Moves to limit minors’ access to medicalized gender transition are not unique to the U.S. and Europe. Under political pressure and tied up in litigation, even Brazil’s leftist government has announced it is rescinding an earlier proposal to lower the age at which hormones can be obtained from 18 to 16 and the age for transgender surgery from 21 to 18. Read the full story here!
Brazil trails Puerto Rico, whose conservative governor recently signed a bill that prohibits hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery for transgender youth under 21 years of age. And there are about two dozen states that presently have similar laws. Such legislative trends seem primed to continue. Hormones, surgeries, and other medical procedures that fall under the rubric of “gender-affirming care” are only one part of the much larger discourse of gender and sexuality happening globally. Judith Butler’s recent Who’s Afraid of Gender? is a great resource to help catch you up to speed on some of the divisions and debates surrounding gender that are currently animating such controversial cultural conversations. Take note my dear sexual subjects that Butler’s book – published in 2024 – is also available as an audio book! Below we’ve linked you to a public discussion about the book with Jack Halberstam and Butler. Have a listen…
