Pietzke:
Ben Appel
Communications Director, LGBT Courage Coalition
Gender critical activists need to be alert for attempts by trans rights activists and their allies to persuade legislatures to grant practitioners of gender medicine immunity from civil and criminal liability for any harm they might cause their patients or clients. Since so much of gender medicine in America is experimental (not that gender doctors and their ilk would admit it), over time the consequences of their failure to exercise reasonable care in the performance of their services will become increasingly apparent. It a perversion of justice.
The tide seems to be turning, and that gives me hope.