{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T18:14:12Z","timestamp":1790964852079,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title\/>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title\/>\n                    <jats:p>Scientific disinformation is false and misleading information that is used intentionally by legal and political actors to sway public opinion and oppose facts. In recent years, disinformation has become a tool for authorities to limit gender-affirming health care (GAC) for transgender and gender-expansive youth who experience gender dysphoria. Existing modes of expert intervention in health policy may not be sufficient to match the pace of these quickly unfolding health care bans. A cross-disciplinary team of academics in medicine, psychology, and law assembled to challenge scientific disinformation on GAC with 2 rapid-response rebuttal reports. Reports were produced in 3 to 10 weeks after the passage of GAC bans in Texas, Alabama, and Florida in 2022. They were posted online to facilitate dissemination and engage litigators, judges, policy experts, advocates, parents, and others. The team\u2019s efforts complemented public statements by medical societies and lawsuits brought by national LGBTQ litigators. The team\u2019s reports were cited in legal challenges to GAC bans in Texas, Alabama, and Florida. The team also filed amicus briefs for direct consideration by the courts and public comments to health care agencies in Florida. The reports received coverage in local and national media outlets in broadcast and print media. This advocacy case study describes the process used to challenge disinformation about GAC with rapid-response rebuttal reports, as well as the impact of this work and associated challenges. In an increasingly polarized political climate, this process may be adapted to other areas of health policy in which scientific disinformation takes root.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2022-060943","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]],"date-time":"2023-08-22T04:18:26Z","timestamp":1692677906000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":22,"title":["Combating Scientific Disinformation on Gender-Affirming Care"],"prefix":"10.1542","volume":"152","author":[{"given":"Meredithe","family":"McNamara","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"aDepartment of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hussein","family":"Abdul-Latif","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"bUniversity of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Susan D.","family":"Boulware","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"aDepartment of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Kamody","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"cYale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura E.","family":"Kuper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"dChildrens\u2019 Health Systems of Texas, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Houston, Texas"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christy L.","family":"Olezeski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"eDepartment of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nathalie","family":"Szilagyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"aDepartment of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anne","family":"Alstott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"fYale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"417","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"2023111414364261400_B1","unstructured":"US Department of Justice\n          . S.B. 184, Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, 2022 Ala. Laws 289. Available at: https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-challenges-alabama-law-criminalizes-medically-necessary-care-transgender. Accessed February 2, 2023"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B2","unstructured":"Paxton\u2008K\n          . Re: whether certain medical procedures performed on children constitute child abuse. Feb. 18, 2022, Opinion No. KP-0401. Available at: https:\/\/texasattorneygeneral.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/global\/KP-0401.pdf. Accessed November 15, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B3","unstructured":"Florida Department of State\n          . Fl. Dep\u2019t of Health Board of Med., notice of proposed rule 64b8-9.019, standards of practice for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors (Nov. 14, 2022), at 59G-1.050 General Medicaid Policy. Available at: https:\/\/www.flrules.org\/gateway\/RuleNo.asp?id=64B8-9.019. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B4","unstructured":"Arkansas State Legislature\n          . S H.B. 1570, save adolescents from experimentation (SAFE) Act. A.R. Legis. Assemb. Act 626. Reg. Sess. 2021-2022 (2021). Available at: https:\/\/www.arkleg.state.ar.us\/Bills\/Detail?id=HB1570&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R. Accessed February 2, 2023"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B5","unstructured":"Conron\u2008KJ, O\u2019Neal\u2008K, Vasquez\u2008L. Prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for youth. Available at: https:\/\/williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu\/publications\/bans-trans-youth-health-care\/. Accessed July 13, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B6","unstructured":"Letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics\n          . American Medical Association and Children\u2019s Hospital Association to Merrick Garland, Attorney General of the United States, October 3, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/downloads.aap.org\/DOFA\/DOJ%20Letter%20Final.pdf. Accessed January 25, 2023"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B7","unstructured":"World Professional Association for Transgender Health\n          . Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people. Available at: https:\/\/www.wpath.org\/publications\/soc8. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"issue":"11","key":"2023111414364261400_B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3869","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2017-01658","article-title":"Endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric\/gender-incongruent persons: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline","volume":"102","author":"Hembree","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023111414364261400_B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e20182162","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2018-2162","article-title":"Ensuring comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents","volume":"142","author":"Rafferty","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"9","key":"2023111414364261400_B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"832","DOI":"10.1037\/a0039906","article-title":"Guidelines for psychological practice with transgender and gender nonconforming people","volume":"70","author":"American Psychological Association","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am Psychol"},{"issue":"9","key":"2023111414364261400_B11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"957","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2012.07.004","article-title":"Practice parameter on gay, lesbian, or bisexual sexual orientation, gender nonconformity, and gender discordance in children and adolescents","volume":"51","author":"Adelson","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B12","unstructured":"Boulware\u2008S, Kamody\u2008R, Kuper\u2008L, . Yale University. Biased science: the Texas and Alabama measures criminalizing medical treatment for transgender children and adolescents rely on inaccurate and misleading scientific claims. Available at: https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/lgbtqi\/research\/gender-affirming-care\/report%20on%20the%20science%20of%20gender-affirming%20care%20final%20april%2028%202022_442952_55174_v1.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B13","unstructured":"McNamara\u2008M, Abdul-Latif\u2008H, Boulware\u2008S, . Yale University. A critical review of the June 2022 Florida Medicaid Report on the medical treatment of gender dysphoria. Available at: https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/lgbtqi\/research\/gender-affirming-care\/florida%20report%20final%20july%208%202022%20accessible_443048_284_55174_v3.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B14","unstructured":"US Department of Justice\n          . Reply in support of plaintiffs\u2019 motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, Eknes-Tucker v. Governor of Alabama, May 4, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/case-document\/file\/1526016\/download. Accessed February 2, 2023"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B15","unstructured":"ACLU\n          . Defendants\u2019 combined brief in opposition to plaintiffs\u2019 motion for preliminary injunction; and reply in support of defendants\u2019 motion to dismiss, Brandt v. Rutledge, E.D. Ark. July 9, 2021. Available at: https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/legal-document\/brandt-et-al-v-rutledge-et-al-defendants-opposition-motion-preliminary-injunction. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B16","unstructured":"GLAD\n          . Brief of amicus curiae American Academy of Pediatrics and additional national and state medical and mental health organizations in support of plaintiffs\u2019 motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. Eknes-Tucker v. Ivey [later renamed Eknes-Tucker v. Governor of Alabama] May 4, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/www.glad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/medical-organizations-amicus-brief.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B17","unstructured":"Yale University\n          . Letter from Anne Alstott, et al., to Simone Marstiller, Secretary, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, July 8, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/lgbtqi\/research\/gender-affirming-care\/alstott%20et%20al%20full%20comment%20proposed%20rule%20re%20gender%20dysphoria_443049_284_55174_v3.pdf. Accessed December 4, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B18","unstructured":"Lambda Legal\n          . Plaintiffs\u2019 original petition, application for temporary restraining order, temporary and permanent injunction, and request for declaratory relief, PFLAG v. Abbott, June 8, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/www.lambdalegal.org\/sites\/default\/files\/legal-docs\/downloads\/pflag_v._abbott_-_filed_petition.