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Rebecca Canales

Female. Born on December 14, 1973.

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Rebecca Canales

December 8, 2024 3:16 pm

Editorial: Protecting Children’s Rights by Respecting Their Limits By a Transgender American As a proud transgender American, I believe strongly in the right to live authentically and free from disc... View MoreEditorial: Protecting Children’s Rights by Respecting Their Limits By a Transgender American As a proud transgender American, I believe strongly in the right to live authentically and free from discrimination. However, I also believe that children should be protected—not just in their exploration of identity, but also from decisions they are not yet equipped to make. In recent debates about transgender rights and medical care for minors, we are losing sight of a fundamental truth: children are not adults. They lack the maturity, life experience, and legal autonomy to make decisions with life-altering consequences. Society has long recognized this. A child under the age of 16 cannot vote, cannot drive, cannot smoke, cannot drink alcohol, cannot consent to sex, and cannot serve in the military or law enforcement. These restrictions are not arbitrary; they exist to shield children from responsibilities and risks they are not yet capable of handling. Yet, some are arguing that a child should be allowed to make decisions about gender-affirming surgeries—irreversible medical procedures that can fundamentally alter their future. This disconnect baffles the mind. The Issue Is Maturity, Not Identity This is not about denying a child’s gender identity or invalidating their experience. It is about recognizing that children, regardless of how precocious or confident they may seem, are still developing—emotionally, cognitively, and socially. They deserve the time and space to explore who they are without being pushed into irreversible decisions by adults who may not have their best interests at heart. We know from decades of research that the human brain, especially the part responsible for decision-making and impulse control, does not fully develop until the mid-20s. For this reason, society rightly limits what minors can do. Why then, when it comes to medical procedures with lifelong consequences, should we abandon these safeguards? If children cannot legally consent to vote or drink, how can we expect them to consent to surgeries that fundamentally change their bodies? Who Decides for the Child? The concern deepens when we consider who is driving these decisions. In some cases, it seems that unrelated adults, whether activists, educators, or healthcare providers, are taking a more prominent role than parents or guardians. This is troubling. Children are highly impressionable, and their understanding of themselves and the world is shaped by the adults around them. When those adults project their own beliefs or unresolved issues onto a child, it risks coercion rather than genuine support. Parents should play the central role in guiding their children’s development, but even they must recognize limits. A parent who allows or encourages a child to make permanent decisions they are not mature enough to understand is failing in their duty to protect that child. A Sensible Standard: Wait Until 16 I propose a clear, compassionate standard: No irreversible medical interventions, such as surgeries, for anyone under the age of 16. This aligns with the age at which many societies begin to grant more autonomy to minors. For example, at 16, teens can often start working, drive a car, and in some jurisdictions, consent to certain medical treatments. By this age, they are closer to adulthood and have had more time to reflect on their identity. For younger children questioning their gender, reversible options like puberty blockers can provide a temporary pause, giving them time to grow and explore without making permanent changes. This approach respects their journey while safeguarding their future. The Role of Public Policy Another pressing issue is whether taxpayers should fund gender-affirming surgeries for minors, particularly for those with no legal or familial ties to the U.S., such as undocumented immigrants or convicted felons. This raises ethical and financial questions about resource allocation and whether the public should bear the cost of elective procedures for individuals outside the traditional healthcare safety net. While access to healthcare is a right, elective surgeries—especially for minors—require careful scrutiny. Correcting Injustice Without Creating New Ones As a transgender individual, I understand the urgency of addressing past injustices against our community. However, in our haste to correct these wrongs, we risk creating new injustices—this time against children who are not yet equipped to advocate for themselves. Safeguards and standards are not barriers to equality; they are essential protections for those who cannot yet make adult decisions. Children need support, love, and guidance—not irreversible surgeries. Let us champion policies that respect their identities while acknowledging their developmental limits. By waiting until they are older and more mature, we honor their journey and ensure they have the freedom to choose their path fully informed and free from coercion.

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