FTC’s “Gender-Affirming Care” Workshop Sparks Controversy: Misinformation and Exclusion at the Forefront
On July 9, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a workshop titled “The Dangers of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors,” a title immediately denounced by medical and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups as inflammatory and misleading. The event sparked widespread criticism due to its blatant disregard for the established medical consensus supporting gender-affirming care for transgender youth and the exclusion of transgender individuals, families, and healthcare providers from the discussion. This workshop comes amidst a rising tide of anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric across the United States, fueled by organizations and individuals actively promoting harmful narratives about transgender identities and healthcare.
The FTC’s framing of the workshop perpetuates dangerous misinformation about gender-affirming care. Terms like “mutilation” and “sterilization” were used, falsely portraying these medical interventions as inherently harmful. This directly contradicts the position of major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which affirms gender-affirming care as “medically necessary and appropriate” for transgender youth. The workshop also provided a platform for debunked theories like “rapid onset gender dysphoria” and unfounded allegations of a covert campaign to force transitions on children. These narratives, lacking scientific basis, contribute to a climate of fear and misunderstanding surrounding transgender healthcare.
Further fueling the controversy was the FTC’s deliberate exclusion of key voices. Transgender individuals, their families, and healthcare providers specializing in gender-affirming care were notably absent from the speaker list. This omission prevented the presentation of firsthand accounts of the positive impacts of gender-affirming care, which has been shown to improve mental health, reduce self-harm risks, and enhance academic performance in transgender youth. By silencing these crucial perspectives, the FTC created an unbalanced platform that amplified harmful narratives and neglected the lived experiences of those directly affected by these policies.
The speakers invited to the FTC workshop have a documented history of promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and advocating for restrictive legislation. GLAAD’s ALERT Desk reports their involvement in over 60 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents nationwide, including harassing behavior towards medical providers, educators, and transgender individuals. These speakers frequently travel across state lines, disseminating misinformation and pushing for discriminatory policies at local and federal levels. Their participation in the FTC workshop further legitimized their harmful narratives and lent credence to their unfounded claims.
Several of the invited speakers also maintain affiliations with prominent anti-LGBTQ+ organizations, further raising concerns about the workshop’s objectivity. These organizations, including the American Principles Project, the Heritage Foundation, and Moms for Liberty, have actively campaigned against LGBTQ+ rights, including opposing the Equality Act, spreading disinformation about pro-equality candidates, and advocating for book bans and censorship in schools. The inclusion of representatives from these groups reinforces the perception that the FTC workshop was designed to promote a specific ideological agenda rather than foster an informed discussion about transgender healthcare.
The FTC’s decision to host this workshop, with its inflammatory title, biased speaker selection, and promotion of misinformation, has been widely condemned as a dangerous attack on transgender youth and their families. By providing a platform for debunked theories and excluding the voices of those directly impacted by these issues, the FTC has undermined its credibility and fueled the ongoing campaign to restrict access to essential healthcare for transgender youth. This event underscores the urgent need for accurate information and evidence-based discussions about transgender healthcare, centered on the well-being and rights of transgender individuals. The medical and scientific communities must continue to advocate for evidence-based care and push back against misinformation and discriminatory practices that threaten the health and safety of transgender youth.