The American Academy of Pediatrics’ annual conference included a session on “Discussing Gender and Sexuality in the Primary Care Office,” by Ilana Sherer. The session was closely guarded—literally. Guards were placed outside the door and many people turned away once the room was at capacity (and once some non-clinicians who attended the conference tried to attend.)
An attendee sent us audio of part of the session, which we’re sharing here. It includes teaching attendees that the gender binary is a western invention; that doctors might explain gender identity to children by saying that some people feel like their bodies don’t match the gender they were born with; and that outdated terms like homosexual and heterosexual are not particularly useful anymore, now that we have infinite genders.
Some of us were struck by the discussion about parents of trans kids who apologize to the pediatrician if the child comes in wearing the clothes belonging to gender they’re not identifying with, as if failing to obey the stereotypes of the opposite sex is against the trans code of conduct. Also: what do pangender clothes look like? Genuine question and fashion challenge. Please send in your designs.
For more on how to create a pediatric practice that adheres to the above beliefs, check out this AAP guide. For more on how to create a pediatric practice that embraces gender diversity while grounding kids in biological reality… well, we still need those.
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