The Left, the Right, and Transgender Youth
Trans youth are complex individuals, not political talking points; nuance is needed.
Posted October 23, 2025 | Reviewed by Kaja Perina
This post is Part 2 of a series.
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at how Democrats approach the issue of transgender teens, highlighting the parts they get right and where they're likely getting it wrong.
Now we examine the Republican view to see where they, too, get it right—and where they miss the mark.
I’ll also be making some recommendations for both therapists and parents as they try to navigate these complex and nuanced issues.
The Republican Perspective
Republicans tend to approach the rise in trans-identifying youth with skepticism. They tend to be more dialed into the idea that peer influences and social contagion are chief contributing factors. In this respect, they may have a more realistic understanding of the social dynamics that researcher Lisa Littman described, and that many clinicians also observe.
But here is where the Republicans get it wrong: Rather than acknowledging that there are different pathways into trans identity , many conservatives adopt the view that all trans identification is socially constructed and therefore invalid. In doing so, they often dismiss the very existence of trans people altogether.
History offers ample evidence that gender-nonconforming individuals have existed across cultures and centuries. Catalina de Erauso, a Basque nun who lived as a man in the 1600s; Albert Cashier, who was born female but served as a man in the Union army during the Civil War; and jazz musician Billy Tipton, also born female but who lived his life as a man, are just a few examples of people who lived their lives in ways that defied gender norms.
To suggest that all trans identities are a modern trend due to social influence ignores this historical reality.
So, not all kids appear to be trans due to social influences, despite many on the right believing this to be true.
Medical Interventions and Decision-Making
Republicans also tend to oppose gender-affirming medical care for minors, such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy . This position goes against the recommendations of organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. As a clinician who understands developmental psychology well, I agree with this part of the Republican platform. While I support gender-affirming care for adults, I do not believe that teenagers have the cognitive ability and emotional maturity to make permanent, life-altering decisions about their bodies.
We don’t allow teenagers to vote until they are 18 or drink alcohol until 21, and for good reason. Adolescents are still developing critical decision-making skills. Any parent who has tried to coordinate weekend plans with a teen knows how quickly they can change their minds about even the smallest of things—and on large matters, too. How many kids who say they want to do one thing for a living when they’re young actually pursue that occupation later in life?
When a person turns 18, of course, they have the right to make medical decisions for themselves. But before that, caution is warranted. In suspected rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) cases in particular, letting children guide those decisions could be premature and tragic.
So, not approving of medical interventions for minors is also where Republicans get it right and is consistent with developmental psychology.
I want to avoid the trap of polarized thinking myself. I’m sure there are many people who, from a young age, questioned their gender identity and did not feel safe expressing it or talking about it. Connections to other trans kids made it OK for them to embrace their true identity, and social contagion had nothing to do with it.
Advice for Parents and Clinicians
When a child comes out as trans, parents should always begin by being loving and supportive. Calling a child by a new name or using their preferred pronouns is a small but powerful way to show care and respect.
Whether the child has shown signs of gender dysphoria earlier in life or appears to fit the ROGD profile, a supportive and loving response is the most productive approach. Trying to talk a teen out of their gender identity almost always backfires. It often leads to deeper entrenchment, conflict, and more emotional distance.
I don’t think it works well to bring up ROGD even if you suspect it, because this also runs the risk of driving a young person deeper into their position. If a parent brings up ROGD, the teen will likely be embarrassed—after all, who likes to think they’ve been swayed by others without realizing it? They have incentives as well to deny the existence of ROGD because acknowledging it would involve a loss of face. In addition, reconsidering their position means their peer group could reject them once they no longer conform .
For teens who may fall under the ROGD category, the best strategy is to avoid exacerbating the situation. If the teen eventually chooses to move away from a trans identity, respond with the same neutrality and support you offered before, but don’t energize that either. And if they don’t move away, they still deserve to express themselves however they choose, free from judgment.
In today’s climate of political division, we must remember that trans youth are not political talking points. They are human beings—complex, vulnerable, and deserving of respect.
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Paul Sunseri, Psy.D., is a family psychologist and the author of Gentle Parenting Reimagined: How to Make It Work With Oppositional and Defiant Kids.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.