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B19","unstructured":"National Health Law Program\n          . Complaint for declaratory, injunctive, and other relief, Dekker v. Marstiller, N.D. Fl. Sept. 7, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/healthlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FILED-Complaint-against-AHCA.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B20","unstructured":"Yale University\n          . Brief of amicus curiae Hussein Abdul-Latif et al. in support of affirmance of the district court\u2019s order granting a preliminary injunction, Eknes-Tucker v. Governor, State of Alabama, 11th Cir. (2022). Available at: https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/lgbtqi\/research\/gender-affirming-care\/defending-gender-affirming-care-in-alabama\/. Accessed December 6, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B21","unstructured":"Justia\n          . Motion for leave to file brief of amici curiae and memorandum in support of the motion by Anne Alstott. Susan D. Boulware, Abdul-Latif Hussein, Rebecca Kamody, Laura Kuper, Meredithe McNamara, Christy Olezeski, Nathalie Szilagyi, Dekker v. Marstiller, N.D. Fl. Nov. 30, 2022. (Not considered solely for reasons of timing). Available at: https:\/\/dockets.justia.com\/docket\/florida\/flndce\/4:2022cv00325\/443916. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B22","unstructured":"National Health Law Program\n          . Letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to Tom Wallace. 2022. Available at: https:\/\/downloads.aap.org\/DOFA\/AAP-FCAAP%20Comment%20Letter_Medicaid%20Coverage%20for%20Gender-Affirming%20Care.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B23","unstructured":"Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine\n          . Meeting minutes. Available at: https:\/\/ww10.doh.state.fl.us\/pub\/medicine\/Agenda_Info\/Public_Information\/Public_Minutes\/2022\/October\/10282022_RL_Minutes.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B24","unstructured":"AAP\n          . Letter to Dr. David Diamond, Chair of the Florida Board of Medicine, from Moira Szilagyi, MD and Teresa Gwynn, DO - July 29, 2022. Available at: https:\/\/downloads.aap.org\/DOFA\/JointAAPFCAAPLettertoFLBoardofMedicine.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"issue":"10","key":"2023111414364261400_B25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"965","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2022.2959","article-title":"Scientific misinformation is criminalizing the standard of care for transgender youth","volume":"176","author":"Lepore","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"issue":"3","key":"2023111414364261400_B26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2022.06.008","article-title":"Scientific misinformation and gender affirming care: tools for providers on the front lines","volume":"71","author":"McNamara","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Adolesc Health"},{"issue":"21","key":"2023111414364261400_B27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1919","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMp2213085","article-title":"Protecting transgender health and challenging science denialism in policy","volume":"387","author":"McNamara","year":"2022","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B28","unstructured":"Olezeski\u2008C, McNamara\u2008M, Alstott\u2008A; Los Angeles Times. Op\/Ed: denying trans youth gender affirming care is an affront to science and medical ethics. Available at: https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/opinion\/story\/2022-06-13\/trans-youth-healthcare-state-bans. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"key":"2023111414364261400_B29","unstructured":"USPATH, WPATH. USPATH and WPATH respond to NY Times article \u201cThey Paused Puberty, But Is There a Cost?\u201d. Available at: https:\/\/www.wpath.org\/media\/cms\/Documents\/Public%20Policies\/2022\/USPATHWPATH%20Statement%20re%20Nov%2014%202022%20NYT%20Article%20Nov%2022%202022.pdf?_t=1669173834. Accessed December 10, 2022"},{"issue":"8","key":"2023111414364261400_B30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100719","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xcrm.2022.100719","article-title":"Legislation restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth: politics eclipse healthcare","volume":"3","author":"Kraschel","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cell Rep Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"2023111414364261400_B31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2022057475","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2022-057475","article-title":"Caught in the middle: the care of transgender youth in Texas","volume":"149","author":"Gordon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pediatrics"}],"container-title":["Pediatrics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2022-060943\/1567424\/peds.2022-060943.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2022-060943\/1567424\/peds.2022-060943.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,14]],"date-time":"2023-11-14T09:38:39Z","timestamp":1699954719000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/152\/3\/e2022060943\/193719\/Combating-Scientific-Disinformation-on-Gender"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1542\/peds.2022-060943","relation":{},"ISSN":["0031-4005","1098-4275"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0031-4005","type":"print"},{"value":"1098-4275","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]]},"article-number":"e2022060943"}}