Medical survivor Chloe Cole was a key figure in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement Thursday of proposed regulatory measures to end “sex denial procedures” for minors.
Cole, now 21 years old, She went through the process of medical transition from female to male between the ages of 12 and 16.
The California native took the stage with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other authorities advocating for the protection of children.
The number of young people who identify as transgender has plummeted by almost half in two years
Cole told Fox News Digital: puberty blocker, testosterone injection And the double mastectomy she underwent had an irreversible and permanent impact on her health.
“As soon as gender became an issue, no doctor or psychologist asked the real questions they should have asked,” Cole said. “The whole thing was focused on my feelings and what I wanted, rather than what I really needed in that moment.”
What she needed, Cole said, was to feel loved and affirmed in her life. god created her –“As a young but tomboyish girl.”
She said doctors ignored risk sharing and promoted only the “benefits” of blocking puberty in women and using testosterone to promote body hair growth, muscle tissue and different fat distribution.
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“There were no words that made me understand the magnitude of what I was about to go through because I was still growing,” Cole said. “I had little experience in this world and was not mature enough to undergo such a trial. steps to change your life In every sense of the word. ”
Cole said her parents didn’t think she was transgender, but felt there were likely to be disadvantages.
“When we started going through this as a family, there weren’t any resources specifically to talk about the realities of transgender life. For kids“Because at the time, most people didn’t even realize this was happening in our hospital system,” she said.
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Cole said she was warned that she could commit suicide if her parents did not allow her to change her gender.
“My legal guardians were forced to make this decision under duress,” she said in an earlier statement. “But ultimately, no parent or adult has the right to decide whether a child is chemically sterilized or mutilated, even if my parents were medically supportive of the transition from the beginning.
Cole said she has experienced many complications from the medications and surgeries. “My quality of life is still affected to this day,” she said in a statement.
Her fertility status is unknown for now, she said, and will be unknown in the future. Can breastfeed Because her breasts were surgically removed.
“As an adult, I am grieving now. On top of that, the areolar skin grafts used in the surgery started failing after two years. I have to wear bandages on my breasts every day,” Cole wrote. “The doctors who helped me transition did not provide me with treatment. [with] Please take appropriate care for these complications. ”
In 2023, Cole filed a lawsuit with the Center for American Freedom (CAL) against the hospital, alleging that he was forced to undergo medical amputation.
CAL’s Mark Trammell told Fox News Digital: Today’s HHS announcement “It represents critical recognition that experimental medical interventions for children with gender distress do not meet basic standards of safety and effectiveness.”
“This shows that medicine must return to its core ethical duties: first, do no harm. We will continue to fight to ensure accountability for the institutions that promote these practices and justice for the children and transitioners whose lives have been forever changed,” Trammell added.
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In an earlier statement provided to Fox News Digital, Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Mark Siegel said he supports a “more conservative approach” to minors.
“Long-term effects of puberty blockers can include bone loss, decreased concentration, learning disabilities, and impaired fertility,” he said. “In most cases, I think it makes sense to treat the underlying mental health concern before jumping to treatment. including surgeryit may be difficult to undo it. ”
The doctor also stressed that gender issues should not be overly politicized. “This means not layering ideology or forcing physicians to act in a certain way or under pressure,” Siegel said.
“The welfare of the child must come first, and in this case that means providing support very slowly to children and teens with gender dysphoria.”
Cole said she urges children who are wondering whether to transition to wait. ”There are only two genders, but there are a million ways to be yourself,” she added.
“God is there for you. He created you this way. You can seek His advice,” Cole continued. “You can continue to pray, and I think ultimately it’s about connecting with your family, building your purpose in this life, and focusing on the gospel and hope.” to god. ”
