Rand Paul Lashes Out At Rachel Levine About ‘Genital Mutilation’

“Most genital mutilation is not typically performed by force, but as W.H.O. notes, that by social convention, social norm, the social pressure to conform, to do what others do and have been doing, as well as the need to be accepted socially and the fear of being rejected by the community, American culture is now normalizing the idea that minors can be given hormones to prevent their biological development of their secondary sexual characteristics. Dr. Levine, you have supported both allowing minors to be given hormone blockers to prevent them from going through puberty, as well as surgical destruction of a minor’s genitalia. Dr. Levine, do you believe that minors are capable of making such a life-changing decision as changing one’s sex?” “Well, Senator, thank you for your interest in this question, transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed. And if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the assistant secretary of health, I will look forward to working with you and your office, and coming to your office and discussing the particulars of the standards of care for transgender —” “I’m alarmed that poor kids with no parents who are homeless and distraught, you would just go through this and allow that to happen to a minor.” “I would certainly be pleased to come to your office and talk with you and your staff about the standards of care and the complexity of this field.”