Fox's Trace Gallagher lies that Biden policy will force doctors to perform “sex reassignment surgeries on minors”
Written by Alex Paterson
Published
Fox News’ Trace Gallagher -- part of the network’s so-called “news” side -- repeatedly spread a pervasive right-wing lie that LGBTQ nondiscrimination measures will force doctors to perform “sex reassignment surgeries on minors.”
Gallagher was discussing the May 10 announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services that health care providers and insurance companies cannot discriminate against LGBTQ people, a reversal of a Trump administration policy.
In reality, minors are not undergoing what Gallagher referred to as “sex reassignment surgeries.” As The Washington Post explained, “In recent debates over transgender medical care, politicians have made claims that transgender children are undergoing genital surgeries at young ages. Current medical guidelines say children should not undergo gender-affirming genital surgery before they turn 18.” Vox’s Katelyn Burns reported on what health care for trans minors actually looks like:
Nowadays, doctors recommend taking a humane and affirming approach when a child expresses that their gender may not match their assigned sex at birth. This affirmation includes allowing trans kids to socially transition (i.e., use whichever name, pronouns, and clothing make them comfortable). Medical interventions — like puberty suppression or gender-affirming hormones like estrogen or testosterone — are only recommended for adolescents who have been insistent, persistent, and consistent in their gender identity over long periods.
These approaches are accepted as safe, effective, and lifesaving treatments by medical professionals, who also note that affirming care can yield long-term mental health benefits.
Nevertheless, Gallagher fearmongered about the Biden administration’s nondiscrimination policy and quoted the American Principles Project, an anti-LGBQ group that has worked to make attacking trans people a more popular political strategy on the right. In his report, Gallagher spread the false narrative that doctors will be forced to perform “sex reassignment surgeries on minors” and parroted APP’s lies, saying, “Critics like the American Principles Project say that Americans who identify as LGBTQ were not being denied access to health care.” As the Human Rights Campaign has noted, “Studies show that 56% of LGB people and 70% of transgender and gender non-conforming people reported experiencing discrimination by health care providers — including refusal of care, harsh language and physical roughness because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Citation From the May 13, 2021, edition of Fox News' Fox News @ Night With Shannon Bream
SHANNON BREAM (HOST): The Department of Health and Human Services says it wants to prohibit health care discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Now that sounds like something that most people would agree is a good principle. But critics are speaking out tonight saying there's more to it, accusing HHS of ignoring science by disregarding the biological definition of the word sex, and they’re warning about the broader implications you may not have thought of. Chief breaking news correspondent Trace Gallagher is on the case tonight. Good evening, Trace.
TRACE GALLAGHER (CORRESPONDENT): Shannon, good evening. Liberal news outlets framed the story as President Biden reviving LGBTQ protections against health care discrimination, meaning that while the Trump administration defined sex as gender assigned at birth, the Biden administration is defining sex as sexual orientation and gender identity.
…
GALLAGHER: Becerra also focused on a 2020 court ruling that said federal laws against discrimination apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. But critics, including many conservatives, would remind Secretary Becerra that judges in Texas and New York came out with opposite rulings, barring the enforcement of a gender identity mandate.
And critics like the American Principles Project say that Americans who identify as LGBTQ were not being denied access to health care, quoting here: “This policy announced by HHS today is not about fixing a broken bone or screening for cancer risk. Rather, this policy is really about forcing hospitals and medical professionals to adhere to leftist ideology regarding sexuality and gender — and in particular to provide sex-change procedures to all comers, including children.” Of course there will certainly be pushback from hospitals and doctors who are against conducting sex reassignment surgeries on minors. And that means a litany of lawsuits that could keep many cases tied up in the courts deep into the Biden administration.
Right-wing media -- particularly Fox News -- have long spread the myth that young trans kids are undergoing surgeries and other “irreversible” treatments.